Oct 24 Once a swing state, Florida becomes redder as GOP confidence grows By Steve Peoples, Adriana Gomez Licon, Brendan Farrington, Associated Press Democrats are increasingly concerned that Florida may be slipping away this fall — and perhaps beyond — as emboldened Republicans seize on divisive cultural issues and demographic shifts in crucial contests for governor and the U.S. Senate. Continue reading
Oct 19 Flesh-eating bacteria on the rise in Florida following Hurricane Ian By Associated Press Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases… Continue reading
Oct 16 Florida applies lessons from Hurricane Michael to costly Ian recovery By Jay Reeves, Associated Press Four years before Category 4 Ian wiped out parts of southwest Florida, the state's Panhandle had its own encounter with an even stronger hurricane, Michael. Continue reading
Oct 14 Prosecutors of Parkland shooter call for probe after report of threat to juror By Terry Spencer, Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press Prosecutors of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz called for an investigation Friday after a juror said another panelist threatened her during the deliberations that ended with a life sentence for Cruz's murder of 17 people four years ago at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Continue reading
Oct 11 Prosecutor makes final case for Parkland shooter's execution By Terry Spencer, Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The lead prosecutor of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz made his final push Tuesday to persuade jurors to sentence him to death, telling them during his closing argument that the 2018 attack that killed… Continue reading
Oct 11 Florida shrimpers rush to save fleet destroyed by Hurricane Ian By Jay Reeves, Associated Press The seafood industry in southwest Florida is racing against time and the elements to save what’s left of a major shrimping fleet — and a lifestyle — that was battered by Hurricane Ian. Continue reading
Oct 10 Southwest Florida residents on long road to recovery post-Ian as search for survivors concludes By Jay Reeves, Associated Press The major search for victims of Hurricane Ian ended over the weekend, and residents return to a decimated Fort Myers Beach. Continue reading
Oct 10 Hurricane Ian survivors face immense grief as many return home to ruin By Bobby Caina Calvan, Brian Melley, Associated Press Experts say suicides climb after disasters and more funding for mental health should be provided as climate change makes storms and fires more frequent and devastating. Continue reading
Oct 08 Disasters like Ian pose extra risk for less mobile seniors, people with chronic illness By Anita Snow, Jay Reeves, Associated Press Older people with limited mobility and those with chronic health conditions requiring the use of electrically powered medical devices were especially vulnerable when Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida, and experts warn such risks to society's oldest are growing as… Continue reading
Oct 07 Watch 3:45 News Wrap: Hurricane Ian death toll tops 100, Uvalde suspends campus police force In our news wrap Friday, Hurricane Ian is now the second-deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland this century behind Hurricane Katrina, the Uvalde school district suspended its entire campus police force after intense criticism over their response to the… Continue watching