Florida’s new law that expands access for service animals used by people with disabilities has received the most attention of the 13 veteran-related laws passed this year.

House Bill 71 not only expands the protected right to use a service dog to people with mental impairments but it also allows for a jail sentence if a public business denies access. And the new law also makes it a second degree misdemeanor for someone to pass off an untrained pet as a service animal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released bleak numbers on Florida's citrus crop for the 2014-2015 season, reporting a decline in the orange harvest of more than 60 percent since the peak of production.

The report, which is the final one of the season, was released Friday. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says the statistics are a "new low" for Florida citrus.

A Tampa Bay area language arts teacher was named Florida's 2016 Teacher of the Year on Thursday night.

Diane McKee of Williams Middle Magnet School in Hillsborough County was announced the winner in a ceremony at the Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios in Orlando.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson entered the race to replace Sen. Marco Rubio on Thursday with some points he wants to make for the people who think he's an inflammatory, Republican-hating liberal who's too divisive to win a statewide election.

First, he said he is more successful than anyone else in Congress at working across political aisles to pass legislation.

Second, he said Florida Democrats are unsuccessful at the polls because there haven't been any real Democrats to inspire them to vote, and he's a real Democrat.

“Oooooh, a shark! Look! That's the one that ate Nemo!"

Keriann Roque ran up to the glass where she pointed out a shark swimming in the tank a few feet above her head. She gasped as it circled around to swim closer. The 12 year old was at the Florida Aquarium for a summer camp field trip.

She said learning more about sharks has made her less afraid of them.

A judge has recused himself from the trial of a former Tampa police captain accused of fatally shooting a man during an argument over texting in a Pasco County movie theater.

Pasco Circuit Court Judge Pat Siracusa filed the order Tuesday. Circuit Judge Susan Barthle is now assigned to the case.

Siracusa issued a notice of removing himself after a hearing last week in which he appeared aggravated over repeated delays.

Sen. Bill Nelson announced Thursday that he has prostate cancer and will have surgery on Monday.

The cancer was discovered early during a routine medical exam, Nelson's office said in a statement. Extensive scans showed no evidence that the cancer had spread.

The 72-year-old Democrat said the diagnosis does not affect his plan to run for re-election in 2018. He said he had no symptoms.

"I've been blessed with good health, which has allowed me the great privilege of public service, and I look forward to continuing serving our country and Florida," Nelson said.

In a case that started with a tourist brandishing a gun during a traffic dispute, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday said people who use the state's controversial "stand your ground" legal defense have the burden of proving they should be shielded from prosecution.

The 5-2 ruling dealt with a key part of the way the state has carried out the "stand your ground" law, which in part provides immunity to people who use justifiable force in self-defense.