News from the South - Florida News Feed
Plant City set to drop six-foot-tall strawberry at the stroke of midnight
SUMMARY: Plant City is introducing its first annual New Year’s Eve strawberry drop, a countdown celebration featuring a 6-foot strawberry that will drop from 80 feet during the countdown. This initiative aims to revitalize downtown, foster community pride, and attract locals and tourists alike. Executive Director Don Hayatt emphasizes the importance of creating memorable celebrations that the community can own. Business owners like Brandon Snyder of Propagation Whiskey Bar express optimism about the event, highlighting its potential to draw attention to downtown businesses. Plant City is experiencing growth and aims to showcase its vibrant community through events like this.

Plant City is known for its strawberries, but what they will unveil for the first time on New Year’s Eve is something you can’t grow on any farm.
News from the South - Florida News Feed
FL receives few complaints about immigration law enforcement
SUMMARY: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the state’s leadership in combating illegal immigration, emphasizing new reforms and collaboration with federal authorities. All 67 Florida sheriffs reportedly agreed to cooperate with federal immigration efforts, with noncompliance risking suspension. Florida’s immigration czar Larry Keefe introduced the Law Enforcement Accountability Dashboard (LEAD), a public portal for reporting agencies not enforcing immigration laws. In six weeks, only eight complaints were filed, including some against Palm Beach, Orlando, Jupiter, and Broward law enforcement. Complainant Sunny Crays expressed frustration over a lack of response from authorities. Keefe confirmed investigations are underway but provided no updates; DeSantis credits low complaints to stringent state legislation.
The post FL receives few complaints about immigration law enforcement appeared first on www.abcactionnews.com
News from the South - Florida News Feed
Total solar eclipse drops insects out of sky
SUMMARY: On August 21, 2017, University of Alabama researchers conducted a groundbreaking study using multiple Doppler radars, mobile weather stations, and balloon soundings to observe meteorological and insect responses during a total solar eclipse. As totality caused ground temperature to drop 7–9°F and surface winds to slow, insects abruptly descended from 650–1,000 feet, likely disoriented by the loss of sunlight used for navigation. Radar data showed a 90% decline in insect reflectivity during darkness, with insects reascending once the sun returned. This first high-resolution eclipse experiment reveals how solar eclipses disrupt atmospheric and insect behavior, potentially affecting broader ecosystem dynamics.
The post Total solar eclipse drops insects out of sky appeared first on www.news4jax.com
News from the South - Florida News Feed
3 people, including a child, rushed to the hospital after Hollywood apartment fire
SUMMARY: A fire broke out early morning in a Hollywood apartment, sending flames into the night sky. Three people—a child, an elderly woman, and a man—were rushed to the hospital. The child and elderly woman were rescued from a window, with the boy needing resuscitation on the scene. Both were taken to Memorial Regional and then Jackson Memorial Hospital in serious condition. The man, who suffered smoke inhalation, was intubated. Neighbors were alarmed, and one heroically woke and evacuated others, even rescuing a dog named Nala. Police continue investigating the fire, with authorities updating conditions pending.

Teri Hornstein reports the child and an elderly woman were pulled through the window of the burning apartment.
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