Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features eight teams in four best-of-7 series
NHL.com previews the Eastern Conference Second Round between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers
the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers occupied first place in the Atlantic Division for 174 of 178 game days during the 2024-25 season
so it stands to reason that the two teams would be facing off in the Eastern Conference Second Round
After the Panthers dispatched the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and the Maple Leafs outlasted the Ottawa Senators in the first round
the two teams will match up in the second round for the second time in three years
a five-game victory for the Panthers as they made it to their first of two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances
“I feel excited, definitely,” Panthers goalie <a href="/player/sergei-bobrovsky-8475683" title="Sergei Bobrovsky">Sergei Bobrovsky</a> said
it’s probably one of the best atmospheres to play in
It’s going to be a good challenge for us and all of us are excited.”
The Maple Leafs come in with some high-powered offense
though the Panthers have the defense to match it
They limited the Lightning to 12 goals in five games
including going 2-for-18 on the power play
It will be up to <a href="/player/auston-matthews-8479318" title="Auston Matthews">Auston Matthews</a>, <a href="/player/mitchell-marner-8478483" title="Mitch Marner">Mitch Marner</a>, <a href="/player/william-nylander-8477939" title="William Nylander">William Nylander</a> and <a href="/player/john-tavares-8475166" title="John Tavares">John Tavares</a> to find ways to solve the pressure and aggressiveness of the Florida defense
“It’s going to be another tough series,” Matthews said
We’ve got to reset and do our homework and rest up
go in there with confidence and go in there with pushback.”
Maple Leafs as Round 2 action begins tonight on ESPN
The Maple Leafs won the first three games of their series against the Senators before dropping two potential elimination games to them before emerging with the victory in Game 6
The Panthers had an easier-than-expected series against the Lightning, winning in five games, even though they were missing defenseman <a href="/player/aaron-ekblad-8477932" title="Aaron Ekblad">Aaron Ekblad</a> for three of the games (all wins). They will be without Ekblad again in Game 1, after he was suspended for two games for elbowing <a href="/player/brandon-hagel-8479542" title="Brandon Hagel">Brandon Hagel</a> in Game 4 against the Lightning
One area the Panthers are confident that they have an edge is in experience
It’s not surprising after they have been to the Cup Final in each of the past two seasons; the Maple Leafs have not been past the second round since 2002
“Experience is the one aspect of it – we have a lot of guys who went through those series and that year and last year and now this year,” Panthers captain <a href="/player/aleksander-barkov-8477493" title="Aleksander Barkov">Aleksander Barkov</a> said
“We have a lot more experience playing in the playoffs
They’ve been playing really well this year
All we can do is just concentrate on ourselves and our game and our game plan and go and do it.”
Maple Leafs: There are many choices on the stacked offense of the Maple Leafs
but Nylander was the team’s leading scorer in the first round against the Ottawa Senators
as witnessed in the two goals and assist he had in the deciding Game 6
For the Maple Leafs to get past the punishing Panthers
they will need everything that Nylander can give them
Gm6: Nylander blasts it in to extend the lead
Panthers: <a href="/player/matthew-tkachuk-8479314" title="Matthew Tkachuk">Matthew Tkachuk</a> is the ultimate game-breaker and the ultimate game-breaker in the playoffs
He kicked off the first-round series against the Lightning by scoring two goals in his first game back after missing the final 25 games of the regular season
and the Panthers have increased his minutes in each game since then
the type of player seemingly always able to get a crucial goal or throw a big-time hit
and one with few equals in the NHL right now
The biggest question with Tkachuk is whether he’s finally back to full health
two assists) in five games against the Lightning
he didn’t seem to be moving quite like himself
A short series against Tampa Bay may help him as Florida moves into the next round
Maple Leafs: During the regular season, the Maple Leafs split their starts fairly evenly, with <a href="/player/joseph-woll-8479361" title="Joseph Woll">Joseph Woll</a> getting 41 starts and <a href="/player/anthony-stolarz-8476932" title="Anthony Stolarz">Anthony Stolarz</a> getting 33
the Maple Leafs have narrowed their starter to one
with Stolarz getting all six starts in the postseason
including Game 6 after Toronto dropped Games 4 and 5
He has a 2.21 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in the playoffs after a 2.14 GAA and .926 save percentage in the regular season
Woll was 27-14-1 this season with a 2.73 GAA and .909 save percentage
who came over earlier this season in a trade; he saw no time in goal in the first round
Gm5: Luostarinen's sweet finish puts the Panthers up by 2
“You’ve got to play hard between the whistles
I think that's what you’ve got to focus on
There's … different scenarios that come up
but we want to play hard between the whistles
and got to be disciplined.” -- Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube on facing the Panthers
Maple Leafs: They can get their power play going
Against the Lightning’s power play (25.9 percent in the regular season
allowing a single goal in Game 1 and a single goal in Game 5
Toronto’s power play was tied for eighth in the regular season (24.8 percent) and went 6-for-17 against the Senators in the first round
it will go a long way against the Panthers
Panthers: They stay on the right side of the line. The Panthers are big hitters, a team of players not afraid to intimidate an opponent, to get in their faces. But the Panthers crossed the line in the first round, with defenseman <a href="/player/niko-mikkola-8478859" title="Niko Mikkola">Niko Mikkola</a> earning a game misconduct for boarding in Game 4 and Ekblad earning the two-game suspension for elbowing
They’ll need to keep control against the Maple Leafs
Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Bobby McMann -- Pontus Holmberg -- Max Domi
Calle Jarnkrok -- Scott Laughton -- Steven Lorentz
Carter Verhaeghe -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Mackie Samoskevich -- Sam Bennett -- Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen -- Anton Lundell -- Brad Marchand
Evan Rodrigues -- Nico Sturm -- Jesper Boqvist
by virtue of preventing their first-round slide against the Ottawa Senators from turning into a full-on collapse
they’re faced with another — and it’s much
Waiting for them in the second round are the Florida Panthers
who immediately snapped back into defending-champ mode against the Tampa Bay Lightning
the Panthers took out Toronto in five games
one that calls for a tighter series than many likely anticipated between the defending champions and a team that struggles to control play
While the model likes the Leafs a lot more than their expected goal rate thanks to their strong goaltending
team defense and having four offensive stars (all things Florida can match
Home teams won a lot more than usual this season (56 percent compared to 53 percent the last three years) and that trend carried over to the playoffs where the home side has a staggering 29-15 record
Toronto’s best chance in this series comes from taking care of business at home where the Leafs were 27-13-1 during the season
while the Panthers were 20-19-2 on the road
Florida’s chances would rise to 59 percent
The Panthers are the better team, but Toronto’s ability to ‘<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6300840/2025/04/23/maple-leafs-berube-style-nhl-playoffs/">win ugly</a>’ under Craig Berube could make things tougher than it seems at first glance for Florida
<a href="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/05/02153854/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-3.38.21%E2%80%AFPM.png" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"></a>
A plus-eight Net Rating separates the Panthers and Maple Leafs
but there are some differences in the process to get to that point
the Panthers have more oomph below the surface
Florida was one of the best regular-season teams in the league for a reason; they generated a ton of quality offense and were stingy in their own end
created less offense than the Panthers but converted on a higher clip of their chances
Toronto’s goaltending also gave them stronger results on the other end of the ice
even though their expected goal suppression wasn’t as stout
The Leafs amped up their defense against the Senators
but containing Florida is a different challenge
The Panthers’ defense was tight and took away the Lightning’s space
the team will have to pick up the pace from Round 1
The Panthers have more substance to their five-on-five offense
Toronto’s five-forward power play unit was dynamic down the stretch and into Round 1
But the Panthers’ penalty kill was a major strength in the regular season and lights out in Round 1.&nbsp; That brings their Defensive Rating up to a plus-30
But the Maple Leafs’ penalty kill is no pushover
it could neutralize the special teams battle and put extra emphasis on five-on-five play
It’s tough to imagine Game 6 against the Senators getting off to a better start for the Leafs — or for Auston Matthews
A power-play goal near the end of the first period lowered the temperature for Toronto; having to dig their way out of an early deficit after dropping two straight games would have been … less than ideal
the Leafs would’ve taken that first goal from anyone
He’d been fine in the series until that point
on a gentle wrist shot that looked more like a pass than anything else
We’ll see whether that opens the floodgates
he was playing the Senators to results similar to what we saw from him in the regular season: plenty of expected goals (about three)
and not a ton of actual goals (one in Game 3)
Not for the average NHL player — but Matthews
So it goes when you have elite finishing ability
and he hadn’t flashed it in the regular season: he had 34 goals compared to about 40 expected
the first time in his career that the former didn’t exceed the latter and coming in particularly stark contrast to 2023-24 (69 actual vs
That floor: a 95-point pace with dominant five-on-five play
The question is whether “not bad” will be good enough to get Toronto past a team featuring two Selke finalists on its top line
Matthews doesn’t just need to create five-on-five chances in this series; he needs to capitalize on them
His track record against Aleksander Barkov specifically over the last three regular seasons is strong
the Leafs outscored the Panthers 5-1 and controlled 60 percent of the expected goals
was almost a literal draw: neither team scored in the 38:35 Barkov and Matthews were on the ice together
Sam Reinhart has also grown since that series as both a goal-scorer and a defensive player
we’re talking once again about both teams’ top lines canceling each other out
it probably won’t be good news for the Leafs
making it more necessary than ever that Matthews is playing (and producing) at his standard level of greatness
Is Seth Jones finally showing he can be The Guy
flush with money to spend after Matthew Tkachuk’s groin injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off
where he belongs.” Aaron Ekblad’s 20-game PED suspension threw a wrench in the works
pushing Jones back up the lineup for the last chunk of the regular season
The results weren’t great; Florida’s numbers with him on the ice at five-on-five fell across the board
With Ekblad around for a portion of it — between suspensions
at least — to handle a chunk of the toughest minutes alongside Gustav Forsling
Jones led the team in average ice time (25:41) and crushed his time at five-on-five
Florida won his minutes 4-0 with an expected goal rate of about 55 percent
Jones threw in a Game 4 winning goal for good measure and blocked a bunch of shots
generally looking the part of a playoff-ready defenseman
Getting that sort of production from their second pair (assuming Eblad doesn’t get suspended again) would be huge for the Panthers
That’s the guy Florida needs — not the guy Jones was forced to be with Chicago
<a href="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/05/02153902/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-3.38.33%E2%80%AFPM.png" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"></a>
there are a lot of similarities between these two clubs and how they’re built
and all-world goaltending to tie a nice bow on it
Mitch Marner and William Nylander going head-to-head against Barkov
and Tkachuk — a virtual draw by Net Rating
Toronto and Florida have some of the absolute best players in the world going head-to-head
Matthews and Marner have the offensive edge against Barkov and Reinhart
Matthews and Marner are certainly strong defensively in their own right
just not to the level of Florida’s Selke finalist duo
This is a true heavyweight tilt and it wouldn’t be a shock to see both coaches opt for power vs
Those elite two-way duos allow Nylander and Tkachuk to thrive in secondary matchups — and come up clutch when it counts
Both Nylander and Tkachuk thrive in the big moments and that showed in the opening round
Nylander led the Leafs with nine points in six games including three in Game 6
while Tkachuk dominated Game 1 with three points of his own
Where the Leafs could have an edge is in the likelihood that Tkachuk isn’t quite 100 percent
He averaged just 14 minutes of ice-time against Tampa Bay and was ninth on Florida’s forward depth chart
He was still hyper-efficient in those minutes
but may be less of a factor in a tighter-checking series
With John Tavares and Matthew Knies rounding out the top six
the Leafs also have more secondary weapons after their big three relative to the Panthers
That extra firepower was especially present on the team’s five-man power play which was scintillating against Ottawa
