Florida teen with Tourette's and his dog spread positive message that being different is OK

A Taco Bell employee in Florida was brought to tears when he was given a massive tip this week.  Joe DeCicco, 70, has been working at a Taco Bell in South Daytona, Fla., for the last 20 years, according to local TV station WESH 2. On Friday, DeCicco -- known in the drive-thru as "Taco Bell Joe" -- received a $6,095 check from a local group.

Graphic bodycam video shows Florida officers shooting a man who charged at an officer with what police said was a knife. Two Daytona Beach officers shot Andrew Mansilla, 25, in the neck Thursday night, critically injuring him.

Federal authorities seized $8.4 million in coronavirus pandemic relief loans obtained by a family running a fake ministry in Florida, according to reports. Joshua Edwards, a vice president of ASLAN International Ministry, applied for a $6.91 million loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Page Six said the couple chose the area due to its privacy, as it's the antithesis to New York City and London, where Mick and Melanie spend the majority of their time.

A fire that swept through a trio of barns at a Florida chicken farm Thursday has left 250,000 chickens dead, reports say.  The blaze erupted at Cal-Maine Foods in Dade City overnight – and its cause was not immediately clear.   Firefighters that responded to the scene were hampered by the explosion of propane tanks on site, the Tampa Bay Times reports.   Each barn that was burned by the fire contained around 80,000 chickens, the newspaper added.  Officials told WFLA that 250,000 chickens were

Florida is turning to the dogs to help solve its Burmese python problem.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been training dogs to track down pythons for more than a month. Last week, one of the dogs had its first successful find.  Truman, a black Labrador retriever, found an 8-foot python in the Rocky Glades Public Small Game Hunting Area in Miami-Dade County on Dec.

A tornado ripped through three Florida communities Wednesday as snow buffeted the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states in a flurry of wild weather, according to local reports. The "large, extremely dangerous tornado" ripped across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Polk counties, beginning just before 4 p.m.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to keeping restaurants open and criticizing other areas of the country like New York City where indoor dining has been suspended despite evidence that most coronavirus infections can be traced to small gatherings at homes.

The pastor of a Florida church who has crusaded against alcohol sales on Sundays has been charged with possession of child pornography, according to a report. William Dalton Milam, 62, was arrested Monday on two counts of promoting sexual performance of a child and 25 counts of possession of child porn, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

A Florida woman who threatened to leap from a motel balcony on Monday was arrested after allegedly throwing her German Shepherd over the railing, authorities said. Allison Murphy, 35, was charged with animal cruelty over the incident at Motel 6 in Daytona Beach, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

PHOENIX, ARIZ.-- – COVID-19 has taken its toll on the tourism industry, and as we head into winter, it’s now impacting snowbirds and part-time residents. Bob Slack and his wife Lois have been wintering in Florida for the last 22 years, but this year, because of the pandemic, they’re trading in the golf clubs for snow shovels, preparing for the long Canadian winter ahead.

A freak accident involving a falling window killed a Florida burglar, according to a report. It happened Saturday during the attempted burglary of a home in Lehigh Acres, NBC 2 Fort Myers reported.

coronavirus pandemic that has rocked Florida's tourism industry.A rendition of the new area shows at least six rides or attractions and a large building, possibly a restaurant.Legoland Florida spokeswoman Kelly Hornick told The Ledger in Lakeland that more would be revealed about the expansion plans in 2021 — which is the 10th anniversary of the theme park's opening on the former site of Cypress Gardens.Legoland Florida has expanded repeatedly since opening in October 2011.

Police, firefighters and a good Samaritan in Florida worked together last week to rescue a family trapped inside a car that crashed and flipped over into a canal. Officers responded to a retention pond off Lee Vista Boulevard on Thursday night to find the overturned car with a father and his two sons, ages 12 and 4, still inside, Orlando police said.

In a second act of kindness, a Florida business owner is covering the overdue utility bills for 114 families at risk of losing service so close to the holiday season.  Michael Esmond's act of giving is a repeat of last year when he paid the utility bills for 36 families in the panhandle city of Gulf Breeze just before Christmas. Esmond, who owns Gulf Breeze Pools & Spa near Pensacola, told Fox News he donated $7,615 this year as the city faces an economic downturn caused by the coronavirus

Two inmates, who were on the run after escaping from a Tennessee minimum-security facility, were arrested Sunday in Pompano Beach, Fla., according to authorities.  Robert Lee Brown, 36, and Christopher Osteen, 34, were taken into custody by law enforcement more than two days after the pair escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tenn., on Friday, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) said in a news release.

Don't mess with Gunner and Richard Wilbanks. The Florida puppy who was rescued from the jaws of an alligator by his fearless owner has been named a Deputy Dog by the local sheriff's office.