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Tag: florida

  • Polk County approves nearly $2M contract for new well water supply

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County leaders are looking for ways to keep up with the influx of people moving to the area.

    They recently approved a nearly $2-million contract for a new water well supply in the northeast part of the county.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Commissioners approved a new water supply well in Northeast Polk County
    • An alternative water supply receiving facility is awaiting approval to be constructed on the same property as the new well
    • The county cites the growing population and the need to look for sustainable water sources


    Stepping out into his backyard, Sean Brinkmeier likes to enjoy the scenery, although it might look a little different this time of year.

    “I’ve always wanted to live near water, around water, I have for a good portion of my life,” he says.

    He’s lived in and around Polk County for several years.

    So, he’s seen the growth firsthand and what’s needed for growing communities like his.

    “It needs a lot of infrastructure, whether that’s roads, water, power lines all of it, so it’s great to see that they’re investing in this part of Polk County,” he said.

    The Polk County Board of Commissioners recently approved a $1.8-million project for a new water supply well in northeast Polk County adjacent to Davenport.

    “It’s more of a maintenance type thing, rather than a new water supply,” said Tamara Richardson, the utilities director.

    She said the current well in the area isn’t up to par, so they’re creating a new one about a mile away, but she says this is just part of a bigger project to construct an alternative water supply receiving facility.

    Richardson said they’ve reached the water pumping limit from the upper level of the Floridan aquifer.

    Now, they’re having to find new ways to access water from the lower Floridan aquifer.

    She said the northeast part of the county is the fastest growing, and they serve more than 40,000 residential and commercial areas.

    “We need this lower Floridan to continue to serve additional growth and to provide more reliability for the northeast for our existing customers,” she says.

    Richardson said the new project came with rate increases; according to the county, customers can expect a 6% increase every year over the next six years.

    Brinkmeier says he’s excited to see more people calling Polk County home, and he hopes local leaders keep residents in mind as the growth continues.

    “Davenport is lagging, Polk County’s lagging but they are showing great steps to get back up and get in front of the growth that’s happening right now,” says Brinkmeier.

    It’s a growing community, one which Brinkmeier hopes his family can continue to enjoy for many years to come.

    The plans for the construction of the receiving facility are going to be presented for approval on Tuesday at the Polk County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Polk County urges public to follow burn ban amid brush fire uptick

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    BARTOW, Fla. — Polk County leaders are urging the public to follow its countywide burn ban after experiencing a recent uptick in brush fires. 

    The burn ban went into effect Nov. 25 and applies to the municipalities of Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Winter Haven.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fire crews have responded to 72 fires since the middle of last week — 30 of them on Sunday alone

    • County leaders say extremely dry weather is creating prime fire conditions, making it easier for fires to spread quickly and threaten homes

    • The countywide burn ban prohibits bonfires, trash burning and other open burns. Violators could face up to a $500 fine or 60 days in jail


    Since then, Polk County Fire Chief Shawn Smith said crews have seen most brush fires south of U.S. 60, with some emergency calls coming from parts of Lakeland. That includes a fire at a home on Lunn Woods Drive last Thursday.

    Firefighters were dispatched at 2:14 p.m. and arrived on scene minutes later to find the brush fire quickly spreading to a house. Two other structures on the property were already fully involved. Another structure and a semitrailer on an adjacent property were partially involved.

    The homeowner, retired Polk County Fire engineer Tony Trupiano, suffered a minor injury and was treated on scene.

    Smith said the brush fire is just one of 72 fires crews have responded to since the middle of last week — 30 of them on Sunday alone. Smith and other county commissioners are pointing to extremely dry conditions as the reason for the rise in fires.

    “I have lived in Polk County all my life, and this is probably one of the driest seasons I have seen yet,” County Commissioner Rick Wilson said.

    “It’s dry out there. It’s prime for fire conditions, and we will do our best — we will be the best at putting these fires out and protecting life and property. But we do need some help,” Smith said.

    Smith said several of the fires started from illegal burning. That’s why leaders say it is crucial for the community to follow the countywide burn ban.

    The ban prohibits bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard and household trash, burning of organic debris and noncommercial burning of materials other than for religious or ceremonial purposes.

    Violators could face a fine of up to $500 or up to 60 days in jail. So far, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says it has fined more than 20 people.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

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    Becoming an astronaut is challenging, yet one woman defied the odds to become the first African American woman in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jemison wanted to study science from an early age

    • She first studied medicine before starting a career at NASA

    • She went to space in Sept. 1992

    • After NASA, she accomplished many more things


    Early life accomplishments

    Born in the 1950s, Mae C. Jemison refused to let anything stop her from becoming one of the most accomplished African American women in history.

    She was born in Decatur, Ala. but grew up in Chicago, and from a very early age, she knew she wanted to study science.

    She worked hard and graduated from high school at just 16, then headed across the country to attend Stanford University.

    As one of the few African Americans in her class, she faced discrimination from both students and teachers, yet she earned two degrees in four years—chemical engineering and African American studies.

    Jemison didn’t begin her career in space; she first attended Cornell Medical School, where she earned her medical degree and practiced general medicine.