As good as Carter Verhaeghe and Brad Marchand are
they don’t quite move the needle like Tavares and Knies
Florida makes up for that edge on the backend with the presence of Forsling
but Forsling doesn’t sacrifice any offense to get to a similarly elite height without the puck
He provides a boost to the team’s firepower
whereas Tanev struggles to help create offense in-zone
but when he spends so much time with Toronto’s top line
his lack of offensive gifts does play a role in the team’s top forwards lacking their usual pop
but also Ekblad and Jones to bolster the attack
<a href="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/05/02153906/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-3.38.43%E2%80%AFPM.png" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"></a>
A lack of offense from the back-end is a problem in general for the Leafs where only Morgan Rielly can be dependably relied on for it
The middle of Toronto’s blue line is the strongest it’s ever been and matches up fine with Florida’s — but the lack of a true two-way No
This group should be able to handle Florida’s fierce forecheck better than before
Toronto’s goaltending could make up for that if the regular season gap between Anthony Stolarz and Sergei Bobrovsky persists
But Bobrovsky’s championship pedigree probably makes him the better bet — numbers be damned
the two teams come out fairly equal looking at the top five forwards and top four defensemen — especially with the goaltending edge shown here for Toronto being highly debatable
Toronto wins some individual battles and Florida wins some others
No problem — the team’s “third” line of Anton Lundell
Eetu Luostarinen and Marchand were more than ready to dominate
All three had five points in five games and tilted the ice heavily in the Panthers’ favor
The Panthers also have Sam Bennett and Evan Rodrigues next to Tkachuk
with the former being a real playoff difference-maker and the latter being a strong defensive player
That’s an incredibly deep top nine with several guys who truly move the needle at both ends of the ice
That’s something the Leafs simply do not have an answer for where there’s a massive drop-off after Knies in forward talent
Bobby McMann struggling over the last couple of months only adds to that
There’s no reliable secondary source of offense
The Core Five did their part in the first round
but the team had a hard time finding a fit next to Tavares and Nylander
and any line combination with Max Domi was a defensive terror
but he also got dominated at five-on-five to the tune of a 37 percent xG rate
was a pleasant surprise and did a great job of making sure nothing happened
but that’s a double-edged sword that puts more offensive strain on the big guns
that was a one-sided matchup which Toronto’s best players were able to thrive in
Those stars will have an equal counterpart on the other side
it falls to the depth to pick up the pieces
that’s a huge concern and puts the Panthers on a likely path to their third straight conference final
Stolarz put up sparkling numbers in Florida last year
with 21.7 goals saved above expected in 27 games
which technically beat Bobrovsky’s 15.8 in 58 games
Bobrovsky was The Guy for the Panthers on their way to a Stanley Cup
Stolarz got the chance to prove that he could be Their Guy
He was an ace in the regular season for the second straight year
and that’s why the model gives him the edge here
Only Connor Hellebuyck has saved more goals above expected than Stolarz over the past two seasons
But thriving in the regular season doesn’t always translate to the playoffs — Bobrovksy had to learn that the hard way
Playoff Bob has taken on a new meaning; he is the star the Panthers need when the pressure rises
especially in a high-volume starter’s role he’s unfamiliar with
Four quality starts in a six-game series against Ottawa is a good start
but this matchup against his former teammates is the test
They shouldn’t after seeing how dangerous the reigning champs are at full strength
The Panthers know what it takes this time of year
which is why they won the East the last two seasons
The Leafs haven’t made it to Round 3 in 23 years
and it will be a grind to change that against Florida
<a href="https://theathletic.com/4396412/2023/04/12/nhl-advanced-stats-offensive-defensive-rating/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">How these projections work</a>
<a href="https://theathletic.com/487146/2018/08/27/nhl-season-previews-preview-measuring-uncertainty/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Understanding projection uncertainty&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/?" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Evolving Hockey</a>
<a href="http://www.naturalstattrick.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Natural Stat Trick</a>
<a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hockey Reference</a>
<a href="https://www.nhl.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NHL</a>
<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/corey.sznajder/viz/testthisisatest/PlayerSearch" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">All Three Zones Tracking</a> by <a href="https://www.patreon.com/CSznajder/posts" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Corey Sznajder</a>
I heard a recurring comment from the locals
"Have you made it over to 30A yet?" said my Lyft driver
"You've got to — it's the up-and-coming spot around here."
While purchasing tickets for the <a target="_self" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shell-island-ferry-review-florida-day-trip-2024" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}" rel="">Shell Island Ferry</a>
"Do you have plans to go over to 30A?" When I said no
she insisted I return to the area for a trip because it's just so beautiful
I live in a different <a target="_self" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/living-in-coastal-florida-affordable-near-orlando-titusville-family-2025-3" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}" rel="">Florida beach town</a> that often gets inundated with spring breakers and summer beachgoers
so I couldn't decide if Panama City Beach locals were trying to run tourists out of town
or if they really meant what they said about 30A
Turns out, those locals were right. I think 30A is one of the <a target="_self" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-tourist-spots-worth-visiting-places-to-skip-local-recommendations" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}" rel="">best gems in Florida</a>
and I liked it even more than Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach reminds me of the beach towns I grew up visiting in the Northeast: lots of souvenir shops
and more tourist attractions than one could squeeze in during a vacation
There's lots of good food in PCB, including a <a target="_self" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/visiting-best-cheap-eats-restaurant-in-florida-yelp-gypsea-crepes-2024-6" rel="" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}">crepe shop</a> adored by reviewers on Yelp
but I'd say the general vibe of the area can best be described as "touristy beach town."
The landscape changes entirely when you drive just 15 or 20 minutes to 30A
High-rise hotel chains become private rental cottages
and souvenir shops give way to luxury shopping venues
The overall vibe switches from a busy vacation spot to a place where you'd do beachfront yoga and sip freshly pressed juice before spending your day on a quiet
The beaches alongside 30A communities like Rosemary Beach and <a target="_self" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/30a-florida-best-town-seaside-things-to-do" rel="" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}">Seaside</a> are home to white sand and transparent blue water
you need a wristband or beach tag — visitors can get these from whichever rental property they're occupying
I think the beaches benefit from the lack of large nearby hotels and public access
resulting in a beautiful setting that feels more intimate
There are some spectacular sunsets along the Gulf of Mexico
I especially loved watching the sunset from Bud and Alley's
a Seaside restaurant with sweeping coastal views
I watched the sun set from the beach and was equally blown away by the beauty around me
I chose a rental property between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach
with ample spacious sidewalks and bike lanes throughout
Lots of condos or hotels here come with bicycles
plus there are many rental companies in the area
I took a beach cruiser from my condo over to Rosemary Beach for coffee or a meal
or I'd bike down 30A and stop to explore each town
I drove to some of the farther-away-from-me spots
and the area was simple to navigate by car with my phone's GPS system
a beach community where the movie "The Truman Show" was filmed
a small boardwalk area with shops and restaurants
It felt relaxed and not too pretentious, but more upscale than Florida beach towns like <a target="_self" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boat-ride-to-coastal-florida-restaurant-fort-lauderdale-worth-it-2024-11" rel="" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}">Fort Lauderdale</a>
and it's the spot along 30A where I saw the most families with children
If Seaside is a family-friendly-but-upscale beach town
Alys Beach is on the opposite end of the luxury vacation spectrum
This small community is filled with white-washed
stone vacation homes and Mediterranean-inspired architecture — it felt like a big resort
there's nothing comparable to Alys Beach in Florida that I've seen
Because of its stunning homes and high-end feel
Alys Beach feels like one of the least-accessible-to-the-public areas in 30A
especially because I saw so many residential streets with signs prohibiting the public from walking through or taking photos
If you're interested in vacationing in a more private area of 30A
Rosemary Beach has made its rounds on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@followmeaway/video/7339370586696666410" rel=" nofollow" data-track-click="{&quot;click_type&quot;:&quot;other&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;outbound_click&quot;}">TikTok</a>
going viral for its similarities to a little European town
Its downtown area is lined with cobblestone streets full of shops and al-fresco eateries
and it has a hotel complete with spires that reminded me of something I'd see in the Swiss Alps
I passed many street carts selling wares like scarves and fresh flowers
and homes with European-style architecture
The area also has beautiful private beaches
which can only be accessed with a key card
and Rosemary Beach are perhaps the most famous spots along 30A
but I was impressed with the lesser-known areas I visited
You truly could make an entire day out of exploring the tiny towns and communities that make up this beautiful part of Florida
I stopped by Eden Gardens during my visit — a 163-acre state park home to sweeping gardens
The area also has a collection of <a target="_blank" href="https://30a.com/coastal-dune-lakes/" rel=" nofollow" data-track-click="{&quot;click_type&quot;:&quot;other&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;outbound_click&quot;}">coastal dune lakes</a>
a rare saltwater and freshwater phenomenon that only exists in a few spots around the globe
I've <a target="_self" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-things-moving-to-florida-with-family-2023-8" rel="" data-track-click="{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}">lived in Florida</a> for nearly 10 years and call a small ocean beach town home
As someone who's spent time on both the gulf and ocean side of the Sunshine State
I can say 30A is one of the most stunningly beautiful areas in all of Florida
and it has a peaceful vibe I've rarely found in Florida beach towns
I can't wait to return to 30A and think it's the perfect destination for everything from bachelorette parties to family vacations
<a href=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/>There was some startling news May 5 </a>as wildlife officials reported a black bear attack may have resulted in the death of a man and a dog just south of Big Cypress Wildlife Management
This comes a little more than one year after Florida Gov
Ron DeSantis signed what is known as the "Taking of Bears" bill
or officially in the books as House Bill (HB) 87
The act provides an exemption from penalties for killing bears without permits or authorization under certain circumstances
It passed 88-29 in the Florida House on Feb
15 while the Senate's version SB 632 passed 24-12 in the Florida Senate days later
The bill's analysis says it would exempt people from any administrative
civil or criminal penalties for killing a bear if:
The person is believed that it was necessary to avoid imminent death or serious bodily injury to their self
another person or a pet.The person did not lure the bear with food or attractants for an illegal purpose
training dogs to hunt bears.The person didn’t intentionally or recklessly put their self or pet in a situation where they would need to use lethal force.Anyone who takes a bear must notify FWC within 24 hours
it drew in heavy criticism from wildlife activists
<a href=https://defenders.org/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">Defenders of Wildlife</a>
officials for the organizations stated that the bill's language could leave room for bears to be killed without them posing any actual threat
However, some shared their support for the bill. In an interview with Politico, <a href=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/21/ron-desantis-threatening-bears-00163271 target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">hunting advocate Lane Stephens</a> said the bill would allow residents to feel assured they could protect themselves in their homes
The FWC says if you <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/faqs/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">encounter a bear at close range</a>
back up slowly and speak to the bear in a calm
do not make any sudden or abrupt movements
Back way slowly and be sure the bear has an obvious escape route."
