Darius Johnson scored 24 points and assisted on a go-ahead slam dunk with less than a minute remaining to lead UCF to a 64-61 win over No. 13 Texas A&M.

Oregon, Georgia and Miami remained the top three seeds in The Associated Press College Football Playoff bracket projection with BYU overtaking Iowa State for No. 4.

Eloilda and Anthony Shea were a couple in law enforcement. They were married, had two daughters, and worked for the same police department in Central Florida when he was accused of an on-duty affair. Detectives reported he nearly fooled them into thinking her murder was a suicide.

Tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton caught many Floridians by surprise as they prepared for heavy wind, rain, and storm surges.

Shedeur Sanders threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns to help Colorado match its victory total for all of last season with a 48-21 rout of UCF.

Hurricane and storm surge watches were hoisted early Tuesday for a wide stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast ahead of what’s forecast to be a major hurricane strike come late Thursday or early Friday.

Keep the rain gear handy this Labor Day weekend in South Florida. The chance of rain is 60% on Saturday and 70% on Sunday.

Happy Friday eve! We continue to be under an ocean breeze, which has pushed overnight and morning scattered storms onshore.

Tropical Depression Four was moving slowly over western Cuba on Saturday and was forecast to strengthen into a tropical depression and later into Hurricane Debby.

A storm system brewing over Cuba on Friday could bring torrential rain and flooding to the Florida peninsula this weekend.

All over Florida, arts groups are scrambling to plug large budget gaps after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unexpectedly vetoed $32 million in arts funding.

A Central Florida school administrator is facing charges after deputies say he was caught on camera beating a student.

Tijuana Flats will be closing nearly a dozen restaurants across the state of Florida and will file for bankruptcy, according to a news release.

Investigators knew someone used a lamp fixture to hide two cocaine bricks, and mailed the lamp from Puerto Rico to Osceola County. This helped them during an ongoing investigation to identify suspects in two murders in Central Florida.

For many Florida residents, there’s a chance they’ve recently spotted lizards with an orange head and dark blue body scurrying about in their neighborhoods.

A body has been discovered following the Thursday carjacking and kidnapping of a Homestead woman in Central Florida, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma confirmed at a news conference Friday.

Florida deputies were led on a high-speed chase in Central Florida by a motorcyclist and it was all caught on camera.

L.

Brightline is adding a new railway stop for commuters to easily travel from South Florida to Central Florida.

Two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations tell The Associated Press that San Jose State is working to finalize a deal with former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo to replace Brent Brennan as head coach.

Haynes King threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score as Georgia Tech rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat UCF 30-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl.

The clock is ticking for a Florida lottery winner to claim their $44 million winnings for a Quick Pick ticket sold in Central Florida.

The health of snout less alligator rescued in Central Florida earlier this year continues to improve.

3 key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

If you have plans to visit Central Florida's theme parks this week, there may be some changes in the air as Hurricane Idalia strengthens and makes its way to Florida's gulf coast.

A man's hole-in-one photo on the golf course helped police track him down and arrest him for manslaughter.

The rise in cases of leprosy in Central Florida has led the Center for Disease Control to issue an advisory for the State of Florida.

Violent storms and severe hail caused heavy damage in parts of Central Florida.

A nature photographer had just finished taking pictures of nesting birds in Central Florida, when she happened on a very frightening scene.

New Brightline trains will be on the track for testing in preparation for service between South and Central Florida.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is ramping up his battle with Disney World.

Investigators are working to identify human remains found close to where a Palm Beach Gardens man went missing last week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

The wrath of Nicole forcing some structures to crumble along the cost in Central Florida.

Sunday is the final day for early voting ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this weekend.

A Central Florida man is behind bars after leading cops on a wild chase across two counties.

A Central Florida man was arrested after he was allegedly caught on camera poisoning a co-worker's Pepsi with bleach.

A Central Florida girl has been turning heads with her "creepy" doll.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend.

