Adam Putnam released his first ad Monday in the GOP race for governor, a message designed to show his rural Polk County roots.

“I’m Adam Putnam,” the state agriculture commissioner says in the ad, a 60-second version of which was available online Monday. “For me, it’s always been Florida first.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum released a new digital ad Monday designed to showcase his “compelling personal story.”

The ad, entitled “Opportunity,” is running online in markets across Florida, including Orlando, his campaign said. The total ad buy is less than $100,000.

“Were...

A motorcyclist died in a fiery crash early Monday morning in Pine Hills, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The driver of a Ford pickup turned left on Silver Star Road to get onto Coast Line Drive when he struck the motorcyclist about 3:40 a.m., Sgt. Kim Montes said.

The motorcycle was “completely...

Leaders of a campaign to beef up services for homeless, poor, abused and at-risk kids in Orange County are pushing to take their case to voters. But first they have to overcome an increasingly testy confrontation between grown-ups.

Dick Batchelor, chairman of recently launched Children’s Trust...

A man was arrested early Sunday after he allegedly hit numerous parked cars in an apartment complex garage near UCF, a trooper’s arrest report states.

James Edward Morris, 25, was arrested on DUI and hit-and-run charges after investigators found him sleeping outside of the garage.

Photos of the...

Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department’s community paramedicine program has just finished its first year, and it’s delivering on its promise to reduce the number of unnecessary 911 calls.

The city’s top 911 caller had dialed for help 19 times in the first six months of 2017. After the implementation...

As a new national memorial dedicated to victims of lynching and racial terror prepares to open this week, Ocoee continues to struggle with a notorious attack on blacks that occurred in the city nearly a century ago.

City leaders and others who have studied the tragedy can’t even agree on how many...

The unemployment rates in Orange County and Seminole County dropped to 3.2 percent for March, down from 3.3 percent in February, the lowest in more than 10 years.

The March unemployment rate for the metro area, which includes Osceola County and Lake County, was just a bit higher at 3.3 percent...

Two days after Vanessa Cocly was last seen by her family — and hours before they reported her missing — her ex-boyfriend was at Cash America Pawn on Orange Blossom Trail selling a .380 caliber handgun, court records show.

The next day, April 3, Christian Ruben Valentin Penchi boarded a JetBlue...

KISSIMMEE – Gov. Rick Scott took questions about Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria evacuees and the FEMA housing situation from pastors, small business owners and community leaders at a U.S. Senate campaign event at Misión La Cosecha Friday.

Scott’s office also announced he would visit the island on...