    Her talents also didn’t stop in science. Jemison is fluent in Japanese, Russian and Swahili. She used this and her medical studies to her advantage and joined the Peace Corps in 1983 to help people in Africa for two years.

    Jemison with the rest of the Endeavour Crew in 1992. (AP Photo/Chris O’ Meara)

    On to space

    After serving in the Peace Corps, Jemison opened a private medical practice, but before long she set her sights on a long-held dream: going to space.

    Jemison applied for the astronaut program at NASA in 1985. Unfortunately, NASA stopped accepting applications after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

    In 1987, Jemison reapplied and was chosen as one of 15 out of 2,000 applicants. Nichelle Nichols—Uhura from the original Star Trek—recruited her, and as a longtime fan, Jemison later guest-starred in an episode of the series.

    In Sept. 1992, she joined six other astronauts on the Endeavor for eight days, making her the first African American woman in space. On her mission, she made 127 orbits around the Earth.

    Mae C. Jemison on board the Endeavour in 1992. (Photo by NASA)

    After NASA

    Jemison left NASA the year after she went to space and accomplished many more things.

    She started her own consulting company, became a professor at Cornell, launched the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, created an international space camp for teens and much more.

    She currently leads 100 Year Starship through DARPA, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to ensure humans will travel to another star in the next 100 years.

    With all her accomplishments, it’s no surprise Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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  • Minnesota Twins starter Pablo López ends bullpen session early over elbow soreness

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    Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo López ended a bullpen session early on Monday over what manager Derek Shelton said was “a little bit of elbow soreness.”

    López, who turns 30 next month, threw two-plus innings before shutting things down. He was considered ahead of schedule in preparations to join Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic.

    López has been the opening day starter for the Twins the past three seasons. He was limited to 75 2/3 innings last year, with three stints on the injured list for hamstring, shoulder and forearm issues.

    The 2023 All-Star had made 32 starts in each season from 2022-24, the first of those with Miami before a pair with Minnesota.

    “We decided, out of an abundance of caution, let’s get him off, let’s get him off the field and make sure he’s OK,” Shelton told reporters at the club’s spring training facility. “We’ll get some imaging on it, just because of how important it is and he is to us.”

    Lopez was 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA last season. He won 10 games in each of the previous three seasons, capped by a career-best 15 in 2024.

    In:

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    CBS Minnesota

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  • Florida among states in ‘drug-resistent’ salmonella outbreak linked to moringa

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    Moringa powder capsules have been recalled as a CDC and FDA investigation links the capsules to a new form of salmonella outbreak that the CDC calls “unusual and highly concerning.”

    “The salmonella strain associated with this outbreak is resistant to all first-line and alternative antibiotics commonly recommended for the treatment of salmonella infections,” the FDA said in its outbreak update.

    Here’s what you need to know about Ambrosia Brands’ Rosabella moringa capsules and the salmonella outbreak.

    READ MORE: Alert for blood monitor sold by Walmart, Publix, Kroger, others after injuries and death

    What’s been recalled?

    Ambrosia Brands recalled 52 lots of Rosabella moringa capsules, sold in 60-count bottles.

    Rosabella moringa capsules
    Rosabella moringa capsules FDA

    The company’s recall notice says it sold the capsules through its website, tryrosabella.com, and through the company’s TikTok shop. Ambrosia called sales of the capsules through eBay, Shein and Amazon.com “unauthorized third party distribution,” but those capsules could be involved in the recall.

    Lot numbers can be found on the bottle bottoms and are the middle seven numbers between “1356” and “1” or “2.”

    Lots recalled are: Nos. 5020591-96, expiration date 03/2027; Nos. 5030246-51, expiration date 04/2027; Nos. 5040270-79, expiration date 05/2027; Nos. 5050053-56, expiration date 6/2027; Nos. 5060069-80, expiration date 07/2027; Nos. 5080084-86, expiration date 9/2027; Nos. 5090107-09, 5090113-118, expiration date 10/2027; and Nos. 5100039, 5100048, expiration date 11/2027.

    “We have discontinued use and purchase of all raw moringa leaf powder from the raw material supplier of the above referenced lots,” Ambrosia’s FDA-posted recall notice said.

    Where you’ll find the lot numbers on bottles of Rosabella Moringa Capsules. The lot number is the middle seven digits starting with “5.”
    Where you’ll find the lot numbers on bottles of Rosabella Moringa Capsules. The lot number is the middle seven digits starting with “5.” FDA

    Return these capsules to the seller and demand a full refund. Call Ambrosia at 914-768-1357, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time, with any questions about this recall.

    What’s going on with the salmonella outbreak?

    The outbreak isn’t big in numbers so far, but because salmonella usually doesn’t require a medical professional’s attention, outbreaks’ official counts often represent a small percentage of those actually sickened. The CDC estimates only one in 30 cases get reported.

    According to the FDA’s Friday update, the seven people in the outbreak are spread across seven states: Florida, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, Iowa and Tennessee. Investigators have interviewed three people, each of whom said they had Rosabella moringa powder capsules.