Rental car employees reported finding a toddler in a locked rental car that had been returned at Daytona Beach International Airport on Monday.

Florida, South Carolina and South Florida are taking steps to salvage home football games as Hurricane Ian approaches.

Florida’s incumbent attorney general Ashley Moody has sued the Biden Administration over mask mandates, won settlements against drug companies over opioids and pursues justice from a politically conservative perspective.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci during a rally in Central Florida on Wednesday.

Traffic on Florida’s Turnpike stopped moooooving for several hours Monday after a cattle hauler caught fire, and dozens of cows blocked the roadway, authorities said.

Officers in Central Florida arrested one of their own, after receiving calls about an erratic driver on an Apopka roadway.

A Central Florida county is under quarantine after the return of the invasive African land snail.

Plans to open a Brightline station at Disney Springs have been canceled, according to reports.

The father of a Missouri teenager killed after falling from a Central Florida amusement park ride said Monday he fears his son’s death will be forgotten with tragic consequences for future ride patrons.

Florida-based civil rights attorney Ben Crump, best known for taking on high-profile cases, like representing the families of Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, is now the focus of a new Netflix documentary.

An autopsy says a Missouri teenager died of blunt force trauma after falling from a 430-foot Central Florida drop-tower amusement park ride.

A Central Florida grandmother said she looked into the eyes of a stranger who walked into her home, then was forced to grabbed her gun to protect herself.

A former no-party-affiliated state Senate candidate and the chairman of the Republican Party of Seminole County are among the three people arrested in connection to the shill candidate scheme in Central Florida.

Officials say a Florida deputy who accidentally set a gasoline-covered motorcycle rider on fire with a stun gun is facing a misdemeanor charge.

A Central Florida teacher has been arrested after allegedly blasting music, and disrupting state testing in his classroom.

Showers and severe thunderstorms possible both Saturday and Sunday

There were long lines at airlines counters on Friday at Miami International Airport.

A 14-year-old boy fell to his death Thursday on an attraction in the Orlando tourist district.

South Carolina is still No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll despite suffering its second loss of the season.

Every ten years new boundary lines are drawn for a state's congressional districts and in Florida it's usually a bitter battle that ends up in court.

Deputies arrested 51-year-old John Bruce Larsen on Friday.

Isaiah Bowser ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns, Ryan O’Keefe had 85 yards on seven receptions, and Central Florida earned Sunshine State bragging rights by beating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday night.

The Argentine black and white tegu is multiplying and mobilizing in the backwoods and backyards of Florida — a creature more ominous than pythons because of its cold hardiness and indiscriminate palate.

Miya Marcano was murdered earlier this year after being abducted from her Orlando apartment.

Snowcat Ridge Alpine Snow Park is preparing to open Nov. 10 for its 2021 winter season. The park debuted last year in Pasco County.

Hal Uhrig, a Florida defense attorney who briefly represented George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case, is accused of witness tampering in a juvenile rape case.

This momma bear was curious as to what was happening in a Central Florida home and wanted to get a closer look.

Family and friends filled the Cooper City Church of God on Thursday for the funeral of Miya Marcano, where a crown rested atop the late college student’s painted casket.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Monday in Central Florida that he’ll be announcing a number of initiatives this week related to infrastructure and job growth in the state.

The system north of the Bahamas and about 200 miles off the Central Florida coast is just a minor empty swirl of clouds.

Residents of the Arden Villa apartments in Orange County were sent an email saying law enforcement will be entering all occupied garages and storage units throughout the day, as had been seen by drone a day earlier.

As seen in a video going viral online, Eugene Bozzi of Mount Dora used a bulky recycling bin to help scoop up the hissing alligator as neighbors cheered him on.

Central Florida quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be out indefinitely after suffering a broken clavicle on the final play of the Knights' loss to Louisville.

The Big 12 Conference is moving quickly to add new schools.

The Tropical Disturbance we have been following offshore of Central Florida has a well-defined circulation with strong thunderstorms on the south and east side.

