Florida

Florida Gators Edge Scheduled to Visit SEC Rival

Published

1 year ago

December 21, 2024

Florida Gators Edge Scheduled to Visit SEC Rival

The Florida Gators look to be losing edge rusher TJ Searcy to the transfer portal after he played two seasons in Gainesville. Searcy may not move too far away as he is reportedly visiting the Auburn Tigers this weekend.

READ MORE: DJ Lagway wins the Gasparilla Bowl MVP

Searcy’s 247Sports transfer portal ranking comes in at No. 90 overall and 12th edge. Evaluating his accomplishments for the orange and blue, he’s clearly a quality player. Still, the Gators should not be overly concerned about losing Searcy and here are two reasons why.

First, the Gators are working with extensive NIL money. According to Saturday Down South’s Neil Blackmon, the buyout money once set aside to replace Billy Napier will go toward improving the Florida football roster, as his quote defines.

“Multiple sources close to the program told SDS that part of the logic in retaining Napier for 2025, as opposed to paying his $26.5-million buyout, half of which would have been due up front, was to use money raised for the buyout in the NIL space this offseason.”

Second, keep in mind that the teams currently competing in the College Football Playoff will see several players enter the transfer portal after their seasons conclude. Thus, even if the Gators do not find Searcy’s replacement from the current crop of players available, more talent will become available.

Third, prior to winning his fourth game in a row to close the season, head coach Billy Napier hinted that the Gators felt pretty good at edge and could still make additions.

“Wish TJ nothing by the best,” said Napier. “And maybe we’re not done there. We’ll see. But just think it’s a product of the world we’re living in, right? So, TJ has done a great job for us. It’s been a productive player. He’s done a good job off the field. Really grown up a lot. Proud of him, nothing but respectful.”

In the end, Florida loses a quality player in Searcy, but it will not be the Gators’ undoing and a comparable replacement should be coming to Gainesville.

Source link

Florida

Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters

Published

15 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters

HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.

All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.

The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.

The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.

“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.

Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.

Source link

Florida

Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for Feb. 24, 2026

Published

1 day ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for Feb. 24, 2026

The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

12-39-43-49-55, Mega Ball: 23

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

14-20-37-41-43-46

Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

Midday: 02-16-21-25-32

Evening: 06-11-28-29-30

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

Morning: 07

Matinee: 04

Afternoon: 13

Evening: 03

Late Night: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

Midday: 7-1, FB: 6

Evening: 8-4, FB: 9

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

Midday: 3-2-1, FB: 6

Evening: 7-6-2, FB: 9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

Midday: 0-2-0-9, FB: 6

Evening: 4-0-1-9, FB: 9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 24 drawing

Midday: 0-3-2-7-8, FB: 6

Evening: 3-4-7-7-3, FB: 9

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

Full name
City of residence
Game won
Date won
Amount won
Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Florida

Florida pre-teen allegedly mapped out targets, tactics in planned school attack

Published

2 days ago

February 24, 2026

Press Room

Florida pre-teen allegedly mapped out targets, tactics in planned school attack

DELAND, Fla. (CBS12) — Deputies say a 12-year-old outlined how to sneak guns into school and target “bullies” before an anonymous tip shut the plot down.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, 12-year-old Josephine Simmons Peters was arrested Sunday after an anonymous tipster found the pre-teen’s manifesto online and reported it to Fortify FL, an anonymous reporting platform for school threats.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a news conference that this was more than a kid bringing a gun to school; this was a well-thought-out plan:

It talks about where to hide in a ditch. It talks about how to bring the guns into the school. It talks about who to target.

The middle schooler wrote a 13-step plan to shoot students at Southwestern Middle School, staff, the school resource officer, and herself, according to the criminal probable cause affidavit.

See also: Okeechobee deputy seriously injured, airlifted as back-to-back crashes cause delays

She also reportedly wrote out the names of specific students she claimed to be bullying her.

The entire manifesto was included in the investigator’s report; however, nearly all of it is blurred because it is reportedly “riddled with graphic language.”

“It’s always going on around everywhere,” a Southwestern Middle School parent told WESH. “And it just seems no one wants to take accountability and responsibility of their students.”

Deputies say they arrested Simmons Peters for counts of making written threats to kill and misuse of a two-way communication device.

Source link