    But what makes this outbreak unique, the CDC said, is that “this is the first documented outbreak of salmonella with an NDM-1 gene in the United States.”

    And this Newport strain of salmonella contains, the CDC said, an “unusual and highly concerning antimicrobial resistance.”

    That came from an analysis of clinical samples from those sickened. The agency’s conducting more tests to confirm this high level of invulnerability to the usual antibiotics prescribed for salmonella.

    What is salmonella?

    Fortunately, antibiotics usually aren’t needed for salmonella, which hits 1.35 million people in the United States annually. Usually, it’s four to seven days suffering through, at various times, stomachaches, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

    If the diarrhea or barfing lasts more than two days; there’s blood in the diarrhea or urine; or a fever spikes to over 102 degrees, a visit to a medical professional is recommended.

    This story was originally published February 16, 2026 at 11:15 AM.

    David J. Neal

    Miami Herald

    Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.

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    David J. Neal

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  • Sarah Branyan helps fellow veterans with her personal story of recovery

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Bay Area veteran is using the personal trauma she suffered and her resulting downward spiral to help other vets at at the C.W. Bill Young Veteran’s Medical Center in Bay Pines.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sarah Branyan is a Peer Support Specialist in Mental Health/PTSD at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in St. Petersburg

    • Branyan said her life spiraled out of control after suffering military sexual trauma as a teenager in the Army, but she recovered from drug addictions 

    • Group meeting participants say they can relate to Branyan because of a personal story

    • Branyan said she stresses positive thinking to patients in the group meetings


    Sarah Branyan is a Peer Support Specialist in Mental Health/PTSD. Among other things, she leads group sessions of in-patient veterans with serious personal issues.

    “All right, what you got?” said Branyan to a small group as she talked to them about their plans in case of a personal emergency. “You are the only person who can accommodate yourself. So, if you don’t do it. It’s not going to get done,” she said.

    Branyan has a dramatic story of recovery to tell the veterans to encourage them. She went through basic training in the Army as a 17-year-old. While waiting for a security clearance because she was still a minor, Branyan said she suffered what’s called a Military Sexual Trauma at the hands of a commander.

    Branyan said she then separated from the military under a Chapter 11 discharge. Her life then went out of control. She said she began using drugs including meth, crack cocaine and heroin. “A coping mechanism. And I just didn’t want to feel like me,” she said. “Didn’t want to feel like I felt in my skin.” Branyan said rehabilitation facilities did fix her addiction problems.

    Branyan said she was arrested many times over the next decade. “I have gosh, a very extensive criminal record.” She eventually spent two years in prison in Maryland. Branyan said her years behind bars saved her life because it gave her enough time to beat her addictions.

    “For sure, I always tell the story that I have felonies on my record, and I work for the federal government. So, there is nothing that is insurmountable if you are willing to do the work.”

    Branyan often stresses positive thinking to the patients in the group sessions. “When you are thinking positively you are not in fight-or-flight mode. So, you are more resilient,” she said. “You are more able to find solutions. You are more creative. All the things that we give up and become self-fulfilling prophecies when we are focused in the negative.”

    Small group members like Crystal Elerbee feel like they can relate to Branyan because of what Branyan has been through. “Somebody who has been there, done that,” said Elerbee. “Somebody that can understand where you have coming from.”

    Seeing a fellow veteran make a turnaround is a great reward for Branyan. “Oh, I love it. That’s my favorite thing,” she said. “Because often we don’t get to see the end result. We just must hope we are making a difference. But in this role, I get to see it all the time.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Crews battle multiple brush fires across Polk County

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Fire Rescue crews responded to more than 30 brush fires throughout Polk County on Sunday.

    The largest fire burned more than 400 acres near State Road 60 in the River Ranch area. An unknown number of camps were burned, but no homes or structures at or around the Westgate River Ranch area were affected as of 9 p.m. Sunday. State Road 60 was reopened around 9 p.m. Sunday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Fire Rescue crews responded to more than 30 brush fires throughout Polk County

    • The largest fire burned more than 400 acres near State Road 60 in the River Ranch area

    • Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Shawn Smith said no evacuations were being ordered in the River Ranch area

    Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Shawn Smith said no evacuations were being ordered in the River Ranch area, but also added that brush fires can be unpredictable and high winds can be a factor. 

    In response, Smith said people need to take the burn ban seriously.

    He pointed to the extreme drought conditions, lack of any significant rainfall, recent high winds and number of people not adhering to the burn ban as reasons for the recent uptick in brush fires.

    “It seems that brush fires have been a constant issue throughout the day today. I just want to remind everybody that there are serious drought conditions in Polk County,” Smith said. “These illegal recreational fires need to cease.”

    PCFR crews also battled a two-alarm brush fire off Osceola Polk Line Road in the Davenport area Sunday afternoon. Roughly 68 acres were burned in that fire as well as four non-dwelling structures.

    Fire departments from Davenport, Haines City, Dundee and Orange County helped battle the fire.

