Florida

Loggerhead sea turtle released after rehabbing in Florida

JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A loggerhead sea turtle named Rocky paused briefly on the sand Wednesday morning before slowly crawling into the Atlantic Ocean after spending six weeks rehabbing at Florida’s Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Turtle hospital staff and volunteers…

Waveland man charged with murder in Florida cold case

New DNA testing helped officials identify a suspect in a cold case murder investigation in Florida -- and led them to Waveland, Mississippi. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said 55-year-old Michael Lapniewski Jr. was arrested January 26 and charged with first-degree…

CEO of Biloxi retirement home dies in train accident

The co-founder and CEO of a Biloxi retirement home died over the Christmas holiday. 57-year-old Glenn Barclay died December 26, according to a post made on The Blake at Biloxi's social media page. News outlets in Pensacola reported that Terry…

Rescuers flock together to save 275 parrots stranded by Ian

PINE ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Will Peratino and his partner Lauren Stepp would not leave their Pine Island compound, even as authorities pleaded with residents to abandon their homes because of damaged roads, including a collapsed bridge that prevented deliveries…

Hurricane Ian closes some Florida schools indefinitely

The devastation from Hurricane Ian has left schools shuttered indefinitely in parts of Florida, leaving storm-weary families anxious for word on when and how children can get back to classrooms. As rescue and recovery operations continue in the storm’s aftermath, several school…

Woman braves Hurricane Ian flood to check on stranger’s mom

Christine Bomlitz became more and more distraught as Hurricane Ian gained in ferocity Wednesday, sweeping across southwest Florida. Hours passed, but there was still no word from her 84-year-old mother. Thursday morning came. The storm had drifted away overnight. But…

Ian lashes South Carolina as Florida's death toll climb

By MEG KINNARD and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A revived Hurricane Ian has pounded coastal South Carolina after causing catastrophic damage in Florida. The storm washed away parts of piers and flooded streets in parts…

NOAA: Tampa Bay dropped 5 feet in storm reverse surge

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The waters of Tampa Bay dropped 5 feet in a phenomenon known as reverse storm surge as powerful Hurricane Ian passed to the south, weather officials say. Then, it came back, according to the National Oceanic and…

Floods trap many in Florida as Ian heads to South Carolina

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (AP) — Rescue crews piloted boats and waded through flooded streets Thursday to save thousands of Floridians trapped after Hurricane Ian destroyed homes and businesses and left millions in the dark. The destruction began to come into focus a…

Guard units from Gulfport, Meridian to deploy to Florida

Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday approved a request for assistance from the state of Florida as Hurricane Ian is making its way north through that state. Approximately 20 soldiers and airmen of the Mississippi National Guard from Meridian and Gulfport…

Hurricane Ian nears Florida landfall with 155 mph winds

By CURT ANDERSON ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (AP) — Hurricane Ian’s most damaging winds began hitting Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday, lashing the state with heavy rain and pushing a devastating storm surge after strengthening to the threshold of the most dangerous Category 5…