• Florida reported 143 measles cases as of March 21, 2026, with 73% concentrated in Collier County, marking a decline from 139 cases the previous week.
• The state has dropped to the fourth-highest number of measles cases nationally as the spread slows, indicating a shift in outbreak trajectory.
• The majority of cases remain geographically concentrated, with nearly three-quarters of infections occurring in a single county, suggesting localized transmission patterns.
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the state's version of the SAVE America Act on April 1, 2026, requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
• The law mandates in-person submission of documents like passports or birth certificates, drawing criticism from voting rights groups.
• Civil liberties organizations filed a federal lawsuit within hours, arguing it imposes undue burdens and risks disenfranchising eligible voters.
Florida is third state to pass proof-of-citizenship voting laws this year as red states enact provisions of federal billGovernor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed legislation Wednesday to require documented proof of citizenship to register to vote and to begin a process that will eventually unenroll voters who have not provided citizenship documentation.Florida is now the third state to pass proof-of-citizenship laws for voting this year, after South Dakota and Utah’s governors each signed proof of citizenship bills into law in March. Continue reading...
• Tiger Woods was charged with driving under the influence following a rollover crash near his home in Florida, where authorities report he was traveling at a high rate of speed and overtook a truck on a two-lane road.
• The incident involved a single-vehicle rollover with no other vehicles struck, according to law enforcement statements.
• Woods faces DUI charges and potential license suspension pending court proceedings and investigation results.
‘Looksmaxxer’ influencer and his girlfriend are suspected of involvement in attack on 19-year-old woman, officials saySign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe social media influencer known as Clavicular has been arrested in Florida on battery charges.Braden Eric Peters, who maintains a controversial online presence among “manosphere” circles as a so-called “looksmaxxer”, was taken into custody on a warrant issued by the Osceola county sheriff’s office, according to local jail records and media reports. Continue reading...
Move by state education officials picked by Republican governor removes the course as a graduation componentEducation leaders in Florida have removed sociology as a graduation component at state universities in Ron DeSantis’s latest attack on what the Republican governor sees as the “woke” indoctrination of students.The move on Thursday by a majority of DeSantis’s hand-picked university board of governors effectively relegates the stand-alone Introduction to Sociology course to a makeweight elective instead of a core component subject that has been a popular choice for generations of students. Continue reading...
• Democrat Emily Gregory won a special election on March 24, 2026, flipping a solidly Republican Florida state legislative district that includes President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.
• The victory serves as a warning sign for Republicans amid high gas prices driven by the Iran war, unprecedented airport security delays from a five-week partial government shutdown, and voter concerns over living costs and inflation.
• President Trump rallied the GOP at the National Republican Congressional Committee's fundraising dinner on March 25 in Washington, promising 'bigger majorities' despite polling showing public disapproval of U.S. military action in Iran and weakening labor market.
Emily Gregory defeats Republican Jon Maples in district that is home to US president’s Palm Beach estateDemocrats managed to flip a seat in the Florida state house in the district that is home to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.Emily Gregory, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jon Maples, who had an endorsement from the US president. The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...
• Republican legislators in Florida are advancing proof-of-citizenship voting laws as President Trump continues pushing the Senate to pass his SAVE America Act at the federal level.
• The state-level legislation mirrors key provisions of Trump's federal SAVE Act, including requirements to prove citizenship before voting, reflecting alignment between state and federal Republican priorities on election security.
• Florida's legislative action demonstrates coordinated effort across states to implement stricter voter identification and citizenship verification measures despite the federal SAVE Act facing significant opposition in the Senate.
• No. 9 seed Iowa defeated defending national champion Florida 73-72 in Sunday's second round, ending the Gators' title repeat hopes with a stunning upset victory.
• Iowa shot over 70% from 2-point range, a feat no team had accomplished against coach Todd Golden in his 144-game tenure at Florida, showcasing elite offensive execution.
• Florida's interior defense, typically one of the nation's best, was overwhelmed, though Alex Condon contributed 21 points; Iowa's balanced attack proved too much in a tight final possession.
• The Trump administration announced plans to halt billions in federal Medicaid payments to California, Florida, Maine, and New York, following similar actions against Minnesota involving over $2 billion in withheld funds and $260 million clawed back.
• Officials cited alleged Medicaid fraud as the basis for these unprecedented measures, potentially creating a national playbook for pressuring states over program spending.
• This escalation impacts public health insurance jointly funded by states and federal government, raising concerns about access for low-income Americans amid ongoing political tensions.