    No injuries were reported in the fires.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • AI, property tax bills garnering attention as legislature meets halfway point

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lawmakers are in the second half of the legislative session in Tallahassee, and among the mountain of legislation being considered, a number of bills addressing artificial intelligence and property taxes are still moving through committees.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida legislative session at halfway point 

    • Two bills garnering a lot of interest addressing artificial intelligence are House Bill 1007 and Senate Bill 484

    • Lawmakers also discussing House Joint Resolution 209, which is taking aim at property tax reductions with a full House vote expected in the coming weeks

    Two bills garnering a lot of interest addressing AI are House Bill 1007 and Senate Bill 484.

    The artificial intelligence bill is seeking regulation of new data centers — which require a huge draw of electricity and water — across the state

    The bill would disallow incentives and make providers pay full price for electricity. Those data centers would also be subject to strict water restrictions.

    Meanwhile, House Joint Resolution 209 is taking aim at property tax reductions with a full House vote expected in the coming weeks.

    The resolution would provide an increase of homestead exemption to $200,000 for homeowners that carry comprehensive multi-peril insurance coverage.

    Other bills also moving through committees include mandatory mediation for disputes between homeowners and insurance companies and a bill that would prohibit insurers from dropping homeowners based solely on roof condition.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • ‘Cowboy’ lassos loose cow in Florida

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    When a cow started running loose through Port Orange, Florida, Lewis Perry handled it the only way he knew how: he saddled up his horse and rode into town.Before the roundup came the routine.Perry prepared Tweety, his 8-year-old roping horse, for a job no one expected, capturing a stray cow wandering near homes and busy streets Thursday. “I called around to some buddies of mine, and nobody was really available,” Perry said. “So I told my wife, I said, ‘I think we’ve got to do something about this.’” Once he located the cow, he knew there was little room for error.“If you go to rope a cow that is loose like that, you generally only get one try at it,” Perry said. “If you rope it and miss, then she or he will bolt, and you have to race and chase them down. In suburbs like that, it can get really dangerous.” With homes, traffic, and onlookers nearby, a missed throw could have made the situation worse.But Perry made the catch.With assistance from officers and neighbors, he guided the cow safely into a trailer without injuries or damage.He credited Tweety for staying calm despite the unusual surroundings, including crowds gathering to watch.“It didn’t bother him at all,” Perry said. “It bothered me more than him, probably.”Where the cow came from remains unclear.“That one had no markings at all, which is weird,” Perry said. “We use ear tags on all of our cattle.”For now, Perry is keeping the cow while trying to identify its owner.In the meantime, he’s praising the horse that helped bring the situation under control.“He’s just a well-mannered horse that does a very good job for me,” Perry said. “I’m very, very lucky to own him.”

    When a cow started running loose through Port Orange, Florida, Lewis Perry handled it the only way he knew how: he saddled up his horse and rode into town.

    Before the roundup came the routine.

    Perry prepared Tweety, his 8-year-old roping horse, for a job no one expected, capturing a stray cow wandering near homes and busy streets Thursday.

    “I called around to some buddies of mine, and nobody was really available,” Perry said. “So I told my wife, I said, ‘I think we’ve got to do something about this.’”

    Once he located the cow, he knew there was little room for error.

    “If you go to rope a cow that is loose like that, you generally only get one try at it,” Perry said. “If you rope it and miss, then she or he will bolt, and you have to race and chase them down. In suburbs like that, it can get really dangerous.”

    With homes, traffic, and onlookers nearby, a missed throw could have made the situation worse.

    But Perry made the catch.

    With assistance from officers and neighbors, he guided the cow safely into a trailer without injuries or damage.

    He credited Tweety for staying calm despite the unusual surroundings, including crowds gathering to watch.

    “It didn’t bother him at all,” Perry said. “It bothered me more than him, probably.”

    Where the cow came from remains unclear.

    “That one had no markings at all, which is weird,” Perry said. “We use ear tags on all of our cattle.”

    For now, Perry is keeping the cow while trying to identify its owner.

    In the meantime, he’s praising the horse that helped bring the situation under control.

    “He’s just a well-mannered horse that does a very good job for me,” Perry said. “I’m very, very lucky to own him.”

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  • A Storm System Sweeps Across the Southeast Triggering Tornado Warnings and Damaging Winds

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    ATLANTA (AP) — A storm system sweeping across the Southeast late Saturday and Sunday brought tornado warnings to Mississippi and Louisiana, and then took aim at parts of Georgia and Florida, as people in the Northeast were finally getting a reprieve from weeks of bitterly cold temperatures.

    Some of the fiercest storms in the South were reported near Lake Charles, Louisiana, where high winds from a thunderstorm overturned a horse trailer and a Mardi Gras float, damaged an airport jet bridge and flung the metal awning from a house into power lines. The damage was documented by National Weather Service employees who surveyed the area.

    Power poles were snapped and toppled near the Louisiana towns of Jena, Cheneyville and Donaldsonville, the weather service reported.

    No deaths or serious injuries were reported, but the damage reports came as the storm system continued its path into parts of south Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, which were under tornado watches on Sunday.

