Fort Lauderdale
David Moran poses in his hotel room, paid for by a pandemic voucher program, at the Hilltop Inn in Berlin, Vt., Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Tens of thousands of homeless like Moran, who now has a job at Applebee’s, have been staying in hotels across the U.S. paid for by federal programs aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. “I’m not going to be able to get a shower on a regular basis, which around food is not a good thing,” he said. “So I think there should be more available funds for people that are really trying.” (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
End to COVID-19 hotel housing for homeless raises worries

By Kelli Kennedy And Lisa Rathke Jun. 27, 2021 10:17 AM EDT

Porter Johnny Jones Jr. tags the luggage of Celebrity Cruise passengers James and Cynthia Mitchell of Kansas, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Celebrity Edge is the first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port since the coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a 15-month standstill. The cruise ship has 40 percent capacity, and with virtually all passengers vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
1st post-pandemic cruise ship from US sails away

By Adriana Gomez Licon And Marta Lavandier Jun. 26, 2021 10:54 AM EDT

The Celebrity Edge cruise ship is docked at Port Everglades, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Celebrity Edge is set to sail on Saturday from Fort Lauderdale. It will be the first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port with ticketed passengers since the onset of the pandemic, which halted sailing. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
1st cruise ship to sail from US as industry seeks comeback

By Adriana Gomez Licon Jun. 25, 2021 10:08 AM EDT

Jared Wofford poses for photos at the Don Cesar hotel Thursday, June 17, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Wofford portrays a bartender at the hotel in the Amazon series "Life's Rewards," an original, scripted TV series commissioned by travel marketers in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida, seeking to draw quarantine-weary tourists to the area's sugar sand beaches. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Florida beach town writes Amazon TV series to lure tourists

By Kelli Kennedy Jun. 22, 2021 09:04 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 14, 2020 file photo, Royal Caribbean International cruise ship docked at PortMiami, among other cruise ships, as the world deals with the coronavirus outbreak in Miami. Royal Caribbean is postponing the initial voyages by one of its cruise ships after eight crew members tested positive for COVID-19. The company said Wednesday, June 16, 2021, that the Odyssey of the Seas' first trip is being pushed back from July 3 to July 31. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
COVID-19 cases delay long-awaited Royal Caribbean cruise

By Adriana Gomez Licon Jun. 16, 2021 01:23 PM EDT

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attends a plenary session, during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, England, Sunday June 13, 2021. (Phil Noble/Pool via AP)
The Latest: COVID-19 cases rise in Missouri tourist areas

By The Associated Press Jun. 16, 2021 01:25 AM EDT

Molly Yeh poses for a portrait at SOBE WFF® on Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Miami Beach, Fla. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP)
Chef Molly Yeh's lockdown life full of recipes, baby firsts

By Kelli Kennedy Jun. 07, 2021 08:47 AM EDT

Debby-Neal Stricland and Mylaen Merthe show off donor/recipient tags they had made during a get together Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at a restaurant in Ocala, Fla. Debby now married to Jim Strickland donated a kidney to Mylaen Merthe, Jim's ex-wife. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Woman donates kidney to hubby's ex-wife days after wedding

By Kelli Kennedy Jun. 01, 2021 10:36 AM EDT

JetBlue to resume flights from Worcester to JFK, Florida

May. 26, 2021 04:08 PM EDT
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — JetBlue is restarting service between Worcester Regional Airport and New York City and Florida later this year, officials announced...

Veterinary technician supervisor Jean Lyons changes the bandages on a dog named Murphy, Monday, April 12, 2021, at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Palm Beach Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Approximately 12.6 million U.S. households got a new pet last year after the pandemic was declared in March 2020, according to a COVID-19 Pulse Study by the American Pet Products Association. Meanwhile, fewer people relinquished their pets in 2020, so they needed ongoing care, experts said. Vets interviewed by The Associated Press have extended hours, hired additional staff and refused to take new patients, and they still can't keep up. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
COVID-19 pet boom has veterinarians backlogged, burned out

By Kelli Kennedy May. 12, 2021 01:11 AM EDT

People line up to receive a Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the one-time pop-up vaccination site located 16th Street beach on the sand on Sunday, May 2, 2021 in Miami Beach. The one-time vaccination site made possible by Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson and the Florida Division of Emergency Management will administer up to 250 Johnson & Johnson vaccines. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Publix pharmacies offer walk-in COVID vaccines in 7 states

May. 10, 2021 10:13 AM EDT

School district taking the COVID-19 vaccine to the students

May. 03, 2021 08:06 AM EDT
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A South Florida school district is encouraging eligible students to get vaccinated by brining the COVID-19 shots to their campuses...

Turnout low as Johnson & Johnson vaccine returns in Florida

Apr. 26, 2021 07:26 AM EDT
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Turnout has been so low for the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine at Florida's FEMA-run sites that about 90% of the supply...

In this February 2021 photo provided by Caring Place@ Miami Rescue Mission, Adriana Palma wears a tiara and ballgown on her quinceanera, her 15th birthday celebration. Quinceaneras are revered in Hispanic culture and celebrated with all the gusto of a wedding. But after her father lost his job, Adriana said, “I lost all hope of having one.” (Caring Place@ Miami Rescue Mission via AP)
Miami women surprise homeless teen with magical quinceanera

By Kelli Kennedy Apr. 22, 2021 10:00 AM EDT

State's largest districts: Students will return in the fall

Apr. 14, 2021 07:42 AM EDT
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — When the next school year begins in August, students across South Florida will be expected to return to their classrooms. ...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gestures during a news conference Sunday, April 4, 2021, at the Manatee County Emergency Management office in Palmetto, Fla. DeSantis has received a single-dose coronavirus vaccine. His office confirmed Wednesday, April 7, 2021 that the Republican governor got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only a single dose. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, file)
DeSantis attacks YouTube for yanking his pandemic video

By Terry Spencer Apr. 12, 2021 03:41 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Florida

By The Associated Press Apr. 07, 2021 05:57 PM EDT
Recent editorials from Florida newspapers: ___ Aril 7 The South Florida Sun Sentinel on honoring...

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2019 file photo, Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., speaks during a House Rules Committee hearing on the impeachment against President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hastings, the longtime Congressman from Florida has died after a two-year fight with pancreatic cancer. The Palm Beach County Democrat died Tuesday, April 6, 2021, according to his chief of staff, Lale M. Morrison. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
US Rep. Alcee Hastings dies at 84; was impeached as judge

By Matt Sedensky And Terry Spencer Apr. 06, 2021 10:30 AM EDT

Nicole Russell looks out from her porch, Friday, March 12, 2021, in Kendall, Fla. Because of the pandemic, Nicole because fearful of leaving her home and retreated to her bedroom for days at a time. While some felt restricted by the confinement of home "caves", others found a sense of safety and comfort, becoming increasingly accustomed to the isolation. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Coming out of the cave: As life creeps back, some feel dread

By Kelli Kennedy Apr. 03, 2021 11:00 AM EDT

Juan Carlos Guerrero, 62 holds his second shot reminder card as he speaks to a healthcare worker after having received a dose of the Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at the Miami-Dade County Tropical Park vaccination site in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Florida governor issues order banning 'vaccine passports'

Apr. 02, 2021 07:12 AM EDT