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Florida News

  1. On World AIDS Day, a look at the epidemic in Florida

    Health

    Monday was World AIDS Day, established to mark progress and challenges in fighting what not long ago was a near-certain death sentence. This past year was a milestone: HIV patients who started receiving medication outnumbered those who were newly infected, according to the ONE Campaign. Yet many people are going without …

    Antique dealer Bobby Spensieri cleans up shrubbery Monday near his home on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, where volunteers wrapped trees in red to observe World AIDS Day. The temporary art installation stretched from 16th to 31st streets.
  2. Legoland hotel coming next summer with themed rooms, 'disco elevator'

    Florida

    Legoland Florida recently unveiled details on the hotel opening next summer for the Winter Haven theme park aimed at families with young kids. It will be a 152-bedroom hotel, with themed interiors "like a large Lego box," general manager Adrian Jones said, with play stations everywhere. The hotel will be right next to …

    At the first Legoland Hotel at the California park, a Lego bellhop greets guests. The Florida hotel will open next June.
  3. Former attorney general's contact with Pam Bondi's office raises questions

    Politics

    TALLAHASSEE — When the cruise line Royal Caribbean sought to amend a 1997 consumer protection agreement with the Florida Attorney General's Office, it hired a lawyer familiar with the agency's inner workings.

    Bill McCollum has discussed at least three clients with Pam Bondi’s office.
  4. Unusual election could yield benefits for Tampa Rep. Jamie Grant

    State Roundup

    TALLAHASSEE — It has been an unusually long and complicated election cycle for state Rep. Jamie Grant. A primary election scheduled for August didn't happen until November, and even then, the results were thrown out.

    Rep. Jamie Grant could serve up to 14 years in the state House.
  5. Coast Guard plane brings 193 rare sea turtles from Cape Cod to Florida

    Wildlife

    ORLANDO — A Coast Guard plane touched down in Orlando at dusk Tuesday, hauling a cargo of the world's rarest sea turtles, rescued by volunteers from the lethally chilly waters and beaches of Cape Cod Bay.

    In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Bette Zirkelbach checks a Kemp's ridley sea turtle's heart rate, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital in Marathon. The hospital received 30 cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles to care for after they were rescued suffering from hypothermia on a Cape Cod Bay, Mass., beach. The species is endangered, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. [AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman]
  6. DEP chief resigns at critical time for Florida environment

    State Roundup

    TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott's top environmental adviser, Herschel Vinyard Jr., resigned Wednesday, ending a four-year run of controversy over protecting Florida's fragile water and land resources.

    Herschel Vinyard Jr. spent the past four years as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 
  7. Gov. Scott used private email for public business

    State Roundup

    TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott exchanged emails dealing with vetoes, the state budget and his speeches from a private email account, according to records turned over to the Associated Press on Tuesday.

    Gov. Scott turned over emails to the Associated Press.
  8. ICE! returns to Orlando resort with cool ice wonders

    Florida

    The Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee has once again turned its massive convention center space over to Ice, its annual winter wonder you can walk through to marvel at 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures.

    Imagine this is a colorful display at Gaylord Palms Ice. Dyes are put into the ice before carving.
  9. SeaWorld, Busch Gardens offers slew of ticket deals for 'Blue Friday'

    Florida

    SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are getting in on holiday shopping with buy one, get one free ticket deals worth up to $180 in an online-only sale. First, you have to register for the parks' email updates at seaworldorlando.com or at buschgardenstampa.com. Then at …

    Orcas during a show at the Shamu Up Close attraction at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 7, 2014. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel/MCT) 1148374
  10. Neil Patrick Harris, Frozen's Kristoff among celebrity narrators at Epcot's Candelight

    Florida

    Two of the most anticipated celebrity narrators for Epcot's Candlelight Processional — actor Neil Patrick Harris and Broadway star Jonathan Groff, the voice of Kristoff from Frozen — will be telling the Christmas story before a full choir to help kick off the opening of the popular holiday …