Sociology faculty are refusing to alter syllabi, even as state targets how race, gender and inequality are taughtSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAcross Florida universities, some sociology professors are quietly choosing not to alter their courses in response to new state guidelines restricting how topics like race, gender and sexuality can be discussed. Rather than rewriting syllabi or removing foundational material, as the new demands would call for, they say they are continuing to teach their classes as designed. The professors view the preservation of their curricula not as an act of defiance, but as a professional responsibility to provide students with a full and rigorous education.In late January, Florida’s department of education introduced what many professors are calling a censored sociology textbook for use in the state’s public colleges and universities, along with a list of proposed guidelines at state schools, restricting various discussions related to systemic discrimination, gender and sexual identity, race-conscious remedies, and the structural causes of inequality. Faculty members say this move reflects a broader effort to narrow academic freedom in higher education and follows several years of legislation aimed at reshaping public university curricula under the banner of combating “woke ideology”. Continue reading...
President revealed details of Neal Dunn’s health prompting Mike Johnson, the House speaker, to say it ‘wasn’t public’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump on Monday publicly revealed details about a Republican congressman’s “terminal” diagnosis that could have left him “dead by June”, prompting Mike Johnson, speaker of the House, to say: “That wasn’t public.”Trump touched on Neal Dunn’s health during a meandering press conference at the White House held alongside leaders of the Kennedy Center and other top Republicans, in which he also discussed topics including the performing arts venue’s upcoming renovation, his chief of staff Susie Wiles’s breast cancer diagnosis and the war with Iran. Continue reading...
• Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to alter Florida's vaccine requirements for school children failed during the 2026 legislative session.
• DeSantis promises continued efforts to pass these policies despite the setback and ongoing measles cases rising across the state.
• The resolve strengthens public health debates on vaccination mandates amid disease outbreaks in Florida.
The luxury property surge fuels growth in Miami, but a poll finds many residents weighing an exit over housing and living costsTo a casual observer, everything in south Florida’s real estate garden is looking rosy. There’s a “gold rush” in Miami as ultra-wealthy buyers snap up mega-mansions and luxuriously appointed condos as soon as they hit the market; and the Guardian has also reported recently on the “Mamdani effect” of elite New Yorkers arriving in the sunshine state with bulging pocketbooks in search of a high-priced escape from the city’s new mayor.Yet alongside the boom, there are rumblings of a more troubling parallel reality. Undoubtedly, the billionaire class is helping to pump even more dollars into an already thriving Florida economy. But as prices rise and the less affluent find everything from housing and insurance to gas and groceries increasingly expensive, many are considering doing something about it. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Robin Birley closes in on Sunshine State venue as wealthy Britons flock to area around Donald TrumpA London private members’ club owner is closing in on a deal for a venue in Palm Beach, in the hopes of creating a rival to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago and to take advantage of an influx of wealthy British people to the Florida region.Robin Birley is understood to be close to securing a property for his latest club, part financed by the billionaire Reuben brothers, who in 2024 were named the third-richest family in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List. Continue reading...
Niko Bray, who obtained pilot’s license in January 2025, shares story after averting disaster on busy Jupiter roadA teenage pilot who made an emergency airplane landing on a busy Florida road while averting disaster entirely says “you just execute” when thrust into such life-or-death situations.“It can happen … so fast,” 19-year-old Niko Bray said in an interview with the Florida news outlet WSVN, nearly a week after authorities say he landed the small airplane he was flying on a six-lane thoroughfare in the community of Jupiter because of an emergency in the skies. Continue reading...
South Florida Bulls progressed in the American Athletic Tournament semifinals by defeating TBD on March 14 in Birmingham, Ala., broadcast on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. This upset victory boosts USF's NCAA Tournament resume with a key conference win. The semifinals showcase rising mid-major contenders. USF now eyes the championship for an automatic bid.
South Florida stunned a top-seeded opponent 74-71 in the American Athletic Tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, Alabama, led by Kobe Dozier's 25 points. The Bulls advanced with key defensive stops in the final minute, setting up a championship clash on Sunday. This marks USF's first AAC final appearance since 2018, enhancing their NCAA bubble status amid 22 wins this season. Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim said, 'Our resilience defined us today.'
The Florida Gators take on Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC Tournament semifinals on March 14, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Florida favored by 6.5 points and a total set at 160.5. Florida enters hot, winning four straight including 71-63 over Kentucky, led by Tyler Tanner's 19.2 PPG average. Vanderbilt seeks an upset after beating Tennessee 75-68, with odds at +258. A Gators win advances them toward the title game against Auburn or Alabama, impacting NCAA Tournament seeding.
Florida's Legislature passed a bill on March 13 to license and regulate naturopathic doctors (NDs), reversing a 1959 ban on such practice. The measure now awaits governor's signature to establish oversight and training standards. This expands integrative medicine access but raises debates on evidence-based care integration. Implementation could begin by late 2026 if signed.