Fresh Take Florida

Fresh Take Florida is a news service producing top-caliber investigative and political content. Hard-hitting coverage generally focuses on Florida’s state government, including the Legislature, or other issues of statewide, regional or national interest. Stories are also distributed to Florida’s largest news organizations and more broadly under distribution agreements with The Associated Press, CNN, the Florida Public Radio Network, Gatehouse/Gannett, Tribune Media Company, McClatchy Co. and TEGNA. Click here to donate to support Fresh Take Florida’s reporters.

Prosecutors charge prominent real estate brokers with racketeering, stealing trade secrets

State prosecutors on Tuesday formally charged two prominent real estate brokers with felony criminal charges of racketeering, fraud and stealing trade secrets as part of a long-running investigation into a business dispute with their former employer. The men, Daniel James Drotos, 34, and Michael Steven Ryals, 65, were the same …

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Sheriff’s office names new bloodhound Miss Peggy after beloved employee who died from COVID-19

A sheriff’s office in Florida’s Panhandle is naming its new bloodhound puppy “Miss Peggy” in a heart-warming tribute to a beloved, longtime office employee who died after battling COVID-19. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford over the weekend asked for the blessing of the family of Margaret “Peggy” MacDonald, 63. She …

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Florida appeals court dismisses wife’s ‘confession letter,’ upholds father’s conviction for starving baby to death

A father convicted of starving a 22-day-old daughter to death will remain behind bars for life after a Florida appeals court rejected his arguments that his young wife confessed responsibility. In an interview, he portrayed himself as a caring father who was unaware the infant – who weighed only 4 …

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