    Boston was running nearly 7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 14 Celsius) below average for February by midweek, and the city was on pace for its coldest winter in more than a decade. Boston remained cold on Sunday, but the week’s forecast called for temperatures climbing into the high 30s and low 40s, which is closer to the seasonal average.

    Elsewhere in the U.S., parts of California were bracing for showers, thunderstorms and snow showers. Jacob Spender, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said a storm system was moving on shore in California throughout Sunday and through the week.

    Heavy snow was forecast for elevated areas, Spender said.

    “As we get up into the mountains and the foothills, we’re going to be looking at some snowfall,” Spender said. “So there will be snowfall all the way down into the foothills as well.”

    Spender said people should heed travel advisories in the coming days.

    “So if they are traveling, packing winter safety kits. Anything to be prepared. This is a bigger system, and a major system,” Spender said.

    Associated Press journalists Julie Walker in New York City; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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    Associated Press

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  • Enis’ 27 lead South Florida over Florida Atlantic 83-81 in OT

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    BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Wes Enis led South Florida with 27 points and CJ Brown hit the winning free throws with eight seconds remaining in the overtime as the Bulls knocked off Florida Atlantic 83-81 on Sunday, the Owls’ sixth consecutive loss.

    FAU’s Devin Williams hit a 3-pointer that made it 81-all with 33 seconds left, but Brown’s free throws capped the scoring. Kanaan Carlyle missed a potential winning 3-point shot from beyond NBA range.

    Enis shot 10 of 17 from the field, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the free-throw line for the Bulls (18-8, 10-3 American Athletic Conference). Brown finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals while shooting 5 of 13 from the field and 6 for 6 from the foul line. Joseph Pinion had 16 points and went 6 of 15 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range).

    Devin Vanterpool finished with 26 points for the Owls (14-12, 6-7). Florida Atlantic also got 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals and five blocks from Williams. Carlyle also scored 15 points.

    Vanterpool made a layup with nine seconds left in regulation that made it 72-all and forced OT.

    Josh Omojafo scored the final seven points for South Florida to finish off the two-point victory.

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    Associated Press

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  • No. 14 Florida beats 25th-ranked Kentucky 92-83

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Xaivian Lee scored 22 points, Urban Klavzar added 19 and No. 14 Florida beat 25th-ranked Kentucky 92-83 Saturday for its 10th victory in its last 11 outings.

    Lee and Klavzar took advantage of Florida’s paint presence and hit a combined nine 3-pointers.

    Thomas Haugh (17), Alex Condon (14) and Rueben Chinyelu (10) also scored in double figures for the Gators, who ended a six-game skid against the Wildcats at home.

    Florida (19-6, 10-2 Southeastern Conference) had been 1-4 against Kentucky (17-8, 8-4) under coach Todd Golden. But the Gators led wire to wire in this one and finished with a 45-37 rebounding advantage. Condon and Chinyelu grabbed 11 boards each, both finishing with a double-double.

    The matchup featured a unique subplot. Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen, who spent the last three years at Florida and helped the Gators win the national title last March, was “welcomed” back with a chorus of boos.

    Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 19 points while getting taunted with chants of “Gator traitor” throughout. Collin Chandler added 18, and Otega Oweh chipped in 13.

    Florida opened up a double-digit lead early but didn’t put Kentucky away until a second-half spurt that included inside buckets from Condon and outside shots from Klavzar, who finished 5-of-11 shooting from behind the arc.

    The Gators had several former players on hand for the sold-out game, including NBA rookies and Walter Clayton and Will Richard. Clayton, the MVP of last year’s Final Four, and Richard were greeted with standing ovations when they walked to their courtside seats and when they were recognized in the first half. Matt Walsh (2002-05) and Matt Bonner (1999-2003) also made the trip to Gainesville.

    Up next

    Kentucky: Hosts Georgia on Tuesday.

    Florida: Hosts South Carolina on Tuesday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Fan fest yard sale includes Rays gear dating back to 2008

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Preparing for their return to Pinellas County, the Tampa Bay Rays are hosting a community yard sale Saturday with all kinds of items that were pulled from Tropicana Field during construction.

    The 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest will be held from 1-5 p.m. Saturday. The large yard sale is set up outside of Gates 4 and 5 on 16th Street S.

    The Rays typically hold a community yard sale as part of Fan Fest, where the remainder of the previous year’s promotional items and team gear are sold off to prepare for the new season.

    The team also held a pre-construction yard sale over the summer.

    The goal of that was to purge most of the goodies that had been piling up at Tropicana Field over the last two decades, but the team’s Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh said they found more as construction continued.

    “Candidly, we keep finding things,” Walsh said. “This is kind of the last of it. This is the last round.”

    All yard sale items will be sold for $5. Authentic jerseys and mystery autograph balls will be sold for $30.

    Some of the items that hit the yard sale tables date as far back as 2008. They include promotional shirts, hats, jerseys, costumes, bobbleheads, tumblers, glasses, toys, signs, and items that were created for current and former players.

    The shirts given out in the 2024 season as part of “RandyLand” are for sale, as well as many items used in the Rays 20th anniversary season. The promotional baseballs from last year’s 2025 Opening Day at Steinbrenner Field are also for sale, among many other unique items.