If you and your significant other are living in the Sunshine State, you’re currently living in one of the best states to have a delicious date night.

A lucky pair of scratch-off players from Central Florida are celebrating big wins, Florida Lottery announced.

The Brightline from Miami to Orlando is almost here. The modern, eco-friendly high-speed rail has officially passed the halfway mark for construction on its extension to Orlando.

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed one of his priority bills into law, which was also one of the most controversial.

The pilot of the TBM Avenger was performing in a 'Warbird Parade' when something went wrong.

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has been tied to a shill candidate in a Florida Senate election, according to the New York Times.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – For over 100 years, Green Island Ranch in Central Florida has been owned by the Partin family. According to SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate, Green Island Ranch, located in St. However, the massive property is more than just a real estate opportunity for investors — it’s also a historical landmark in Florida’s history. Since then, the working ranch has been in the Partin family’s ownership and, at one time, was the largest ranch east of the Mississippi at 60,000 acres. AdFurther adding to the ranch’s historical significance, the real estate company states the Partin family introduced Brahman cattle and quarterhorses to the state of Florida.

David Selig is the Digital Executive Producer at WPLG, overseeing Local10.com. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Concerns grow in Central Florida over U.K. /covid-19 variantIf you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526.

Authorities are searching for a 9-year-old boy who went missing out of Central Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert Tuesday for John Weldon, who was last seen in the area of Mount Dora, which is north of Orlando. Authorities say the boy might be with 42-year-old Daryl Weldon and that they may be driving in a 2014 silver Mitsubishi Outlander with Florida tag IB14FR. The boy is 4-feet-6, weighing about 55 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. If you have any information, call 911 or the Mount Dora Police Department at 352-735-7130.

The location at 3101 W. Princeton St. in Orlando is the only Central Florida Walmart to feature a pop-up clinic for COVID-19 vaccines. Florida’s health department confirmed 1,700 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, which is the smallest day-to-day increase of cases in the state since Oct. 12, when 1,533 cases were reported. The state has now verified 1,910,921 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began and 30,999 resident deaths, according to health department data. A look at the statewide positivity rate for new COVID-19 cases across Florida over the past two weeks. The United States has confirmed over 28.6 million cases and has had more than 513,000 deaths from COVID-19, the highest totals in the world.

FILE - Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn argues a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Auburn, Ala., in this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Central Florida hired Gus Malzahn as its football coach Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, a little more than two months after he was fired by Auburn. “I truly believe that this is a program of the future in college football,” Malzahn said. Arkansas State won a conference title that season before Malzahn returned to Auburn as head coach. Ad“This is one of the top 25 coaching jobs in all of college football,” Malzahn said.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A Bradenton man is accused of using $7.2 million from Paycheck Protection Program funds to buy a Central Florida mansion and three luxury cars, according to court records. Records show Cisternino applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan established as part of the federal CARES Act relief bill. Prosecutors said Cisternino is accused of using the money to buy a Maserati, a $89,000 Lincoln Navigator, a $251,000 Mercedes-Benz and a $3.1 million home in Chuluota. AdCisternino is accused of saying MagnifiCo had 441 employees with an average monthly payroll of $2.88 million. Records show after the application the Small Business Administration issued $7.2 million in PPP funds to MagnifiCo.

New Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Josh Heupel, left, shakes hands with University of Tennessee athletics director Danny White after being presented a jersey speaks during an introductory press conference at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (Caitie McLekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)Josh Heupel believes he can win quickly at Tennessee and position the football program for long-term success. Heupel was introduced Wednesday as the program's 27th head coach and fifth, not counting interim or acting coaches, since the end of the 2008 season. New athletic director Danny White said Tennessee ran an “exhaustive nationwide search” led by the same search firm that helped land White. White was hired last week to replace the retiring Phillip Fulmer and hiring a new coach was his first task.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man with ties to the right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys was arrested in Central Florida on federal charges in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., according to official documents. Biggs is a member of the Proud Boys and describes himself as an organizer of some of their events, according to a federal affidavit. A Deerfield Beach man’s Instagram story showed a struggle with Capitol police to open a door to the Capitol on Jan. 6, feds say. A Coral Springs man, Felipe Marquez, 25, was charged with illegally entering the Capitol grounds and disorderly conduct. And Gabriel Garcia, a Miami member of the extremist Proud Boys group, made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday over allegations he participated in the siege.

