TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed legislation that gives the Attorney General independent authority to investigate and shut down spam calls and texts and gives prosecutors new tools against impersonation, fake warrants, undisclosed AI voices, and the phone farms that power those campaigns.
“Floridians should not have to fear every unknown call or text,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “What we are talking about is fraud—pure and simple. It just arrives as a phone call, a text, a fake warrant, or an AI voice. This proposal lets our office investigate and act independently, and it gives prosecutors the tools to put the worst offenders in prison.”
Spam floods Florida phones. Scammers spoof government agencies, banks, and utilities. They send fake warrants and official-looking papers by text. Artificial voices make the fraud sound real. Under current law, some of these crimes don’t carry tough penalties, and Florida law does not provide consequences for the phone farms and SIM farms that blast thousands of numbers from one room.
The Florida Anti-Spam Communications Act would:
1. Crack down on phone and text fraud, including AI voices and fake warrants.
Impersonating an official, spoofing a number, using an undisclosed AI voice to obtain money, or sending a fake warrant by text or e-mail is treated as communications fraud and simulated legal process. High-volume or high-loss cases would be an elevated felony and carry mandatory prison time. Possession or importation of a phone farm or SIM farm becomes a felony, and the equipment is designated contraband. Continue reading
Oct 02 City of Leesburg’s Home Run Flicks
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg
Grab your blankets, pack up your chairs, and bring the whole family for an unforgettable movie night at Pat Thomas Stadium!
Oct 02 First Friday – Historic Downtown Eustis
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Downtown Eustis – Eustis Street and Magnolia Avenue in Eustis
Join us every First Friday in Downtown Eustis for an evening of live music, more than 80 vendors, local shopping, and great food and drinks!
Oct 03 Fall in the Field Show
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Renninger’s Antique Center in Mount Dora
Antique Center, Consignment, Street of Shops, The Stables, Pavilions, and Outdoors. Fall is here! Come shop a selection of vendors
CISA aims to enhance active shooter preparedness through a “whole community” approach.
Overview
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “active shooter” is defined as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” Active shooter incidents are often unpredictable and evolve quickly. Amid the chaos, anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter incident.
In many cases, there is no pattern or method to the selection of victims by an active shooter, and these situations are by their very nature unpredictable and evolve quickly. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes – before law enforcement arrives on the scene – individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation. Continue reading
• Coffee with a Cop
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from a morning schedule at Target.
Target, Lady Lake, FL.
An informal meet-and-greet giving residents a chance to chat with local law enforcement officers over coffee.
Cost: Free.
• Lady Lake Farmers and Crafts Market: Master Gardeners
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM.
260 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake, FL.
Local market featuring fresh produce, crafts, live music, and special guidance from extension master gardeners.
Free admission.
• Not Too Scary Halloween Boo Bash
Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Guava Street Athletic Complex, 221 W. Guava Street, Lady Lake, FL.
Family-friendly Halloween celebration with safe trick-or-treating, festive activities, and local community booths.
Free.
Reilly Noir: JK & the Contraband
Friday, October 2, 2026 at 7:30 PM | in the Midgett Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center
Tickets from $33
JK & the Contraband delivers a genre-blurring live experience fusing jazz improvisation with the raw energy of ‘90s alternative rock. Their latest endeavor reimagines classic alt-rock and grunge icons through a fearless, instrumental lens—transforming the music of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, and Queens of the Stone Age into atmospheric, groove-driven arrangements. 90’s nostalgia is dominating the zeitgeist and The Contraband is bringing their own spin to the era’s most iconic music.
Late Nite Catechism: ‘Til Death Do Us Part
Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM | AdventHealth Mainstage
Tickets from $40
“Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3” is the latest class to be unveiled in this sinfully funny series. After teaching countless students about the saints, venial sins, limbo and more, Sister is now offering up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and the Last Rites, including her own wacky version of the Newlywed Game. Classroom participation is a must, so bring along your sweetie and your sense of humor for a session with the country’s feistiest couples counselor!
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM | AdventHealth Mainstage
Tickets from $38
TOAST will take you on a journey back in time, engaging a spectrum of emotions; from the tender moments that tug on the heartstrings to the upbeat classics that compel you to jump out of your seat and dance. And when combined with truly timeless music, this concert will “rise” to the top as one of your absolute favorite concerts of all time!
Xavier Riddle and The Secret Museum
Oct. 10, 2026 – Jan. 9 2027
This brand-new exhibit brings to life the acclaimed PBS KIDS® TV series, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, which follows kid adventurers Xavier, Yadina, and Brad as they travel back in time to learn from real-life
inspirational figures when they were kids!
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After Dark in the Park Movie Series
It’s movie time! Join us for FREE movies throughout the year at different City of Ocala parks. We will bring the movie and popcorn; you just need to bring a blanket and/or chair to enjoy the show. No registration is required to attend our movies, simply show up, get comfortable and enjoy the show!
Young Frankenstein | Friday, Oct. 23| 7 p.m.
Fort King National Historic Landmark | 3925 E Fort King St.
An American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.
(NAPSI)—For Alexis González, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross, her job gives her the opportunity to serve and work alongside her community every day.
“My work wouldn’t be possible without the support and trust of the people I serve, especially the Latino community,” she says.
“I am the daughter of Mexican parents and was born in Los Angeles. I grew up in a Hispanic community, speaking both Spanish and English and experiencing firsthand what it means to be Latina in the United States. That’s why it’s important to me that people know we are here for everyone,” Alexis says.
From Donor Advocate To Patient
Last year, Alexis, who spends much of her time raising awareness about the importance of blood donation and is herself a regular donor, faced a medical emergency that required an emergency blood transfusion. Continue reading
For people diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, the clinical trial conversation belongs in the very first appointment.
A diagnosis of SCLC can trigger a whirlwind of appointments, tests, and decisions. But amid all that noise, there is one question patients should ask their doctor as early as possible:
“Is there a clinical trial that might be right for me?”
Many patients may associate that question with running out of treatment options. But according to Dr. Ashish Saxena, Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine, that’s not always the case.
Some clinical trials are available only before treatment begins, while others are studying promising therapies as a first treatment. For someone facing a fast-moving cancer like SCLC, timing is everything. Continue reading
The Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program’s Operation Turn the Page initiative continues throughout September, putting books in the hands of children living in low-income communities across the country. Rooted in the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and dream, Operation Turn the Page highlights the life-changing impact of reaching children who may otherwise have few or no books to call their own. For many of these children, a single book can spark a love of reading, build confidence, and open the door to opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
Helping turn that mission into reality is Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company. Scholastic has served as a valued partner of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program since 1998 and has helped provide books to millions of students, teachers, and families nationwide.
Together, the organizations are giving children more than stories to read. They are opening doors to imagination, building confidence in young readers, and creating opportunities that can last a lifetime. Continue reading
HAPPY 251st BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES NAVY!
On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing the purchase and fitting of “two armed vessels, one to carry ten carriage guns and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, to be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months.” A second vessel of similar size was also authorized. This was in response to two British ordnance ships known to be sailing from England unescorted, and their capture would yield powder, arms, and equipment that Washington’s army besieging Boston desperately needed.
On October 30, four more vessels were authorized and, on November 10, the Continental Marines were established. By the end of 1775, seven ships had been authorized, and 13 frigates of 24, 28, and 32 guns were under construction in American shipyards.
The Continental Navy never numbered more than 65 vessels, and it was gradually reduced by capture and attrition, effectively disbanding in 1785. The U.S. Navy traces its continuous institutional existence to the Naval Act of March 27, 1794. But, by convention and by act of Congress, October 13, 1775