    “In many ways, what happened here at Tropicana Field was kind of the poster child for Hurricane Milton and even Hurricane Helene,” Walsh said. “So, to be able to bounce back like this and have this comeback bring Major League Baseball back to The Trop, even if its only for a few years, is something we really really want to celebrate.”

    All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Rays Baseball Foundation.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Shane McClanahan ready to ‘enjoy the game again’ after 2 injured seasons

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    PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — There have been a ton of smiles this week at the Charlotte Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays, as pitchers and catchers reported.

    Perhaps the brightest smile of all came from Shane McClanahan on Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Shane McClanahan is a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays

    •  He has missed the last two seasons because of injury

    •  Prior to the injury, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball and a two-time All-Star

    •  McClanahan has rejoined his teammates in Port Charlotte, with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training


    McClanahan has missed the past two full seasons because of injuries. Last spring, he could not feel his fingers in his left hand. Now, he’s throwing a baseball and doing what he loves here at spring training.

    “It’s crazy how much you miss this, just the little things like the playing catch, being around the guys, the working out and, you know, just enjoying the game again,” McClanahan said.

    After a strong rookie year, McClanahan caught fire in 2022, posting an earned run average under 2.00 in the first half of the season, and was the American League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. In 2023, he had an 11-2 record until August, when he experienced forearm tightness. Tommy John surgery ended his season and started a long road to recovery.


    “It gives me a better appreciation for what I’ve missed,” he said. “I’ve missed the little things being in the clubhouse with the guys and the bus rides out to the fields, the plane rides, like you obviously missed playing, but you don’t realize, I think until you get it taken away from you, how special this atmosphere is.”

    McClanahan got off to a good start in last year’s spring training, but a triceps injury uncovered a nerve issue that required surgery, keeping him out.

    Now, the flame-throwing lefty is finally back. He told the media on Thursday that his arm feels good, he had a normal offseason workout program and is still being careful but is ready to get back out on the mound and in front of Rays fans.

    More Tampa Bay Rays spring training headlines


    “I mean they’re gonna see me on the mound, which is different from the past two years, but no, I think they’re still gonna see that same guy that loves this community loves this team, loves to win,” McClanahan said.

    His fellow pitchers are excited for him to play, too.

    “His presence and having that type of pitcher back in the rotation, that’s only gonna make us better, and we’re gonna try to do what we can so that he doesn’t have to take the brunt of the load and try to be the guy, the two-time All-Star that he is, and he can kinda ease himself back into it after not pitching for a while. But I’ve seen him throw a lot on TV and it’s nasty, so I’m excited to see it from the dugout,” Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepoit said.

    McClanahan is expected to lead a revamped rotation, with Drew Rasmussen and Pepoit returning and a couple new faces in Nick Martinez and Steven Matz joining them.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Decision approaching on possible Tampa Bay MPO merger

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Thirty-five years after it was first discussed, a decision on merging three of Tampa Bay’s metropolitan planning organizations may be on the horizon. 

    “We would be the largest metropolitan planning organization in the state of Florida, and with size comes some funding,” said Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas. “A lot of the federal funding is based on formula: based on population, based on transit ridership, things like that.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Metropolitan planning organizations in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties could learn in the next few months whether they’ll merge into a regional MPO

    • Forward Pinellas Executive Director Whit Blanton said the idea of a merger was first brought up in the early 1990s, but it was thought at the time the counties were too different for the move to make sense

    • Blanton said creating a larger organization could make it easier for Tampa Bay to secure federal dollars for transportation projects

    • The MPOs could vote on whether to merge in March or April. The county commissions and Tampa City Council would also have to give their approval


    Forward Pinellas, the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization, and the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization are the groups that could merge. Blanton said initial talks happened in the 1990s, but it was thought the counties were too different for a merger to make sense.

    For instance, Pasco County was just starting to grow. Now, he said the time is right and the move would be in the best interest of the region.

    “So much funding for capital projects, like the big interstate projects or the big transit projects, is competitive, and you’ve got to show strong regional support to be competitive with Seattle or San Diego,” said Blanton.

    He said a merger could help Tampa Bay compete at that level.

    “We would be a mega MPO, and with that would come so much more opportunity for funding,” said St. Petersburg City Council Member Gina Driscoll.

    Blanton updated council members on the effort at Thursday’s meeting, telling them the latest effort began in 2023. That’s when state lawmakers passed legislation requiring the MPOs to study what a merger would mean. Details are still being worked out, but Blanton said a 25-member board seems to be the preference.

    He said federal law requires the number of representatives from each county to be based on population. He also said Florida statutes require tax revenues to be distributed equitably among counties based on population.

    “So, even though Hillsborough County, City of Tampa may be larger, they would not be able to take down all the transportation dollars, nor would they have a majority of the votes,” said Blanton.

    “It’s going to take a lot of political will across the region to bring this together,” said City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard.

    Gabbard said MetroPlan Orlando, the MPO for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties, is an example of how local governments can work together to benefit a region.

