Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO KEEP MAP CHANGES SIMPLE
Florida legislators are returning to the state Capitol with a simple goal. And that’s redraw the state’s 27 congressional districts with as few changes as possible. The nine-day special session that kicks off Thursday is being sparked by a judge’s ruling that found two districts were drawn illegally to benefit Republicans. Instead of appealing the ruling, GOP legislative leaders have decided to adopt a new congressional map that calls for changes to just a handful of districts.
WHITE HOUSE SAYS PREMIUMS WILL FALL FOR MANY IN FLORIDA
The Obama administration says the majority of Floridians who purchased health plans through the Affordable Care Act will actually see their out-of-pocket costs decrease, especially in big cities such as Miami and Orlando. That’s the opposite of what state officials said earlier this week. Tasha Bradley, a spokeswoman for the federal Department of Health and Human Services, told The Associated Press that 75 percent of Floridians live in areas where the second-lowest silver premium will actually decline.
FLORIDA ATTORNEY WINS AGAIN IN DISPUTE WITH SCOTT
A Tallahassee attorney keeps winning his legal battle with Gov. Rick Scott and the state over a disputed piece of land near the governor’s mansion. Circuit Judge John Cooper on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit that Scott and members of the Cabinet filed against Steven Andrews over the land. He also affirmed earlier rulings that backed Andrews.
BOY RECOVERING FROM SHARK BITE
A central Florida boy is recovering after being bitten by a shark off a Melbourne-area beach. Christian Sanhueza’s mother told Florida Today that the boy celebrated his ninth birthday Tuesday at Holmes Regional Medical Center after undergoing two surgeries.
MAN SOUGHT IN PENNSYLVANIA DEATH FOUND IN FLORIDA
Authorities say a man wanted for questioning in the strangulation death of his ex-girlfriend in southeastern Pennsylvania is behind bars in Florida. Police in Upper Darby had been seeking the man since the body of 38-year-old Masako Griffin was found Sunday. Superintendent Michael Chitwood said the 38-year-old man arrived at a police station in Jacksonville, Florida, in the dead woman’s car shortly after her body was found.