A potential <a href=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2025/01/10/rocket-launches-2025-from-cape-canaveral-space-force-station-and-nasa-kennedy-space-center-florida/77591425007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceX</a> rocket launch is on the horizon — and if all goes according to plan
Below is more information on rocket launches from NASA and Cape Canaveral and suggestions on where to watch them from this part of Florida
Rocket launch tally: <a href=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2025/01/10/rocket-launches-2025-from-cape-canaveral-space-force-station-and-nasa-kennedy-space-center-florida/77591425007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Here's a list of all the missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot)</a>
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit <a href=https://www.floridatoday.com/space/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">floridatoday.com/space</a>
The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach
visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches
If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park
If you are farther south along the Indian River
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A
(you can even see the pad from some spots)
Florida lawmakers have sent the governor a measure aimed at providing relief for tens of thousands of condominium owners struggling with rising costs in aging buildings
A law passed shortly after 98 people died in the 2021 <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/07/1198296548/surfside-florida-condo-collapse-champlain-towers-south-investigation-nist" target="_blank">collapse of a residential tower in the town of Surfside</a>
placed strict new requirements on condominium associations
The law requires condo associations in buildings older than 30 years to conduct regular structural integrity inspections and to fully fund reserves for needed repairs
Many condo associations missed the first deadline to comply with the law in December. In some older buildings, condo owners are being asked to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/04/1219445947/surfside-condo-collapse-florida-real-estate" target="_blank">pay steep special assessments</a> that threaten to force some people out of their homes
The restrictions have helped slow condo sales statewide
Hearing the outcry from condo owners across the state
In response, Florida's House and Senate advanced different bills and, this week, finally agreed on a compromise measure. <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/913" target="_blank">The bill,</a> which now goes to governor for a signature
pushes back the deadline for completing a structural integrity inspection and allows condo associations a two-year grace period in fully funding reserves
It also allows condo associations that receive approval from a majority of members to secure loans and lines of credit to fund repairs
The sponsor of the bill in Florida's House
"We have tried to reach that delicate balance between the safety of our constituents as well as understanding the incredible financial impact that sometimes these particular bills that we passed have."
Florida's legislature passed a law to address the structural integrity of aging condo buildings in 2022 and amended it a year later
Before the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Building in Surfside
the condo association had delayed some $15 million in repairs needed to address that building's structural damage
Lawmakers said that the condo safety measures may need more attention in upcoming sessions
"I'm sure we will have to come back and do more work."
<a href="/about-npr/186948703/corporate-sponsorship">Become an NPR sponsor</a>
<a href="#commentDiv" aria-label="View article comments" title="View article comments" class="dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 edNRfi"></a>ORLANDO
– The last couple of months have been a roller coaster in every sense of the analogy when it comes to the weather in Florida
March brought with it weekend after weekend of strong thunderstorms
drying our state out while also increasing the risks of brush fires at a steady rate
I suppose it seems fitting that Mother Nature decided to throw yet another wrench in the repetitions we’ve been building over the back end of April
the threat for powerful thunderstorms is in the forecast for some of us in the Central Florida peninsula
Our next storm system has finally put a large dent in the dominant ridging that has been in place during the latter half of April
That same ridge was responsible for putting us into excessive drought conditions -- and likely browning over a majority of our lawns
you can see the extension of a trough and cold front down at the surface headed our way
This has already created a plethora of powerful storms to include confirmed tornadoes in its wake
we aren’t expecting a widespread instance of powerful storms or a bunch of tornadoes
since this will help instigate a resurgence in our afternoon sea breeze
and then along the east coast from Flagler down to Brevard counties may want to watch for fast
We’ll likely start to see rains settling in first thing Sunday morning for our western counties
throughout the warmest portions of the afternoon
should keep lingering showers and storms across a majority of us
Around sunset as the cold front approaches our eastern shoreline
some strong storms are possible for Flagler
Stay tuned for more as we breakdown all the latest data and get you geared up to tackle a return to heavy rains and lightning in your neighborhood
Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved
David joined WKMG-TV and ClickOrlando.com in September 2024
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/tv-listings/" aria-label="Navigate to TV Listings">TV Listings</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/account/newsletters/" aria-label="Navigate to Email Newsletters">Email Newsletters</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/rss/" aria-label="Navigate to RSS Feeds">RSS Feeds</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/contests/" aria-label="Navigate to Contests and Rules">Contests and Rules</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/contact/" aria-label="Navigate to Contact Us / Follow on Social Media">Contact Us / Follow on Social Media</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/careers/" aria-label="Navigate to Careers at WKMG">Careers at WKMG</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2019/11/11/closed-captioning-information/" aria-label="Navigate to Closed Captioning / Audio Description">Closed Captioning / Audio Description</a>
<a href="https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WKMG-TV" aria-label="Navigate to Public File">Public File</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/eeo-report/" aria-label="Navigate to Current EEO Report">Current EEO Report</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/station/2019/11/11/terms-of-use/" aria-label="Navigate to Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/privacy/" aria-label="Navigate to Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a>
<a href="/usprivacy/" aria-label="Navigate to Do Not Sell My Info">Do Not Sell My Info</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/station/2020/12/22/fcc-applications/" aria-label="Navigate to FCC Applications">FCC Applications</a>
<a href="https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/wkmg-tv/equal-employment-opportunity-records/additional-documents/eeo-public-file-reports/723baae8-a5cf-e194-3c58-210aa23225d5/" aria-label="Navigate to EEO Report">EEO Report</a>
<a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/station/2019/11/11/online-public-inspection-file/" aria-label="Navigate to Disability Assistance">Disability Assistance</a>
Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group
Floridians may not have much to brag about
RentCafe's annual apartment size report shows apartment sizes are shrinking in the Sunshine State
Cities like West Palm Beach are gravitating to smaller apartment sizes
RentCafe's research shows in the last decade
50% of the new apartment supply in West Palm Beach has been either one-bedroom apartments or studio units
indicating a clear shift toward more compact living," said Esther Urmosi of RentCafe
RentCafe found the average apartment size in West Palm Beach is 933 square feet
The national average size for an apartment is 908 square feet
Tallahassee is home to the largest apartments in the country
but still saw a 49% drop over the past decade
The average apartment size here is 1,130 square feet
To see how other Florida cities like Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa fare in apartment size, <a class="Link" href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/national-average-apartment-size/" target="_blank" data-cms-ai="0">read the full study here</a>
<a href='/category/topics-society'>Society</a>Commentary
<a href='/category/topics-health-care'>Health Care</a>News
<a href='/category/politics-topics'>Politics</a>Analysis
&nbsp;<a href='/category/security'>Security</a>News
&nbsp;<a href='/category/international'>International</a>News
&nbsp;<a href='/category/topics-society'>Society</a>Commentary
&nbsp;<a href='/category/education'>Education</a>Commentary
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href='/category/security'>Security</a>Analysis
&nbsp;<a href='/category/topics-economy'>Economy</a>Commentary
&nbsp;<a href='/category/international'>International</a>Commentary
&nbsp;<a href='/category/politics-topics'>Politics</a>News
&nbsp;<a href='/category/topics-law'>Law</a>News
&nbsp;<a href='/category/topics-law'>Law</a>Commentary
&nbsp;<a href='/category/international'>International</a>&nbsp;News
<a href='/category/international'>International</a>&nbsp;News
<a href='/category/international'>International</a>&nbsp;Commentary
<a href='/category/education'>Education</a>&nbsp;Analysis
&nbsp;<a href='/category/security'>Security</a>Analysis
&nbsp;<a href='/category/politics-topics'>Politics</a>Analysis
&nbsp;<a href='/category/topics-economy'>Economy</a>&nbsp;Commentary
<a href='/category/politics-topics'>Politics</a>News
George Caldwell is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2d5d7ddc0d5d79cd1d3ded6c5d7dedef2d6d3dbdecbc1dbd5dcd3de9cddc0d5">Send an email to George</a>
Rep. Randy Fine was sworn into office a month ago Friday, but he already has an idea of what Republicans need to do while they control <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/05/01/minority-leader-unclear-path-forward-democrat-comeback/">Congress</a> and the White House
Fine, R-Fla., was elected in Florida’s 6th Congressional District on April 1 in a <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/01/republicans-fend-off-democrat-bid-to-seize-florida-house-seat/">special election</a> to fill the seat left vacant by U.N
He served in Florida’s state legislature for nearly a decade
and it&#8217;s an experience he thinks prepared him for Congress
“The reason the Florida Legislature was 61-59 [Republican] 20 years ago, and it&#8217;s 87-33 today is, we <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/10/how-ron-desantis-turned-florida-red-why-will-remain-way/">showed we can govern,</a>” said Fine
“And so, we have a team captain, his name&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/24/trump-administration-investigate-democrat-fundraising-platform-scrutiny-alleged-money-laundering/">Donald Trump,</a> and it is our job to deliver on the promises that President Trump made
If we deliver on the agenda that the voters voted for
And our five-vote majority [in the House] will become 15
The newcomer already has some ideas of how to bring Florida-style legislation to the national scale
who serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee
says Florida&#8217;s education policies should go national
“The issues that we are talking about are issues that I have personal knowledge of
Many of the policy issues we already passed in Florida
so we&#8217;re just trying to get the rest of the country to catch up,” he said
“<a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/05/01/texas-and-the-promise-of-universal-school/">Universal school choice</a> would be one
And then eradicating antisemitism and Muslim terror on college campuses will be another one
I think higher education is fundamentally broken in this country
I think they&#8217;ve lost their legitimacy to frankly even exist at this point.”
The issue of antisemitism is personal for Fine.&nbsp;
As a Jew and an outspoken friend of <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/28/who-will-rule-gaza-after-war-ex-idf-spokesman-sees-only-one-option/">Israel,</a> he proudly displays a plaque on his office’s wall reading
“Senator Randy Fine ‘The Hebrew Hammer,’” gifted to him when he was a state senator
but I have embraced it,” he said with a smile when asked about the nickname
“You won&#8217;t find an a more pro-Israel member than me,” he said
“I believe that Israel fights the fights that we don&#8217;t have to.”
“I believe standing with Israel is standing with America
The Muslim terrorists have come to America
We see them on our college campuses every day
sending them home is a critical thing for us to be doing.”
Fine was likely referencing the Trump administration’s <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/03/15/mahmoud-khalil-red-green-assault-american-sovereignty/">revocation of student visas</a> for noncitizens accused of promoting the actions of Hamas
A graduate of <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/05/01/harvards-report-on-campus-antisemitism-shows-why-trump-is-right-to-go-after-higher-ed/">Harvard,</a> Fine says that campus antisemitism is something of a new phenomenon from his experience
“It was not easy for a conservative 35 years ago
but I never felt unsafe as a Jewish student
And that&#8217;s what&#8217;s different today,” he said
We&#8217;re going to protect Muslim terror
and that&#8217;s what&#8217;s got to stop.”