    “What they’re accomplishing is phenomenal,” said Gabbard. “Because right now, those dollars are not coming to us the way that they should be, and this is really the only way to make that happen.”

    Blanton said a workshop is being held Friday to talk about the details of the governing board and what the structure of the organization would look like.

    He said the MPOs will likely vote on whether to merge in March or April. Next, the three county commissions and Tampa City Council would also have to approve it. Blanton said that could happen by June, and the merger could be complete in 2027 or 2028.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Tropicana Field will be ready for Rays home opener, city says

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    TAMPA — In less than two months, Tampa Bay Rays fans will be back inside Tropicana Field for the first time since Hurricane Milton ripped off the roof and damaged the inside. Spectrum News was given a final look inside ahead of the home opener.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tropicana Field was heavily damaged during Hurricane Milton in October 2024 

    • Since then, crews have replaced roof and gutted any areas where water intruded

    • St. Petersburg’s city council approved $59.7 million for the project

    • City officials maintain the Trop will be open for the Rays home opener on April 6


    Work has been underway for more than a year to bring baseball back to the Trop. Crews have racked up an impressive quarter million man hours replacing the roof and gutting and repairing areas where water came in.

    City of St. Petersburg officials say they’re on track to open on time and remain within their nearly $60 million budget.

    “Once the roof came back on, it really was warp speed with all the drywall, all the finishes, the paint. Even just remediating anything that had gotten wet over the last few months, getting all that out,” said Beth Herendeen with the City of St Petersburg.

    On Friday, city officials celebrated lots of construction milestones. The new net has been hung, data and fiber cable have been laid, and audio is in. And with crews finishing up work on the new $1.3 million artificial turf, Tropicana Field is starting to look like a baseball stadium again. 

    By the end of the month, crews will have the field stripped, allowing the new lights to be aimed at the refurbished diamond.

    More Tampa Bay Rays spring training headlines


    Meantime, air quality tests are underway to ensure that the facility is safe for fans to return.

    “Some things are minor, some things are major, but those areas that did get water intrusion really did get a significant amount of water intrusion,” Herendeen said.

    While construction continues, city officials confirm FEMA has approved $16.5 million in reimbursements for their work on the Trop. The city’s insurance is paying out another $10.8 million, and the city is expecting $2.7 million more from the state when it’s all said and done. But there is much work left to do.

    “We’re going to be putting the outfield padding, there’s a lot of drywall, lot of carpet replacement, the locker rooms for both the home and visiting teams remains to be done. We have those materials on site and are getting started. But a lot of it is just buttoning up the little things that need to be done,” said Catherine Corcoran, senior capital projects coordinator with the City of St. Petersburg.

    There may be paintbrushes out touching up early the morning of the home opener, but officials stress they will be ready.

    The Rays are set to take on the Chicago Cubs on April 6. The cheapest ticket, as of Feb. 13, will run you $80.

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    Andy Cole

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  • A Saturday Valentine’s Day means dip in business for florists

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday is a plus for many couples, it’s not a best-case scenario for local flower shops.

    Lu Cushing, owner of Janie Beane Florist in Clearwater, said that they typically see a 20% dip in sales on the years Valentine’s Day hits on a weekend when compared to the holiday hitting on a weekday.

    While a big money-maker as the historically biggest flower-buying holiday of the year, Cushing says Feb. 14 being on a Saturday has made a difference in buying habits.

    “Men love to send flowers to work, in a place where she can enjoy them and everyone can see them,” Cushing said. “This year, we’re getting some orders for earlier in the week because they want them to last all week at the office.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Major flower suppliers in Columbia and Ecuador are subject to tariffs

    •  Price of flowers has increased as florists find ways to keep costs down for customers 

    •  Valentine’s Day falling on Saturday is not best case scenario for florists 

    • Owner of Janie Beane Florist estimates 20% dip in sales compared to weekday Valentines Day 


    Instead of making dozens of deliveries to offices on Valentine’s Day morning, Cushing says they’ve been scattered throughout the week. There’s also more home deliveries and pickups this year set for Valentine’s Day morning.

    Overall, Cushing says, this hasn’t been the busiest Valentine’s Day in history.

    That’s on par with what she’s seen over the last few decades when the holiday hits over a weekend. Cushing is now in her 54th year at Janie Beane Florist, a shop she opened alongside her late mother.

    The flower industry has had to adjust after the U.S. imposed tariffs on imported cut flowers. More than 80% of flowers found in the U.S. are from major suppliers in Ecuador and Columbia.

    “Flowers are up more … definitely,” Cushing said. “Vases are up more.”

    Vases that used to cost Cushing roughly $6 a piece are now between $8 to $9. Cushing said she’s shifted to finding more suppliers from North America to help curb the costs.

    “We’ve adjusted,” she said.

    Cushing said she offers options for those looking for flowers on budget by offering wrapped bouquets. She will wrap the stems of flowers in a sponge and a bag so a customer can take them home and use a vase they already have.

    “I shop small business as well so its important to me that I accommodate everybody,” she said.

    What has improved over the last year, Cushing said, is predictability. Before the tariffs went into effect, she said prices would bounce and make it difficult to quote large events like weddings. Now that prices have stabilized, the shop is taking less of a hit.

