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The University of Florida international student arrested near campus and sent to an immigration detention center has returned to Colombia, according to a new statement from his mother there.Felipe Zapata Velásquez, 27, was arrested March 28 for driving with a U.S. driver’s license that had been suspended since January 2024 and with an outdated vehicle registration. He was taken to Jacksonville by federal immigration agents after his arrest and told he could await his case’s resolution in jail in the United States or sign his self-deportation and return to Colombia, according to an interview on April 2 with his mother, Claudia Velásquez, by NTN24. The University of Florida international student arrested near campus and sent to an immigration detention center has returned to Colombia, according to a new statement from his mother there.Felipe Zapata Velásquez, 27, was arrested March 28 for driving with a U.S. driver’s license that had been suspended since January 2024 and with an outdated vehicle registration. He was taken to Jacksonville by federal immigration agents after his arrest and told he could await his case’s resolution in jail in the United States or sign his self-deportation and return to Colombia, according to an interview on April 2 with his mother, Claudia Velásquez, by NTN24. -
File/Lee Ann Anderson/Fresh Take FloridaA new cell phone ban could go into effect at the start of the next school year should the Lee County school board give an expected nod to the proposal when it meets Tuesday evening. -
In this installment from the StoryCorps Mobile Tour visit to Fort Myers in 2024, we hear Finzo Hall and his mother Marcia Robinson talk about immigrating from Jamaica to the U.S, Finzo’s determination to follow his dream of becoming a pilot, and helping other young people achieve their dreams through the powers of faith and resiliency. -
Lee high school graduation rates up, but still lagging; Gov. DeSantis declares school choice successThe School District of Lee County is proud to announce the graduation rate for the class of 2024 rose to 85.8%, setting a record high for the School District since new graduation standards were implemented in 2022. The 2019-2020 graduation rate was artificially inflated by the exemption for seniors from statewide, standardized assessment requirements stipulated in state law due to the COVID pandemic.
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The Collier County School Board held a special meeting Monday morning to discuss two hot-button issues: Critical Race Theory and Vaccines. -
It would allow parents to request that children in kindergarten through fifth grade be retained to help them catch up. -
A proposed rule that will be weighed by the State Board of Education aims to control the way history is taught in Florida classrooms and not allow teachers to “indoctrinate” students, as part of what state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran called a "constant, vigilant fight." -
Florida lawmakers decided this session to eliminate a pair of programs, including a $600 stipend to Bright Futures recipients. -
Among other things, it strips away current restrictions, such as a requirement of previous enrollment in public schools before students can receive vouchers. -
A new program at Florida Gulf Coast University will help students with intellectual disabilities transition from highschool to college. -
The state Department of Education's clarification comes after questions arose about the impacts of the orders on school districts. -
Every Florida public school would be required to have a moment of silence of up to two minutes during first period under a bill passed by the Senate. -
House Higher Education Appropriations Chairman Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, told reporters the stipend was “subsidizing textbook companies.” -
Graduation for high school seniors this spring will not be contingent on passing exams, and end-of-course exam scores can be waived when determining whether students get promoted to the next grade levels. -
The bill would measure whether “competing ideas and perspectives” are fairly presented and encouraged during class lectures. -
The private university announced that vaccinations are mandatory by Aug. 1. School officials say they plan to resume full, in-person classroom learning for the fall semester.