Another issue Fine cares about is <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/24/11-defensive-gun-use-cases-in-march-that-kept-citizens-from-becoming-victims/">gun rights</a> advocacy
Asked how he would champion gun rights in the House
My last bill that I presented in the Florida Senate was a bill for campus carry
to say that whatever your Second Amendment rights are off campus
[they] don&#8217;t go away when you come on campus.”
Fine’s justification for that policy is the Florida State University shooting in April
which he partly attributes to the fact that the campus was nominally a “gun-free zone.”
“Focusing on <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/29/tennessee-creates-second-amendment-sanctuary-protecting-firearms-industry-weaponized-lawsuits/">gun control</a> doesn&#8217;t solve that problem,” he said
Florida State&#8217;s a &#8216;gun-free zone.&#8217; It&#8217;s against the law
I actually tried telling my Democratic colleagues: I said
There&#8217;s a law that says you can&#8217;t bring guns on campus
and you tell me all the time that gun control works,’” he said
Fine is still learning his way around the Capitol
You just sort of get a key and a pin and a voting card and get told
But if there’s one thing that Fine is excited about, it’s the <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/30/democrats-vow-fight-trump-but-dont-say-how/">direction of the Democratic Party.</a>
“I love the direction they&#8217;re going,” he said. “I think they should get even crazier. Please <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/24/pigheaded-hogg-not-backing-down-in-dnc-family-feud-over-primarying-incumbents/">primary your members</a> with even more lunatic nut jobs than you already have.”
“Look, I think the Democratic Party is dangerous. Again, these are people who think boys can be girls and boys who play girls sports, and obsess about pronouns, and support Muslim terror. It&#8217;s dangerous, and they seem to be <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/29/democrats-radical-changing-of-the-guard/">doubling down</a> and tripling down and quadrupling down on all of that stuff
But I think it&#8217;s terrible for America.”
George Caldwell is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. <a href="mailto:george.caldwell@dailysignal.org">Send an email to George</a>
An investigation is underway in Southwest Florida after<a href=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener"> one person and a dog were killed in a reported bear attack</a> on May 5
It was the second reported bear attack in Florida this year, and it isn't the first time bears have been spotted in Collier County this year. A <a href=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2025/02/04/4-bears-spotted-at-verona-walk-in-collier-county-what-to-know/78206549007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">mother bear and her three cubs</a> were spotted Jan
➤ <a href=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2025/02/04/florida-black-bears-map-shoot/78211727007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2025/02/04/florida-black-bears-map-shoot/78211727007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">What to do if a Florida black bear comes into your neighborhood</a>
One bear even <a href=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2023/09/18/disney-world-bear-sighting-magic-kingdom/70893067007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2023/09/18/disney-world-bear-sighting-magic-kingdom/70893067007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">closed a portion of Disney World's Magic Kingdom</a> in September 2023
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 7:07 a.m
in reference to a possible bear encounter in Jerome in a secluded area within the edge of the woods
<a href=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">One person and a dog were found dead </a>at the scene
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials warned the<a href=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/05/05/possible-bear-mauling-near-everglades-city-one-person-dead/83454261007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener"> bear may remain in the area</a> and urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid the area
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating
unincorporated rural area about 30 miles east of Naples and about 10 miles north of Everglades City
The highway cuts through Fakahatachee Strand Preserve State Park to the west and Big Cypress National Preserve to the east
According to data from the Florida Fish and and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Monday's was the <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/encounter/ data-type=link data-id=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/encounter/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">second Florida bear attack in 2025.</a>
The first happened Feb. 15 in Silver Springs, located in<a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/encounter/ data-type=link data-id=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/encounter/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener"> Marion County </a>in Northeast Florida
Man injured in January bear attack in Collier County in 2018In January 2018, a <a href=https://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2018/01/12/collier-man-recovering-bear-attack-his-backyard/1030691001/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2018/01/12/collier-man-recovering-bear-attack-his-backyard/1030691001/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">Collier County man was injured</a> when another female bear with young surprised him and his dog about 11 p.m
Andrew Meunier was taking his dog outside when the dog growled and ran back inside
Meunier spotted three bears standing a few feet from his back door
He said a massive paw came down on the right side of his face before he finished turning his back on the animals
It took 41 stitches to repair the 8-inch scar that goes from his hairline
Wild <a href="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/distribution-map/#:~:text=While%20bears%20can%20be%20found,is%20called%20a%20home%20range." data-type=link data-id="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/distribution-map/#:~:text=While%20bears%20can%20be%20found,is%20called%20a%20home%20range." target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">bears are found in almost half of Florida</a>
<a href="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/distribution-map/#:~:text=While%20bears%20can%20be%20found,is%20called%20a%20home%20range." data-type=link data-id="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/distribution-map/#:~:text=While%20bears%20can%20be%20found,is%20called%20a%20home%20range." target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Florida is among the "frequent" locations</a> the FWC classifies where Florida black bears can be seen
 These areas are the core of the bear population where evidence of reproduction is consistent."
Other frequent locations also include Central and South Central portions of Florida and the Panhandle
FWC maintains an <a href="https://myfwc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c634d5ba4cc47baa82de0ed2782426c" target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">interactive public bear map</a>
where you can filter by several categories
➤ <a href="https://myfwc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c634d5ba4cc47baa82de0ed2782426c" target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">FWC interactive bear map displaying bear calls, mortality and bear captures</a>
The FWC estimated there are approximately <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/faqs/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">4,050 bears statewide.</a>
"A <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">fed bear is a dead bear</a>," the FWC said
"Bears are driven by their need to eat and with a sense of smell that can <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">detect odors over a mile away</a>
problems arise when bears gain access to food sources such as pet foods
➤ <a href=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2025/03/21/florida-black-bear-hunt-fish-wildlife-hunting-virtual-events/82588084007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2025/03/21/florida-black-bear-hunt-fish-wildlife-hunting-virtual-events/82588084007/>A new black bear hunt in Florida? FWC seeking public feedback, comments. Here's when</a>
"Bears are found throughout Florida and sometimes visit neighborhoods," the FWC said. "If bears can't find food, they will move on." Here are some suggestions, along with what is illegal, on <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">living with black bears in Florida</a> from the FWC:
and birdseedSecure livestock with electric fencingBe aware of surroundings and walk dogs on a short leashIf you are having conflicts with bears
MyFWC.com/AboutWhat can you do if a bear comes into your yard?If a bear comes into your yard
first make sure you are in a safe area and the bear has a clear escape route
Then "<a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">SCARE THAT BEAR</a>."
"You want to let the bear know it is not welcome in your yard
or anything else that makes a lot of noise
"The use of paintballs, bear spray, and sling shots are also allowed under <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/scare/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">FWC guidelines</a>," the FWC said
"If you encounter a bear at close range, remain standing upright, <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/faqs/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">back up slowly</a> and speak to the bear in a calm
Be sure the bear has an obvious escape route
Can you shoot a Florida black bear in self defense?Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill saying Florida residents can <a href=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/politics/2024/06/21/desantis-signs-florida-law-allowing-people-to-shoot-menacing-bears/74045556007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">stand their ground and kill threatening bears</a>
<a href="https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=78661&SessionId=103" target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">The Self Defense Act of 2024</a> went into effect July 1
If a black bear makes contact with you, <a href=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/living/faqs/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">fight back</a> aggressively
"People have successfully fended off black bears using rocks
or someone who is harming bears or feeding them
call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922
<a href="https://arrowgroup.gunster.com/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Arrow Group</a> is expanding its practice with the addition of Glen Gilzean
who will take on the title of senior adviser
“I’m excited to join Arrow Group and help further their mission of redefining government affairs consulting,” Gilzean said
“I look forward to working with the talented team to drive meaningful change and make a positive impact in communities across Florida.”
Gilzean spent much of his career in education
founding the nonprofit Educate Today and serving as vice president of Advocacy and Community Affairs at Step Up for Students
the primary facilitator of school vouchers in Florida
Gilzean received eight gubernatorial appointments throughout his career from Govs
He was Chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics
Gilzen is a fellow of the James Madison Institute and a member of the American Enterprise Institute leadership network
He served on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board and
as interim Orange County Supervisor of Elections
“Glen’s dedication to advocating for Florida’s children and communities is inspiring,” said Arrow Group President Albert Balido
“His experience and passion will be a tremendous asset to our team and the clients and causes we serve.”
Arrow Group is the government affairs arm of full-service business law firm <a href="https://www.gunster.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Gunster,</a> which <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/711930-gunster-expands-government-affairs-practice-with-launch-of-arrow-group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal">launched in January</a> through a strategic partnership with Anfield Consulting
with Ron Brisé serving as Senior Policy Adviser
Gilzean’s hire marks the second significant addition to the firm this year, following <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/721348-personnel-note-kim-shugar-joins-arrow-group/" data-wpel-link="internal" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kim Shugar</a>
Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics
He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter
covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics
I just received $6618 working off my Iaptop this month
my divorced friend has twin toddlers and made 0ver $­15781 her first m0nth
It feels so good making so much money when other people have to work for so much less
<a rel='nofollow' class='comment-reply-link' href='#comment-410449' data-commentid="410449" data-postid="736382" data-belowelement="comment-410449" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Patricia MKing" aria-label='Reply to Patricia MKing'>Reply</a>
<a rel='nofollow' class='comment-reply-link' href='#comment-410521' data-commentid="410521" data-postid="736382" data-belowelement="comment-410521" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Paul" aria-label='Reply to Paul'>Reply</a>
 Misspent million$ on pet projects as Orange SOE
 Life is good when you are the only negro the Gov
<a rel='nofollow' class='comment-reply-link' href='#comment-410586' data-commentid="410586" data-postid="736382" data-belowelement="comment-410586" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Mike Foster" aria-label='Reply to Mike Foster'>Reply</a>
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
&#916;document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"
This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media
Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL
© Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/wp-admin" data-wpel-link="internal" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">STAFF LOGIN</a>
(AP) — Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water
over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe
effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities
we see the direct consequences fluoride removal has on our patients and it’s a real tragedy when policymakers’ decisions hurt vulnerable kids and adults in the long term,” Brett Kessler
president of the American Dental Association
“Blindly calling for a ban on fluoridated water hurts people
While Florida’s bill doesn’t specifically reference fluoride
it will require the mineral and some other additives be removed from water sources across the state
Some local officials in Florida have already voted to remove the mineral from their community water systems
ahead of state lawmakers’ push to ban fluoride
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Tuesday she is “deeply disappointed” by the passage of the bill
adding that it disregards “the overwhelming consensus of dentists
doctors and medical experts and will end a practice that has been in place for decades to protect our health.”
which is a safe and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay
will have “long-lasting health consequences
especially for our most vulnerable families.”