    After over five decades, they also relocated to Imperial Square in Clearwater, to a family-owned plaza in a smaller more budget friendly space.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Gamble Creek Farms offers group tours, free family seasonal events

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    PARRISH, Fla. — Just steps off the Gamble Creek Farms market in Parrish lie acres of organic food, real and certified. 

    “We grow several types of lettuces,” said farm manager Natasha Ahuja. “Gold beets, red beets, candy cane beets. We grow kale. The curly kale, black magic kale.”

    And produce like that is helped along with animals on the farm. Red wigglers, better known as worms, make worm babies and manure — called castings.

    “And it’s really, really rich in complex microbes and nutrition for plant health,” said the farm’s General Manager Zachary Rasmussen. “We actually call them the hardest workers on the farm because they work 24 hours a day, they don’t complain, and they only eat your waste.”

    The goal here is organic food helped along by nature’s super-pooping, baby-making red wigglers.

    Gamble Creek Farms offers group tours and free family seasonal events.

    The next Health Harvest Festival is happening on March 28, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

    Admission is free, and there will be live music, local vendors, a bounce house and wine and beer tasting.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • 6 people killed in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale; police say the murders are connected and a suspect also dead

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    Six people in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, are dead in what police say is a cross-state murder spree by the same suspect Wednesday morning. The suspect was also found dead, authorities said.

    Police say the murder spree began in the upscale Victoria Park neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale and ended in a gated community in Sarasota County, about 200 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale.

    The Fort Lauderdale Police Department said it received a call for a well-being check on the 500 block of Northeast 15th Avenue, where they found two adults, identified as Larisa Blyudaya, 46, and Ben Azivov, 18, dead in the home. They were both residents of Fort Lauderdale. 

    The property manager for the home spoke with CBS News Miami, confirming Ben Azivov is the son of Larisa Blyudaya.

    “She was just a happy, happy woman,” said property manager Joe Askerberg. “Never an ounce of negative energy in all my time dealing with her.

    A neighbor told CBS News Miami that he saw someone go into the residence on Tuesday morning. 

    “[Y]esterday morning, I was loading my tools in my vehicle, and I saw a guy come running around here, and he went to the driveway and hit the keypad on the garage door, and the door went up, and I just didn’t think anything of it,” Mark Scinna said. “And then I got a call around 3 o’clock … what had happened. I started tying everything together and I was like, ‘Man, I hope that wasn’t the guy that I saw.”

    Across the state, Sarasota police were called after they say a man was shot at the front door of a home in a gated community in the Amberlea neighborhood near Proctor and McIntosh roads. There, the bodies of five victims were found, including the suspect, who police identified as Russell Kot, 51, of Fort Lauderdale. Police believe Kot died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. 

    Askerberg said Blyudaya moved to South Florida from Chicago late last year. Her son and Kot lived with her, all residing in separate rooms, according to Askerberg. He said Kot kept to himself.

    “He was very quiet. I have been scratching my head, wondering where, how he would go through with this, and then also drive four hours and see red the whole time and commit more,” Askerberg said. 

    The other four victims ranged in age from 39 to 66. They were identified as Olga Greinert, 49, Florita Stolyar, 66, Anatoly Ioffe, 61, and Yaroslav Blyudoy, 39. 

    Matt Binkley of the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office said police have accounted for “all persons” in the incident and there’s no threat to the public.

    Regarding a motive in the Fort Lauderdale shooting, investigators say the gunman had a romantic relationship with one of the victims. The connection between the other victims in Sarasota County is still unknown. Fort Lauderdale police said homicide detectives are investigating.

    Sarasota Police said they are not aware of any mental health crises or history of violence related to Kot.   

    In:

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  • 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest: What you need to know

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays will be spending Valentine’s Day showing some love to their fans. The team is hosting a Fan Fest block party this Saturday right next to Tropicana Field. 

    The party will take place outside of Tropicana Field because the team is still making repairs inside the ballpark.

    Make sure you get there early if you would like to be able to get in there and get first pick on any items you may be looking for.

    Admission is free, but you will still need to claim a ticket on the Rays website. Parking will be available for free in lots 1, 2, 6 and 7 at Tropicana Field. Be aware of traffic as there will be no vehicle traffic permitted on 16th Street South. You can access lots 1,2 via 17th Street S or 5th Ave S.

    Event Information:

    Activities:

    • A community yard sale that will benefit the official charity of the Tampa Bay Rays
    • Opportunities to interact with players
    • Games, mascots and entertainment
    • And more…

    Security and What You Can Bring:

    Guests will be required to clear a security screening before entry. Bags will also NOT BE permitted into the event. This includes purses, duffle bags, backpacks, string/cinch bags and or coolers. If you have a small item that is 4″ x 6″ or less, such as a fanny pack or small clutch, that will be allowed. 

    You are allowed to bring water bottles, strollers, umbrellas, accessibility or medical equipment, cameras with lenses smaller than 12-inches.

    Map:

    For more information, visit the Rays Fan Fest website.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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