Florida fisher dragged into water and killed by 12ft alligator 17 October 2026 at 11:23

Florida fisher dragged into water and killed by 12ft alligator

17 October 2026 at 11:23

Steve Hamilton was fishing in Winter Garden when he was attacked by gator, which was later killed

A man fishing at a pond in Florida was killed on Friday by an alligator that was almost 12ft long in a rare kind of animal attack, according to authorities and media reports.

Steve Hamilton, 71, was on the shoreline in the community of Winter Garden when the animal dragged him into the water, the Florida news outlet WOFL reported, citing local police and the state’s fish and wildlife conservation commission.

Matt Gaetz accused in suit of sex trafficking two women in Florida 15 October 2026 at 13:08

Matt Gaetz accused in suit of sex trafficking two women in Florida

The Guardian

By: Richard Luscombe in Miami and Anna Betts in New York

15 October 2026 at 13:08

Jane Does allege ex-congressman and two others coordinated ‘payments, drugs and travel’ for sexual acts

The Republican former congressman Matt Gaetz has been accused of participating in the sex trafficking of two young women in a civil lawsuit filed on Thursday in district court in Florida.

The allegations, which Gaetz denied in a statement to the Guardian, are the latest developments in a long-running sexual abuse scandal involving the politician who resigned from Congress in November 2024.

SpaceX rocket launch causes stunning ‘jellyfish cloud’ visible off US east coast 14 October 2026 at 14:15

SpaceX rocket launch causes stunning ‘jellyfish cloud’ visible off US east coast

The Guardian

By: Richard Luscombe in Miami

14 October 2026 at 14:15

Expanding plume of fuel exhaust crystalized in the sky and reflected sunlight off frozen particles after Florida launch

A SpaceX rocket provided a stunning pre-dawn display over Florida as a egiant, luminescent “jellyfish cloud” spread for miles, caused by an expanding plume of fuel exhaust crystalizing in the sky and reflecting sunlight off the frozen particles.

The phenomenon occurred shortly after Tuesday’s 6.33am ET launch of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying cargo to the International Space Station.

US midterm elections: 10 under-the-radar races worth watching 13 October 2026 at 05:00

US midterm elections: 10 under-the-radar races worth watching

The Guardian

By: Rachel Leingang

13 October 2026 at 05:00

Though Democrats have a strong edge heading into the midterms, some races have openings for Republicans

While marquee races from Maine to Michigan get all the attention, and draw in a ton of money, a significant batch of lower-profile contests across the US could result in upsets.

Democrats have a strong edge heading into November’s US midterm elections, polls show. In recent days, election prognosticators have shifted even more races in favor of Democrats.

Four dead as Isaias weakens to post-tropical cyclone after striking Florida panhandle 10 October 2026 at 19:20

Four dead as Isaias weakens to post-tropical cyclone after striking Florida panhandle

The Guardian

By: Alba Asenjo Domínguez and agencies

10 October 2026 at 19:20

Some of deaths came from falling trees as half a million people without power and rain and flooding still a concern

At least four people were reported dead on Saturday amid Isaias after it made landfall late on Friday on Florida’s panhandle as a category 2 hurricane, according to authorities.

The storm also took down trees, knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands and flooded highways – but as Saturday evening approached, the region was reopening.

Hurricane Isaias latest updates: at least four people dead and hundreds of thousands without power 10 October 2026 at 16:42

Hurricane Isaias latest updates: at least four people dead and hundreds of thousands without power

The Guardian

By: Marina Dunbar (now) José Olivares and Taz Ali (earlier)

10 October 2026 at 16:42

First Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season makes landfall in the US as officials warn of ‘spinoff tornadoes’

Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, said no requests for search and rescue assistance had been received following Isaias, which he described as “cautiously, a good sign”.

Speaking to Fox News, he said:

I think that may be a sign that people heeded the warnings, took proper precautions. We sure would love to say we have not gotten a report of a fatality yet, and we’ll see what happens.

There’s also a lot of hazards post-storm that people should be careful of, but so far we’ve had a lot of assets in place that have not been called on, which is a good sign. I’d rather be over-prepared, and not have to use them, than not have what you need.”

