Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
IN-STATE TUITION BILL MOVES ON DESPITE CLOSE VOTE
The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature is moving closer to passing a contentious proposal to allow qualified Florida students to pay in-state tuition rates even if they’re in the country illegally. On Wednesday, the measure barely passed a Senate panel on an 8-5 vote. Three Republicans joined Democrats to keep it alive.
CRIMES AGAINST UNBORN BILL DRAWS QUESTIONS
House Democrats raised several questions about a bill that would allow separate criminal charges for the death of fetuses, no matter the state of development, when a crime is committed against the mother. The proposed bill would expand the current law, which allows a separate murder or manslaughter charge for the death if the fetus could survive outside the womb.
CITRUS PRODUCTION DECLINES IN FLORIDA
This year’s orange crop is approaching the fruit’s lowest harvest in 24 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday released its citrus production forecast, which is down 18 percent from last year’s figure.
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING PLANE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
Authorities are searching for a 74-year-old pilot who took off in a small plane from the Marion County Airport in Dunnellon on Saturday afternoon. He was heading to Zephyrhills but never arrived. Officials have been searching the wooded areas in the Withlacoochee State Forest. His last known coordinates were not known.
HURRICANE CENTER DOWNGRADES HURRICANE CAMILLE
The National Hurricane Center in Miami has downgraded Hurricane Camille’s strength from 190 mph to 175 mph. The storm came ashore along Mississippi’s coast in 1969, also causing damage in Florida’s Panhandle.