DeSantis said seven Publix locations in Martin County will also offer the vaccine. For Broward’s mayor, the issue right now isn’t the number of vaccination sites, but rather the number of doses available. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava released a statement saying: “Miami-Dade is home to over 10% of all Florida seniors 65+. Earlier this month, DeSantis announced that several Publix locations in the state would serve as COVID-19 vaccination sites for seniors. Registration at the Publix vaccination sites in South Florida opens at 6 a.m. Wednesday and appointments will begin on Thursday.

11 Houston used a dominant first half to cruise to a 75-58 win over UCF on Sunday. Houston (11-1, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) won its fourth straight game since its loss to Tulsa. “It was a great game for us,” Houston guard DeJon Jarreau said. “They made a lot of shots to start the first half off and kind of knocked us back,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. Sampson passed former Houston coach Tom Penders.

Cincinnati tight end Leonard Taylor (11) is stopped by Central Florida defensive back Richie Grant (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

DADE CITY, Fla. – Floridians no longer have an excuse to say they have never seen snow. Snowcat Ridge Alpine Snow Park in Dade City has officially opened. A snow park in Florida, right?” said Adam Thomas from Florida sports coast. Snowcat Ridge Alpine Snow Park (WKMG-TV)Thrill-seekers who are ready for some tubing fun can go down the run as a single rider, tandem or family-style with between four and 10 riders per large circular tube. Snow tubing at Snowcat Ridge in Dade City, Florida is now open.

COCOA, Fla. – Need any more evidence that it’s Friday the 13th in the year 2020? A driver in Central Florida ran over a gator on U.S. 1 overnight. Luckily, the driver and the alligator are OK, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is finding the gator a “safer place to roam,” police in the city of Cocoa say. The things that go bump in the night: patrol officers rescued this little guy as he wandered into dangerous territory. He was fine and the driver was not injured.”Be careful out there!

MIAMI – Why would candidates for Florida Senate seats do no campaigning, no fundraising, have no issue platforms, nor make any effort to get votes? Local 10 News has found evidence to suggest three such candidates in three Florida Senate district races, two of them in Miami Dade County, were shill candidates whose presence in the races were meant to syphon votes from Democratic candidates. In one of those races, District 37, a recount is underway because the spread between the Democratic and Republican candidates is only 31 votes. That third party candidate is Alexis Rodriguez, who has the same last name as the Democratic incumbent senator Jose Javier Rodriguez. A search of campaign documents filed by Rodriguez led to a money trail and campaign finance connections with other no-party third candidates in Florida Senate District 9 in Central Florida, and District 39 in Miami-Dade.

The most significant change to what is discussed below is that Eta is developing a band of strong winds near the center. Here is an update of this morning’s discussion:The center of Tropical Storm Eta is just moving off the north coast of Cuba and into the Straits of Florida. The maximum winds somewhere in the circulation are forecast to increase slightly as the center moves closer to South Florida through the day. The center of Tropical Storm Eta is just moving off the north coast of Cuba and into the Straits of Florida. The maximum winds somewhere in the circulation are forecast to increase slightly as the center moves closer to South Florida through the day.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Among the questions on the 2020 election ballot in Florida is a potential hike in the hourly wage for the state’s lowest earners. Amendment 2 proposes raising the state’s minimum wage to an eventual $15 per hour. The Central Florida attorney who led the effort to get Amendment 2 on the ballot is John Morgan. He joined This Week in South Florida hosts Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney, and their conversation can be seen at the top of this page. To view TWISF’s chat with Amendment 2 opponent Carlos Gazitua, click here.