Hurricane Isaias has weakened to a post-tropical cyclone early Saturday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, after it made landfall in Florida and lashed the US Gulf coast with heavy rain and fierce winds.

The category 2 hurricane hit the coast near Destin, Florida, late on Friday, with maximum sustained winds of 105mph.

The storm is expected to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley, the NHC added, with maximum sustained winds decreased to near 35mph.

Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida and hammers Gulf coast 9 October 2026 at 23:56

Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida and hammers Gulf coast

The Guardian

By: Richard Luscombe in Miami · Uwa Ede-Osifo and agencies

9 October 2026 at 23:56

Governors of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida declare states of emergency as a downsized Fema faces first major test

Hurricane Isaias crashed into the US Gulf coast on Friday as a dangerous category 2 storm, hammering communities in Alabama and the Florida panhandle with damaging winds, heavy rain, flooding and life-threatening storm surges.

The first hurricane of the Atlantic season made landfall near Destin, Florida, the National Hurricane Center said. It had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 kph). The storm weakened to just below major hurricane status before it came ashore.

Florida execution called off after DeSantis withdraws death warrant for first time 9 October 2026 at 13:32

Florida execution called off after DeSantis withdraws death warrant for first time

The Guardian

By: Adam Gabbatt and agencies

9 October 2026 at 13:32

Governor halts execution of William Lee Thompson, after Christa Pike survived failed lethal injections

Ron DeSantis cancelled a planned execution in the state on Friday, days before a 74-year-old man was due to be killed by lethal injection.

The move – the first time Florida’s governor has withdrawn a death warrant in his nearly eight years in office – comes just over a week after the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee.

Isaias strengthens to become first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 season 9 October 2026 at 05:59

Isaias strengthens to become first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 season

The Guardian

By: Megan Davies for MetDesk

9 October 2026 at 05:59

Storm expected to make landfall on US’s northern Gulf coast with risk of flash floods and isolated river flooding

Isaias has become the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, with wind speeds of 80mph and a minimum pressure of 975mb. It is expected to strengthen to a category 2 hurricane as it approaches the US’s northern Gulf coast on Friday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

As a result of the strong El Niño, it has been a notably quiet Atlantic hurricane season. The first hurricane of the season has not formed this late since 8 October 1905, which pre-dates the satellite era (1960s) for tracking hurricanes that has allowed for more non-landfall hurricanes to be discovered.

21 Birds Are Found at Miami Airport Stuffed in Underwear and Hidden in a Belt 8 October 2026 at 20:36

21 Birds Are Found at Miami Airport Stuffed in Underwear and Hidden in a Belt

NYT: Science

By: Rebecca Chao

8 October 2026 at 20:36

Two men, who arrived separately from Cuba days apart, each carried clutches of live birds concealed in their clothes, the authorities said.

A man who was detained at Miami International Airport on Sunday appeared nervous and had an “unexplained bulge” around his pelvis, according to a criminal complaint.

The National Hurricane Center’s Boss Keeps an Eye on the Storms 8 October 2026 at 14:00

The National Hurricane Center’s Boss Keeps an Eye on the Storms

NYT: Science

By: Johnny Diaz

8 October 2026 at 14:00

The director, Michael Brennan, oversees 45 federal workers, including hurricane specialists and meteorologists.

Michael Brennan has been director of the National Hurricane Center since 2023.

Florida cops say they don't know who owns 11 unpermitted Flock cameras 1 October 2026 at 12:49

Florida cops say they don't know who owns 11 unpermitted Flock cameras

Ars Technica

By: Ashley Belanger

1 October 2026 at 12:49

Florida cops are facing questions after a mandate to remove all Flock cameras tracking cars on St. Lucie County roads led local police to uncover more than a dozen suspicious cameras operating without permits.

Local residents told The Washington Post that they were alarmed that no one knows who owns many of the mysterious cameras.

Of the 14 cameras found, 11 had no obvious owners, raising concerns about who has access to sensitive data that bad actors could abuse. After the cameras were discovered, St. Lucie County Commissioner James Clasby told a local news outlet that there’s “potential for non-law enforcement to have cameras out there, and I’m not OK with that.”

Read full article

Comments