CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT

Apr 22 2026CRIME

Florida Investigates AI for Possible Role in Campus Shooting

Florida’s top prosecutor recently announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its chatbot ChatGPT after a deadly shooting at a university last spring. The shooter, who killed two people and injured six others, reportedly used the AI tool to ask about guns and ammunition before the attack. Inv

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Apr 20 2026WEATHER

Dry Skies and High Winds Raise Fire Risk in Central Virginia

Central Virginia will face tough fire conditions on Monday, April 20th as parched ground meets strong winds. Dry air and gusty breezes could turn even small sparks into big problems. The state’s forests already show signs of stress with plant moisture levels dropping to just 10-12 percent—about half

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Apr 20 2026POLITICS

Florida strengthens crime victims' privacy rights after court ruling

Florida has long been a leader in protecting crime victims, starting with a constitutional change in 1988 that guaranteed basic rights. In 2018, voters approved Marsy’s Law, giving victims stronger, clearer protections like privacy. But in 2023, a Supreme Court decision took that privacy right away,

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Apr 15 2026POLITICS

Protecting Florida’s Open Spaces and Questioning Big Politics

Florida environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the planned construction of thousands of acres that could house tens of thousands of new homes and businesses. The land, once intended to stay open, is now threatened by the county’s planning board and commissions. Critics warn that unchecked

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Apr 14 2026ENVIRONMENT

Big Tech wants to turn Florida green into grey

Florida is famous for its sunshine, not its server farms. Yet the same companies pushing AI are eyeing swamps and pastures to build power-hungry computer palaces. These places need as much water as a small town every day just to keep the machines from melting. Right now the state’s energy grid can b

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Apr 13 2026WEATHER

What to expect when spring heat meets rain in Central New York

Central New York is trading winter coats for lighter jackets this week as temperatures rise fast. Midweek highs could hit the mid to upper 70s, making it feel more like April than March. But with warmth comes a price—moist air sneaking up from the Gulf will bring frequent showers and even thundersto

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Apr 12 2026POLITICS

Florida wants more red snapper fishing days but not everyone agrees

Florida recently asked for a special permit to let more people fish for red snapper off its Atlantic coast this year. Instead of just two days like last time, anglers could fish for 39 days if the plan gets approved. The state says it can run this program well and that more days would help local fis

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Apr 11 2026FINANCE

How Florida's Fuel Prices Got Hooked on Global Drama

Florida’s gas and diesel prices have been playing a game of tag with global events lately, and the Sunshine State isn’t winning. For weeks, drivers paid way more than the rest of the country—sometimes 15 cents extra per gallon for gas and 35 cents for diesel—because Iran’s actions near the Strait of

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Apr 09 2026POLITICS

A High School Teacher Gets a Surprise Applause

Central Catholic High School in Southeast Portland buzzed with excitement when Senator Cory Booker made a spontaneous stop at the campus. The New Jersey senator was on a book tour that appears to be testing the waters for a future presidential run. Instead of a typical speech, Booker filmed himse

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Apr 02 2026SPORTS

FSU’s Baseball Team Faces Big Challenge Without Their Top Hitter

Florida State University’s baseball team just lost their star first baseman, Myles Bailey, for the season after a serious ankle injury during a game against Duke. Bailey was having an incredible year, smashing 13 home runs and driving in 33 runs with a batting average of . 363. Without him, the Semi

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