The mayor said the decision should be left to local communities
About one-third of community water systems
Governor Ron DeSantis leads push to loosen child labor laws as immigration crackdown leads to workforce shortage
The answer, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/florida" data-link-name="in body link" data-component="auto-linked-tag">Florida</a> lawmakers
who as young as 14 could soon be allowed to work overnight shifts without a break – even on school nights
A bill that progressed this week through the Republican-dominated state senate seeks to <a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5cd5801dfdf7e5927800fb7f/67e1b4e9a2b15644d9fb9449_childlaborbill_march2025%201.pdf" data-link-name="in body link">remove numerous existing protections</a> for teenage workers
to step into the shoes of immigrants who supply Florida’s tourism and agriculture industries with “dirt cheap labor”
“What’s wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? That’s how it used to be when I was growing up,” DeSantis said at an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrEIaj5nPRE" data-link-name="in body link">immigration forum</a> with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump" data-link-name="in body link">Donald Trump</a>’s “border czar”
“Why do we say we need to import foreigners
when teenagers used to work at these resorts
college students should be [doing] all this stuff.”
the proposal has alarmed immigration advocates and watchdog groups concerned about child labor abuses and exploitation
They point out that there is nothing “part-time” in the language of the companion <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/918/BillText/Filed/PDF" data-link-name="in body link">senate</a> and <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1225/BillText/Filed/PDF" data-link-name="in body link">house</a> bills currently before lawmakers
which instead will permit unlimited working hours without breaks for 14- and 15-year-olds who are schooled at home or online
and allow employers to require 16- and 17-year-olds to work for more than six days in a row
“It’s essentially treating teens who have developing bodies and minds like adults
and this will allow employers to schedule them for unlimited hours
and this is during the school year,” said Alexis Tsoukalas
senior policy analyst at the Florida Policy Institute (FPI)
an independent research and economic analysis group
“It’s important to remind people that teens can work
They can get that experience and some extra money if they need it
But there have to be protections in place to protect our most vulnerable
and if we pass this that’s absolutely not going to happen.”
an attempt by the state senator who sponsored the bill
to paint it as an issue of parental rights rather than a way to cover Florida’s deportation-driven labor shortfall also failed to impress critics
“is talking about those soft skill benefits to children growing”
and said his bill was aimed at teenagers working in places like grocery stores
“There’s different arguments that people will put on the floor in order to do what they think it takes to get a bill passed
Given some of the justifications that state leaders have made in recent days
it’s clear that they are linking the immigration issue and child labor,” she said
“When the sweeping <a href="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/top-five-things-to-know-about-sb-1718-floridas-new-immigration-law" data-link-name="in body link">anti-immigrant bill of 2023</a> passed
we did warn there would be impacts on the labor force and the economy given how reliant we are on immigrant labor
but as we’ve seen recently at the federal level all types of people
“Combined with what’s going on at the state level
we’re talking about the need to fill gaps with other forms of labor.”
According to the US Census Bureau, <a href="https://usafacts.org/answers/what-percent-of-jobs-in-the-us-are-held-by-immigrants/state/florida/" data-link-name="in body link">more than 27%</a> of Florida’s workforce is foreign-born
The Farmworker Association of Florida, which represents tens of thousands of low-income, immigrant laborers, says about 60% of its membership is undocumented, and most vulnerable to detention and deportation. Others are among half a million Haitians nationwide who Trump has ordered to leave the US by August after he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/ohio-haitians-immigration-tps" data-link-name="in body link">rescinded their temporary protected status</a>
Pushback from FPI and other groups persuaded Florida lawmakers to drop some of the harsher provisions in a child labor law that <a href="https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/child-labor/" data-link-name="in body link">passed last year</a>
and opponents are dismayed to find them back under consideration
Free newsletterGet the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning
The state was singled out in a <a href="https://governingforimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GFI-EPI-CLC-Child-Labor-FLSA-Report_FINAL-1.pdf" data-link-name="in body link">2024 report</a> by Governing for Impact and the Economic Policy Institute that recorded a surge in workplace injuries and violations involving minors – some in the agricultural industry where hazards include exposure to toxic chemicals and dangerous machinery
The report noted a corresponding push in at least 30 mostly Republican-controlled states to weaken workplace protections for children, and warned the second Trump administration would <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/16/child-labor-regulations-project-2025" data-link-name="in body link">seek to escalate the rollback</a>.
Read more</a>“We’ve been saying since 2023 that this is a way for them to exploit minors
anti-immigrant omnibus and the same year that they tried to pass the first law gutting child labor protection,” said Thomas Kennedy
spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition
“The only short-term answer to workforce shortages has always been net migration and they’ll never go for that because of their politics
So their only answer is to widen the parameters of who can work
Kennedy and Tsoukalas are hopeful that Republicans who said they were uncomfortable with some parts of the bill will ultimately decide to vote against it. <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article302920599.html" data-link-name="in body link">According to the Miami Herald</a>
the Republican state senators Nick DiCeglie and Tom Wright helped move it out of the commerce and tourism committee on a 5-4 vote
Republican Joe Gruters joined three Democrats in voting against
Kennedy, however, pointed to another <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/726029-house-panel-advances-bill-to-pay-interns-and-apprentices-less-than-minimum-wage/" data-link-name="in body link">Republican bill that progressed this week</a> that would allow employers to pay interns and apprentices less than minimum wage
so now they’re trying to gut child labor protection standards
while at the same time passing a law that would allow them to classify these children and other workers as interns,” he said
Amid a state crackdown on undocumented migrants
at least 10&nbsp;public universities are giving campus police immigration enforcement powers
You have /5 articles left.Sign up for a free account or log in
The University of Central Florida is one of the 10 public universities in Florida that have signed agreements that will allow campus police to enforce immigration laws.&nbsp;
At least 10 Florida public universities have struck agreements with the federal government authorizing campus police to question and detain undocumented immigrants
Inside Higher Ed requested public records from all 12 State University System of Florida institutions related to their agreements with U.S
it is clear that at least 10 have signed deals with ICE: Florida A&amp;M University
the University of South Florida and the University of West Florida
Florida State University and Florida Polytechnic University are in the process of signing the paperwork
according to spokespersons at each institution
It is unclear whether any of the 28 members of the Florida College System
An FCS system spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on whether its colleges have also entered such agreements
Universities across the state signed memorandums of agreement at the direction of Republican governor Ron DeSantis, who ordered law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE “to execute functions of immigration enforcement,” according to a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-announces-additional-memoranda-agreement-between-florida-law" target="_blank">Feb.&nbsp;19 news release</a>
Legal experts and Florida faculty members note that such agreements are rare and mark a shift away from the typical duties of campus police
which don’t usually include immigration enforcement
They also raised concerns about how such arrangements could create a climate of fear on campuses
The DeSantis directive came shortly after the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2025-02-18/larry-keefe-florida-immigration-enforcement" target="_blank">governor tapped Larry Keefe</a>
attorney for the Northern District of Florida
to serve as executive director of the nascent State Board of Immigration Enforcement
Keefe is known for helping DeSantis orchestrate flights of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in 2022
Keefe was named to the role on Feb.&nbsp;17
executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association
sent an email to multiple universities that included a template for a memorandum of agreement with ICE
“Director Keefe is seeking participation from as many municipalities as possible
offered limited statements about their agreements with ICE
A Florida Board of Governors spokesperson also provided few details
“Several police departments at universities within the State University System of Florida are partnering with U.S
Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Cassandra Edwards
“We do not maintain these records and recommend contacting individual universities for specific information about the partnerships.” 
Public records show that Florida Poly was hesitant to sign on
apparently due to guidance by Polk County sheriff Grady Judd
who is also on the State Board of Immigration Enforcement
“He wants us to hold off and not sign because he’s going to be handling all from Polk and not wants [sic] us to be involved as of now,” Florida Poly police chief Rick Holland wrote in a March&nbsp;25 email response to questions from administrators at other universities about the agreements
Though Florida Poly noted it is still in the consideration process
emails obtained by Inside Higher Ed show another message from Holland indicating that Florida Poly appears willing to sign
“Can you send me a signed copy of your MOU as a template to where I&nbsp;need to sign?” Holland wrote in an April&nbsp;3 email sent to Jennifer Coley
the chief of police at New College of Florida
(Florida Poly confirmed after publication that it planned to sign the paperwork Wednesday.)
Memorandums of agreement reviewed by Inside Higher Ed show that universities that entered arrangements with ICE will grant their police the authority to perform tasks typically reserved for government officials
arresting and preparing charges for individuals on campus suspected of immigration violations
Campus police will be required to undergo mandatory training “on relevant administrative
and operational issues tailored to the immigration enforcement functions to be performed,” according to copies of agreements between universities and ICE reviewed by Inside Higher Ed
Universities that signed agreements did not provide a timeline for when the training might begin
a law professor and director of the University of Nevada
said such agreements are uncommon at universities
He said they are essentially “force multipliers for ICE that deputize local police agencies to do the work that ICE would normally do itself.”
also said that she had not heard of prior agreements between campus police and ICE
introduced in 1996 to delegate immigration enforcement powers to other law enforcement agencies
rising under Republican presidents and falling under their Democratic counterparts
who has made a crackdown on immigration a central part of his policy agenda
we’ve seen an explosion in 287(g) agreements under Trump,” Chacón said
Faculty and legal scholars are skeptical and concerned about campus agreements with ICE
the Florida International chapter of United Faculty of Florida called for the university to immediately withdraw from the program
“We affirm that every member of our university community has a basic right to feel safe on campus—free from profiling
“FIU’s latest act of anticipatory obedience undermines the rights of our community and jeopardizes the opportunity for all students and faculty to learn from and engage with their non-citizen peers
FIU’s haste to comply with ICE is in direct conflict with its stated vision
These actions distract from our educational mission and erode the inclusive environment FIU claims to foster.”
The statement added the student body is “majority Hispanic
and home to nearly 600 students protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program,” calling the agreement a betrayal of FIU’s legacy as a prominent Hispanic-serving institution
in some cases for participating in campus protests but often for unclear reasons.)
Legal scholars shared faculty members’ concerns about the fallout of such agreements
“It seems like this is designed to increase fear
it is likely to increase racial profiling on campus
and it is not at all an effective way to police immigration,” Chacón said
Kagan said he would be unsurprised to see similar agreements at universities in other red states
“I think that it will accentuate the extremes in terms of how different university systems react to the reality that immigrants are part of their campus life,” he said
‘Let’s hunt them down with our own police,’ while you have other university systems that have started programs to be more welcoming to undocumented students.”
