Dog Dies in Molino Camper Fire

Escambia County, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- A camper fire near McDavid claimed the life of a dog Monday afternoon. Firefighters arrived to find the camper fully engulfed in flames on Lambert Bridge Road. A dog died in the blaze, but no people were injured. The camper was a total loss. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby home, though heat from the flames damaged the home's siding. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

DeSantis Pushes Florida AI Bill of Rights, Says Federal Action Won’t Stop State Protections

JUPITER, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing forward with a proposal he calls an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, saying Florida should act now to protect residents as AI technology rapidly expands — and that recent federal action won’t stand in the way.

Speaking during an AI roundtable at Florida Atlantic University’s Jupiter campus, DeSantis said a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump does not prevent states from setting their own guardrails around artificial intelligence.

DeSantis argued that only Congress has the authority to preempt state laws in this area and said Trump’s order actually encourages states to address consumer and child protections tied to AI use.

The proposed AI Bill of Rights would limit how artificial intelligence systems can use a person’s name, image, or likeness without consent. It would also restrict insurance companies from relying solely on AI to process claims, requiring human review. Another provision aims to prevent taxpayers from being forced to subsidize massive “hyperscale” AI data centers.

The governor framed the proposal as a consumer protection measure, warning that rapidly evolving AI tools can be misused through deepfakes, scams, and misleading digital content if left unchecked.

The roundtable also included emotional testimony from an Orlando mother who is suing the company Character.AI. She says her 14-year-old son died by suicide months after interacting with an AI chatbot that she claims posed as a licensed therapist and groomed him online. DeSantis cited cases like hers as evidence that states need to move quickly to regulate AI technology.

DeSantis acknowledged concerns that regulating artificial intelligence could slow innovation or allow foreign competitors like China to gain an advantage. But he argued that protecting Floridians should take priority, saying global competition should not be an excuse to allow AI to operate without safeguards.

The AI Bill of Rights proposal is expected to be taken up by state lawmakers during the next legislative session.

Explosive Device Removed from Home in Milton

Milton, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- An explosive device was found on the front porch of a Milton home Monday. Milton Police and Fire Department responded to the home on Clayton Lane after the live device was discovered. Residents were evacuated and a safety perimeter was established. Bomb technicians from the Bureau of Fire Arson and Explosives used an X-ray to examine it, then safely removed and secured the device off-site for controlled disposal. Police say the ordnance belonged to a recently deceased elderly man and was found by family members cleaning out the property. No one was injured, and investigators determined there was no criminal intent. The threat to public safety has been eliminated.