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that Florida Poly plans to sign an agreement with ICE on Wednesday
We need to distinguish between good DEI and bad DEI
A recent report finds that CDOs are doing their best to navigate state-level DEI bans
Multiple states have created entities named after the federal Department of Government Efficiency
Undocumented students in the two states can’t participate in federal programs that support underserved students anymo
Learn high-impact ways to re-engage students
drive enrollment and support your team’s well-being
Subscribe for free to Inside Higher Ed’s newsletters
opinion and great new careers in higher education — delivered to your inbox
<a class="button button--primary" href="/form/newsletter">View Newsletters</a>
Copyright &copy; 2025 Inside Higher Ed  All rights reserved. | <a href="https://nclud.com/">Website designed by nclud</a>
&quot;There&#x27;s a golf cart over here with a bullet hole in it.&quot;Chris Pento was on a tour of the university with his children and eating lunch at the student union building when shots started ringing out.&quot;It was surreal
She just got trampled over,&quot; Pento told local TV station WCTV
referring to his daughter.In addition to the handgun
authorities believe the suspect brought a shotgun onto campus but said it was uncertain if that weapon was used in the shooting.Notable mass shootings at colleges or universities in recent years include the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre in Blacksburg
where 32 people were killed and 23 injured.In 2023
where three students were killed and at least five others injured
The other incident unfolded at the University of Nevada
where three faculty members were killed before a suspect died in a shootout with the police.Reporting by Frank McGurty in New York
Brad Brooks in Colorado and Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker
Our Standards: <a data-testid="Link" target="_blank" href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/about-us/trust-principles.html" referrerPolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" rel="noopener" class="text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__small__1kGq2 link__link__3Ji6W link__underline_default__2prE_ link__with-icon__3x3oD">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab</a>
, opens new tab</a> Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts.
, opens new tab</a>Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks.
© 2025 Reuters. <a data-testid="Link" href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/policies/copyright.html" referrerPolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" class="text__text__1FZLe text__inherit-color__3208F text__inherit-font__1Y8w3 text__inherit-size__1DZJi link__link__3Ji6W link__underline_on_hover__2zGL4">All rights reserved</a>
<a class="breadCrumbLink" href="/tag/united-states">United States</a>Chevron
<a class="breadCrumbLink" href="/tag/florida">Florida</a>Chevron
GettySave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors
we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links
consults over 1,000 global travel professionals as judges to nominate top coastline contenders from locations around the world
or on-the-ground travel experts with local knowledge
then offer up detailed insights of each beach destination
A list that highlights not only the most scenic beaches
but the ones that deliver a full and top-tier sensory escape
Siesta Beach was the only US destination to make the cut this year. Beating out heavyweights from <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-things-to-do-on-the-big-island-hawaii-slow-coast" target="_blank">Hawaii</a>, <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-hotels-in-san-francisco" target="_blank">California</a>
the dreamy Gulf Coast shore has now officially captured the hearts of international travel experts
“And having it at our fingertips right here in the US is truly something special.”
travelers already exploring southern Florida can add it as a stop to their Keys itinerary
There’s a whole slew of reasons our readers continue to fall hard for Florida’s gulf coast: iconic sunsets, waterfront dining, and <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/beach-towns-east-coast#:~:text=Siesta%20Key%2C%20Florida&amp;text=We%20want%20to%20laud%20Siesta,for%20water%20sports%20like%20parasailing." target="_blank">active beach scenes</a>
The island of Siesta Key is home to three distinct beaches: Siesta Beach
the lively and most photographed stretch; Crescent Beach
a more private cove perfect for snorkeling near Point of Rocks; and Turtle Beach
slightly rugged escape ideal for shell collecting and kayaking
the best time to travel to Siesta Beach is April to May or September to early October
“Be mindful of Florida&#x27;s hurricane season
which runs from June through August,” Covel says—with a note of the new storm-normal season extending through October
“If you choose to travel during hurricane season
I highly recommend travel insurance in case of any unexpected weather.” In fact
last year’s Hurricane Milton caused significant damages to Sarasota County—with storm surges
the beaches at Siesta Key and Lido Beach reopened last November
If you’re looking for a day trip to Siesta Key’s (or perhaps the charming coasts of Anna Maria Island)
book a hotel or Airbnb on Longboat or Lido Key
Want to be the first to know? <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/newsletter" target="_blank">Sign up to our newsletters</a> for travel inspiration and tips
A Guide to <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/a-guide-to-korcula-croatia-a-hidden-gem-on-the-dalmatian-coast" target="_blank">Korčula, Croatia</a>
Why Everyone Will Be Going to <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-everyone-will-be-going-to-osaka-in-2025" target="_blank">Osaka</a> in 2025
A <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/london-itinerary-according-to-a-local" target="_blank">London Local’s Melting-Pot Itinerary</a> for Food
This New <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/andbeyond-galapagos-explorer-cruise-is-a-safari-at-sea" target="_blank">Eco-Cruise Through the Galápagos</a> Takes Passengers On a Safari at Sea
up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel
Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse
We understand that time is the greatest luxury
which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal
or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world
FL – One person has been found dead in a possible bear attack
Officers were on the scene and investigating it as an "active crime scene," Arielle Callender
the public information officer for the South Region office of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office received a call shortly after 7 a.m
in reference to a possible bear encounter near a highway in Jerome
Deputies arrived about an hour later and found one deceased person
The officers are assisting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the investigation
the May 5 attack in Collier County would be the second bear mauling in Florida this year
While state data references black bear attacks
authorities have not confirmed the type of bear involved in the May 5 attack
there have been at least 15 bear attacks in Florida involving the presence of dogs
It's not yet confirmed if the most recent investigation incudes dogs
The man was taking his dog outside when one of three bears struck his face
leaving an eight-inch scar and other marks
There are on average about 40 bear attacks worldwide, the animal foundation reported and between two to three deaths per year. The U.S., there is fewer than one death per year, according to the <a href=https://bear.org/bear-facts/how-dangerous-are-black-bears/ data-type=link data-id=https://bear.org/bear-facts/how-dangerous-are-black-bears/>North American Bear Center</a>
are usually defensive reactions if a person is too close
Florida wildlife officials had three <a href=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/05/02/will-there-be-another-bear-hunt-in-florida-in-2025/83324870007/>virtual public feedback</a> meetings in April for a proposed return of a state bear hunt
The primary objectives of regulated hunting are to balance species population numbers with suitable habitat and to maintain a healthy population
A draft of the proposal to be presented to county commissioners is expected to be ready for public review by Wednesday
The proposal indicates that 55 bears will be permitted for harvest from Lee
The <a href=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/10/26/florida-bear-hunt-ends-after-2-day-season/74612298/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">last black bear hunt</a> happened in Florida a decade ago, but the planned weeklong hunt was halted at the end of the second day after <a href=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/10/26/bear-hunt-halted-nearly-300-killed-2-days/15685578007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly 300 bears were killed</a>
State officials estimate there are more than 4,000 black bears in Florida
This story has been updated with additional information
University of Michigan President Santa Ono said Sunday that he plans to leave Ann Arbor to become the next president of the University of Florida
"I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida, and once the appointment is approved by their Board of Governors, I expect to assume that role later this summer," Ono wrote in <a href=https://president.umich.edu/news-communications/messages-to-the-community/leadership-update/>a message to the Michigan community</a> on the president office's website
Ono wrote that he did not make the decision lightly and that he had already informed the chair of the university's Board of Regents
"Serving as your president these past three academic years has been a distinct honor," he wrote
the U-M Board of Regents thanked Ono for his service and noted that he has agreed to stay on until an interim president is named
he has encouraged all of us to dream boldly
to push the boundaries of knowledge and to be daring in our plans so that we could achieve more than we ever thought was possible," the email said
"We are working thoughtfully and expeditiously as we execute our transition plan and we will be sharing more details in the near future."
The University of Florida announced the decision <a href=https://news.ufl.edu/2025/05/announcement/>on its website</a>
saying Ono was chosen through an "extensive and thorough" selection process
Ono’s proven record of academic excellence
innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice," Rahul Patel
chair of the presidential search committee
"We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.”
A vision researcher whose work focuses on the immune system and eye diseases, Ono had previously served as president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. When he was sworn in as <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2023/03/07/university-of-michigan-president-dr-santa-ono/69982331007/>Michigan’s 15th president</a> in March 2023
climate change and racism were tasks that demanded attention and that Michigan was up to the task
Ono initially signed a five-year contract that paid him $975,000 a year, plus an additional $350,000 in deferred compensation. In October, the Board of Regents <a href=https://record.umich.edu/articles/regents-extend-president-onos-contract-until-2032/>extended his contract</a> through 2032 and increased his base salary to $1.3 million per year
Ono touted as accomplishments several initiatives
urban outreach and the "Look to Michigan" campaign
a $7 billion fund-raising effort that is more than half way to its goal
He also noted the launch of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute to combat antisemitism and the planned Institute on Civic Discourse
which aims to promote dialogue and understanding
But his tenure at the University of Michigan has been marked by controversies, especially the school’s handling of protests against <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/05/21/university-michigan-encampment-protest-removed-ann-arbor-police/73782981007/>the Gaza War</a> and its seeming <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2025/03/27/university-michigan-dei-office-closing/82690676007/>reluctance to challenge</a> some of the dictates of the Trump administration
The school was accused at times, of doing too little to combat <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2024/06/18/education-dept-slams-university-of-michigan-over-hate-on-campus/74128886007/>anti-semitism on campus </a>and at other times of <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2024/10/10/university-michigan-accused-islamophobia-department-education-complaint/75598590007/>ignoring reports</a> of Islamophobia
Gaza War protesters have demanded the university divest its endowment holdings from companies doing business in Israel
Vandals have attacked <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/10/08/antisemitic-flyers-vandalism-reported-across-metro-detroit/75562846007/>Ono's home </a>and the homes of other U-M officials
spray-painting pro-Palestinian messages and breaking windows
U-M said it was shifting money out of DEI programs into more student-facing initiatives, including an expansion of the <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2025/04/23/university-michigan-dei-money-low-income-students/83226984007/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=680926dc0f6dea000175b4fd&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook">Go Blue Guarantee</a>
which provides free tuition to in-state students whose household incomes are $125,000 or less
Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com
Thanks for visiting <a class="b41hfdwbi-modal__text-host"></a>
The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy
We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here
Chris joined FloridaGators.com in 2011 after nearly three decades as a sports reporter at newspapers in Tampa and Orlando
including 10 years covering the UF athletic program and another 10 covering the NFL
Scott has been a senior writer for the Florida Gators since 2010
University of Michigan President Santa Ono announced Sunday that he will step down from leading the university after being selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida
Ono wrote that he expects to assume the new role later this summer once the appointment is approved by the University of Florida's board of governors
“I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents
given the deep bond Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community.”
urging him to enlist the university in resistance against President Donald Trump's threats to strip colleges of research dollars unless they end their DEI efforts
scrub curricula of far-left ideology and aggressively combat antisemitism
Ono has served as UM's president for slightly more than 2.5 years
making his tenure the shortest in university history
his tenure will be shorter than Lee Bollinger
who resigned in 2001 after six years to lead Columbia University
Ono's two predecessors held the positions longer: Mary Sue Coleman served 12 years before retiring in 2014
and Mark Schlissel served 7.5 years before he was removed by the Board of Regents in 2022
► READ MORE: <a href=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/05/04/past-university-of-michigan-presidents/83449933007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Past University of Michigan presidents</a>
Ono has served as the 15th president of the University of Michigan since October 2022
He called serving as UM's president during the past three academic years a distinct honor
I have been inspired beyond words by the vibrancy
“I will miss the extraordinary intellectual vitality that fills our classrooms and laboratories
the sublime sounds of our musical and theatrical performances
and the roar of fans cheering on the Wolverines — or singing ‘Mr
More: <a href=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/05/03/hall-of-famer-derek-jeter-tells-um-graduates-passion-is-key-to-success/83371371007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Hall of Famer Derek Jeter tells UM graduates passion is key to success</a>
As the news broke Sunday evening of Ono's plans to depart Ann Arbor
the University of Florida also announced its presidential search committee unanimously recommended Ono to be considered by its board of trustees as the sole finalist to become the university’s 14th president
“On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee
Santa Ono as the sole finalist to be the University of Florida’s next president,” Rahul Patel
chair of the Presidential Search Committee
“Throughout an extensive and thorough process
we sought a leader who could match UF’s extraordinary momentum
understand its role as the flagship university of one of the most dynamic states in the country
and inspire our community to reach even greater heights
innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice
We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.”
said he could not provide a comment about Ono's announcement because he said he had just learned of the news 45 minutes prior: "I don't have all the facts," he said
Controversies and challengesOno said earlier this year that the University of Michigan
is facing enormous challenges as it navigates executive orders issued by Trump
Ono and other university leaders recently closed the Office of Diversity
Equity and Inclusion and shifted resources to other student programs
pre-professional counseling and other efforts that strengthen community
promote a sense of belonging and expand accessibility."
the University of Michigan's Faculty Senate adopted a resolution that called on the university's administration to enter into a mutual defense pact with other members of the Big Ten to collectively resist threats to academic freedom and other actions by the Trump administration
Nearly 93% of University of Michigan Faculty Senate voters backed the resolution
Other supported resolutions urged UM administrators to maintain or reinstate all legally permissible diversity
and inclusion initiatives and to safeguard international faculty
and staff from unwarranted detention by U.S
In pushing Ono to join the fight against the Trump administration's efforts to direct curricula and combat what they call virulent antisemitism on U.S
some UM regents called for more from the school's president
"Now is the time to stand up and be counted," said Regent Mark Bernstein
"It's not the time to stand in the shadows
We need to do a better job of speaking with clarity and purpose about our work around diversity."
A <a href=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/magazine/dei-university-michigan.html>report</a> in 2024 by the New York Times on UM’s DEI initiatives estimated them to cost $250 million
"We are eliminating bureaucratic overspending and making Michigan more accessible," wrote Regent Sarah Hubbard
"I will continue to push for even greater financial support for talented students with financial need."
More: <a href=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/05/04/former-um-employees-were-fired-after-pro-palestine-protests-lawsuit/83416087007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Former employees sue UM, allege they were fired following pro-Palestine protests</a>
Ono's impending departure also comes amid a lawsuit filed by eight former University of Michigan employees alleging they were fired and banned from working at the university because they spoke out in support of Palestinians' human rights and called on UM to divest from Israel
The suit also accuses the board of regents of dismissing the employees without proper notice
The plaintiffs said the climate on campus has changed significantly since the Oct
Hamas attack and subsequent escalation of the Israel-Gaza war
The University of Michigan saw a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus that lasted nearly a month
Ono cited fire safety concerns as the reason for the university’s decision to dismantle the encampment
Finley: <a href=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2025/04/22/finley-university-of-michigan-regents-push-ono-to-defy-trump/83214865007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>University of Michigan regents push Ono to defy Trump</a>
Ono joined UM from the University of British Columbia after the school wrestled with turmoil
such as the regents' January 2022 firing of then-President Mark Schlissel after an investigation found inappropriate conduct with an employee
The university also grappled with sexual assault scandals
including one involving the late-physician Robert Anderson
who was accused of sexually assaulting former students
which led to a settlement in September 2022 with more than 1,000 people of $490 million
From the archives: <a href=https://www.detroitnews.com/in-depth/news/local/michigan/2022/10/06/exclusive-interview-santa-ono-opens-up-on-life-what-hell-bring-to-um/7943487001/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Santa Ono opens up on life, what he'll bring to UM</a>
Regents ratified a new contract for Ono in October
extending his presidency at the time another eight years to 2032 after serving as president for two years
The new contract also boosted his base salary to $1.3 million
which is 33% more than the $975,000 annual salary he got when starting in 2022
The only other public university president to rival Ono's contract at that time was the one for former University of Florida President Ben Sasse
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee named Santa J
Ono the lone finalist for UF’s 14th president in an announcement Sunday afternoon
The recommendation comes nine months after former UF President Ben Sasse resigned from the position.&nbsp;
Ono currently serves as the University of Michigan’s president
He was formerly president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati
Beyond his experience in university administration
Ono was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the American Council of Education
Ono praised UF in its role as the state’s flagship university
saying he’s “honored and energized to be considered for this historic opportunity.”&nbsp;
While Ono has an extensive background in academia
he notably lacks any experience in politics — something his predecessor drew frequent criticism for.&nbsp;
Former UF president Ben Sasse came from a political background, formerly serving as a U.S. senator for Nebraska. Sasse’s election <a href="https://www.alligator.org/article/2023/02/ben-sasse-first-day-as-university-of-florida-president-protest-tigert-hall?ct=content_open&amp;cv=cbox_featured">fueled</a> concerns within the UF community that political leaders like Gov
Ron DeSantis were trying to unduly influence higher education
sparking widespread protests on campus.&nbsp;
the chair of the presidential search committee
said in a press release that the unanimous decision came from the committee’s confidence that Ono will “build on UF’s strong foundation.”&nbsp;
UF spokesman Steve Orlando declined to comment further on Ono’s recommendation
citing the university press release.&nbsp;
The committee reached out to <a href="https://presidentsearch.ufl.edu/#">over 450 possible candidates</a>
10 of whom were sitting presidents of institutions part of the Association of American Universities
an organization of research universities.&nbsp;
The presidential search committee defined search criteria and vetted candidates
but the Board of Trustees must vote to select the president
The appointment is also subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors
The next Board of Trustees meeting will be on June 5
“I fully support this unanimous recommendation and am confident in Dr
Ono’s ability to guide UF to even greater success,” Mori Hosseini
Ono will visit the UF campus on May 6 to<a href="https://presidentsearch.ufl.edu/announcements-updates/#el-118741da"> attend public forums </a>with students
Each forum will be held at the Emerson Hall President’s Ballroom
the student forum will take place at 2:25 p.m
and the administrator and staff forum will begin at 3:30 p.m
Kylie Williams and Delia Rose Sauer contributed to this report
Thanks for visiting <a class="brbhvjqyv-modal__text-host"></a>!
The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.
We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here.
Chris joined FloridaGators.com in 2011 after nearly three decades as a sports reporter at newspapers in Tampa and Orlando, including 10 years covering the UF athletic program and another 10 covering the NFL.
Scott has been a senior writer for the Florida Gators since 2010.
&copy;2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
13/15 Virginia Tech won the regular season finale with an 8-6 win over No
7/9 Florida State on Sunday afternoon at Tech Softball Park
The Hokies offense exploded for four home runs. <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/cori-mcmillan" title="Cori McMillan">Cori McMillan</a> went long twice, and <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/bre-peck" title="Bre Peck">Bre Peck</a> and <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/zoe-yaeger" title="Zoe Yaeger">Zoe Yaeger</a> each hit a home run as well
How It Happened: Virginia Tech 8, Florida State 6Florida State got on the board first with a leadoff solo home run and tacked on two more runs to make it 3-0 in the top of the second. After <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/kylie-aldridge" title="Kylie Aldridge">Kylie Aldridge</a> walked, <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/bre-peck" title="Bre Peck">Bre Peck</a> sent one over the wall in left center to cut the deficit to 3-2
Even though the Seminoles scored another run in the top of the third, a solo shot by <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/cori-mcmillan" title="Cori McMillan">Cori McMillan</a> – her nation-leading 28th home run of the season – pulled the Hokies within one once again
After a leadoff double by Peck in the bottom of the fourth, <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/jordan-lynch" title="Jordan Lynch">Jordan Lynch</a> ripped a double to center to tie up the game at 4-4
McMillan wasted no time once again and launched her second home run of the day to lead off the bottom of the fifth. With <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/emily-legette" title="Emily LeGette">Emily LeGette</a> on first after a single to right field, <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/zoe-yaeger" title="Zoe Yaeger">Zoe Yaeger</a> blasted a shot straight to left field to extend the Hokie lead to 7-4
Despite Florida State scoring two more in the top of the sixth
Yaeger delivered once again with an RBI single up the middle to score McMillan and take an 8-6 lead
After a phenomenal day in the circle from <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/emma-mazzarone" title="Emma Mazzarone">Emma Mazzarone</a>, <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/softball/roster/player/emma-lemley" title="Emma Lemley">Emma Lemley</a> came in and earned the save
She struck out two batters in the top of the seventh for her fourth save of the season
📊 Florida State rises in new baseball Power 10
Enter your information to receive emails about offers
Lodise and Williams each hit their second home run of the game
giving the Seminoles some more insurance late in this game
Faurot followed up with&nbsp;his&nbsp;second homer of the game
a two-run shot to walk it off on a run rule
Florida States finishes the day with 20 runs on 21 hits
The Seminoles take the top-five series in a pivotal ACC matchup as the postseason draws closer.&nbsp;
A pair of strikeouts for Joe Charles keeps the Florida State lead at six
Clemson is running out of time to come back with just six outs to go
CLEM 9 Myles Bailey continues his excellent outing with a three-run homer in the seventh inning
Bailey is now 4-for-4 on the day with 5 RBIs
giving them some insurance heading into the eighth inning
Bailey Blast!! 💪 <a href="https://t.co/BVO2B5wuRK">pic.twitter.com/BVO2B5wuRK</a>
but Joe Charles struck out Ciufo in the next AB
Charles then froze Cannarella to cap off the inning with another strikeout
CLEM 9TP Wentworth came in to pitch for Clemson
and Faurot welcomed him to the game with a big fly down the left field line that just stayed fair for his 10th homer of the season
but the Noles extend their lead to three runs heading into the seventh
It's FaurOUT of here! 🚀 <a href="https://t.co/OjoGbqUKgs">pic.twitter.com/OjoGbqUKgs</a>
CLEM 9Cannarella hit one up the middle for a first-pitch single
then Paino mashed a homer over the left field for his ninth of the season
and Gaffney crushed another two-run shot to right center field
Clemson cuts the lead to two runs as the Tigers claw back into this game
CLEM 5Lodise opened the half-inning with a single
but the Tigers turned a double play on the next AB
his third hit of the day to make him 3-for-3
but Fisher struck out swinging to end the inning
Now the Tigers will try to cut into the FSU lead some more in the sixth inning
Three quick outs for the Seminoles keeps the lead at six runs
Manca got Crighton to ground out and Jarrell to fly out to right field before striking out McCladdie to end the inning
A two-out walk moved a runner into scoring position for the Seminoles
dropping a single into center field to score FSU's 11th run of the game
The Seminoles stranded two runners in scoring position
but they got a run back to bump the lead up to six heading into the fifth inning
2025🐯 Tigers get on the board | Top 4: FSU 10
CLEM 5A few singles and a bunch of walks for Clemson made this a brand new ballgame in the fourth
then Crighton and Jarrell added a couple hits to right field to score Gaffney
McCladdie hit another single to load the bases
then Ciufo was hit by a pitch to score the Tigers' second run
and Cannarella worked a walk to load the bases back up
Chris Knier came in to replace Mendes on the mound
but he walked Paino to bring in another run
Payton Manca then replaced Knier to face Collin Priest
Priest took a fourth-straight free pass to cut the deficit to five runs
Manca struck out Gaffney for the second out
but the Tigers made a good dent in the Noles' lead
Carns singled and Harrelson doubled to start the inning
and Lodise hit a sac fly to bring Carns home from third for Florida State's ninth run
Myles Bailey poked a single down the left field line
bringing home Harrelson to make it a double-digit lead for the Noles
but Mendes sat him down looking with a 92 mph fastball on the inside
Priest flied out to end the inning and keep the Seminoles' eight-run lead intact
Drew Faurot and Chase Williams started the bottom of the inning with a pair of singles
letting Faurot score from third and Williams advance to second
and Carns took a walk to get runners at the corners again with only one out
Bailey came to the mound to replace Bell with the Noles threatening
Harrelson laid down a bunt to bring Williams home
but it resulted in a scary infield collision between Bailey and the second baseman
but McCladdie came in to 2B to replace Dillard
Lodise took a walk to load the bases then Myles Bailey was hit by a pitch to score the Noles' fourth run
Nathan Dvorsky replaced Bailey on the mound for Clemson
and Chase Williams singled to right center to bring home two more
but the damage had been done: SEVEN&nbsp;more runs for Florida State
2025⛽️ Mendes gets three Ks | Top 2: FSU 1
CLEM 0Mendes threw a nasty curveball to sit Listi down
but a single and HBP got two Tigers on base
striking out the next two batters to end the inning
taking the first pitch deep over the left field wall to open the scoring
Myles Bailey singled up the middle but was left stranded on first
Florida State takes an early lead in Game 3
Lodi off the top of the scoreboard!! 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/Uey5yrtvfq">pic.twitter.com/Uey5yrtvfq</a>
The University of Florida's Presidential Search Committee announced that Dr
the current president at the University of Michigan
is the sole finalist to become the university's 14th president
chair of the search committee and a member of UF's board of trustees
made the announcement in an email to the university community on Sunday
and inspire our community to reach even greater heights," Patel said in the announcement
We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future," he added
who holds a doctorate in experimental medicine from McGill University
has held previous faculty appointments at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Harvard University and University College London
He served as president of the University of Cincinnati from 2012 to 2016 and at the University of British Columbia in Canada from 2016 to 2022
"If I could select a dream candidate for the university’s next president
“His demonstrated record of success at the best universities
and caring personality have allowed him to work effectively with faculty
staff and other stakeholders everywhere he has been
I am confident that the future of the University will be in the best of hands with Santa Ono as our leader.”
Ono expected on campus in Gainesville on May 6According to the release
Ono will be in Gainesville on May 6 to meet with students
“Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Ono said in the release
“No other public university combines UF’s momentum
its role as the flagship of one of the nation’s most important states
the extraordinary support from state leaders
and a shared vision across its entire community
"These strengths make UF uniquely positioned not only to lead public higher education
but to stand among the most impactful institutions — public or private — in the world
I am honored and energized to be considered for this historic opportunity,” he added
Ono's appointment must then be confirmed by Florida's Board of Governors
Government Relations and Internal Affairs at a Feb
25 meeting unanimously approved a compensation package for UF's next president of up to $3 million
Ono's base salary if hired by UF has not yet been revealed
The agreement came just two years after Ono began his term as president in October 2022
George Mason University Professor Emeritus of Public Policy James Finkelstein called the contract "unprecedented in public higher education." In a twist
Finkelstein also noted at the time that the only other public university to offer a contract of this magnitude was the University of Florida to Ben Sasse
Sasse <a href=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/education/2024/07/18/ben-sasse-resigns-after-less-than-two-years-as-uf-president/74463802007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/education/2024/07/18/ben-sasse-resigns-after-less-than-two-years-as-uf-president/74463802007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> his stunning resignation in July 2024
after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy
who served as UF president from 2015 to 2023
was quickly appointed by the board of trustees to serve as interim president
The selection of the former Republican U.S
senator for Nebraska received almost immediate backlash from the university community due to his anti-abortion stance and being accused of not supporting the LGBTQ community
People also were upset with how the search for a new president unfolded
with Sasse being named the sole finalist after a months-long presidential search involving over 700 candidates
UF officials claimed no other finalist wanted to come forward unless they were chosen as the sole finalist
Sasse was criticized by some and lauded by others for his handling of pro-Palestinian protests on UF's Plaza of the Americas
While many protests on university campuses across the country had escalated into violence
Nine protesters were arrested after a days-long sit-in following what demonstrators called unfair rules and restrictions enacted by the university
Ono also has faced backlash over the University of Michigan's handling of pro-Palestinian protesters
In December 2024, a federal <a href=https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2024/12/20/university-of-michigan-gaza-demonstrators-constitutional-rights-lawsuit/77111944007/ data-type=link data-id=https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2024/12/20/university-of-michigan-gaza-demonstrators-constitutional-rights-lawsuit/77111944007/ target=_blank rel="noreferrer noopener">lawsuit</a> was filed against UM
Ono and others over the university's handling of the protests
It alleges that the school selectively targeted student protesters over their beliefs and took a more hardline approach to disciplining them compared to protesters involved with other causes
2024 the Florida 15-week abortion law turned into a six-week abortion ban
Amendment 4 was rejected by Florida voters as it did not receive 60% approval to overturn the current six week ban
WPTV reporter Brooke Chau has been closely following the impact and giving a voice to all sides of Amendment 4
how is the six-week abortion ban impacting South Florida
Every Wednesday a group of sidewalk advocates on the Treasure Coast
meet across the street from Planned Parenthood in Port St
We’re here to try to give women information on their health and help them make a healthy choice that will be healthy for them not only physically
Planned Parenthood reorganized its abortion services in the area to one location
“There are a lot of discussions I have with people about how unfair it is that they have to make this decision within the next few days," Dr
in 2024 Florida Planned Parenthood clinics saw over 75,000 patients seeking general care— that's 5,000 more patients than they saw in 2023
1,500 of those patients were sent out of state to seek abortion care services after the six-week mark
Planned Parenthood in West Palm Beach has seen an increase in the number of patients coming in seeking long-term contraceptives
I don’t see us having less patients in a year from now.”
the advocacy inside and outside of Planned Parenthood locations remains the same
"We believe that all life from conception to natural death is sacred," Thoma said
<a href="#commentDiv" aria-label="View article comments" title="View article comments" class="dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 edNRfi"></a>PEMBROKE PARK
 – It will be a soggy Cinco De Mayo Monday as much of South Florida is under a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms
<a href="https://www.local10.com/espanol/2025/05/05/mas-lluvia-vuleve-al-sur-de-la-florida-por-la-tarde-y-la-noche/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.local10.com/espanol/2025/05/05/mas-lluvia-vuleve-al-sur-de-la-florida-por-la-tarde-y-la-noche/">Leer en español</a>
Thunderstorms are expected to impact the area between 3 p.m
Localized urban flooding is possible again Monday across the East Coast metro
High-end rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are possible
Drier air starts to return to the area Tuesday
<a href="https://www.local10.com/weather/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.local10.com/weather/">Click here</a> for the latest updates from Local 10’s Weather Authority
Sign up to receive the daily forecast to your email
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved
Julie Durda joined Local 10 with extensive knowledge and experience in meteorology from various parts of the United States
<a href="https://www.local10.com/tv-listings/" aria-label="Navigate to TV Listings">TV Listings</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/account/newsletters/" aria-label="Navigate to Email Newsletters">Email Newsletters</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/rss/" aria-label="Navigate to RSS Feeds">RSS Feeds</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/station/2019/11/21/closed-captioning-information/" aria-label="Navigate to Closed Captioning / Audio Description">Closed Captioning / Audio Description</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/contact/" aria-label="Navigate to Contact Us">Contact Us</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/careers/" aria-label="Navigate to Careers at WPLG">Careers at WPLG</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/station/2019/11/21/terms-of-use/" aria-label="Navigate to Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/station/2019/11/21/privacy-policy/" aria-label="Navigate to Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a>
<a href="https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WPLG" aria-label="Navigate to Public File">Public File</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/station/2021/04/22/fcc-applications/" aria-label="Navigate to FCC Applications">FCC Applications</a>
<a href="https://www.local10.com/station/2023/10/02/wplg-equal-employment-opportunity-records-2022-2023/" aria-label="Navigate to EEO Report">EEO Report</a>
<a href=" https://www.local10.com/station/2023/11/27/wplg-atsc-10-host-exhibit/" aria-label="Navigate to 1.0 Host Exhibit">1.0 Host Exhibit</a>
Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC.
Allie Kubek Signs with Seminoles for 2025-265/4/2025 8:19:00 PM  | Women&#39;s Basketball
<a href="#commentDiv" aria-label="View article comments" title="View article comments" class="dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 edNRfi"></a>COLLIER COUNTY
 – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating a suspected fatal wildlife attack involving a bear near Jerome in Collier County
The incident occurred Monday near the intersection of State Road 29 and U.S
just south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area
Preliminary reports indicate that the attack resulted in the death of a man and his dog
The FWC is working diligently to secure the perimeter of the area and is actively working to locate the bear and ensure public safety
Floridians are reminded that wildlife can be unpredictable
and caution is advised when in areas where interactions with animals may occur
The FWC will provide updates as more information becomes available
FWC says black bears are more active in Florida
Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people
Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors from bears
To avoid an encounter between a bear and your dog
bang on your door and flip your house lights on and off to give the bear and other wildlife time to leave the area before letting your dog out
keep your dog on a short non-retractable leash when taking them outside
make noise and use bear spray or a water hose to break them up if available
To learn more about bears and how to avoid conflicts with them, visit <a href="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/">this FWC page</a>, or click here for the <a href="https://bearwise.org/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://bearwise.org/">BearWife program.</a>
Please contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) if you feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick
dead or orphaned bear; or to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them
Here are some other <a href="https://bearwise.org/six-bearwise-basics/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://bearwise.org/six-bearwise-basics/">BearWise® Basics</a> to keep in mind:
Live in bear country? Follow this <a href="https://bearwise.org/bearwise-store/How-BearWise-Are-You-CHECKLIST-p534874788" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://bearwise.org/bearwise-store/How-BearWise-Are-You-CHECKLIST-p534874788">at-home checklist</a>
a screened-in porch or deck counts as “outside” to a hungry black bear
Haley is a digital content producer for ClickOrlando.com and first started as a News 6 producer in October 2014
She&#x27;s a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism
She specializes in theme parks and lifestyle writing