Florida

2 women sue popular Florida river cruise claiming they were drugged on board

Published

2 years ago

April 28, 2024

2 women sue popular Florida river cruise claiming they were drugged on board

Florida (WSVN) — A popular South Florida river cruise is being sued after two women say they were drugged on board. 7’s Heather Walker investigates.

Jungle Queen Riverboats is advertised as “fun for the whole family.”

The cruise includes a tropical island dinner, show and sightseeing in Fort Lauderdale.

Karren Hanson, suing tour boat: “We were there for some, you know, R&R, just to get away and enjoy some, you know, some girl time.”

But they say their girls trip took a turn shortly after they boarded the boat.

Heather Walker: “When did you realize something was wrong?”

Teresa Viscovich, suing tour boat: “Within 15 minutes.”

Longtime friends Teresa and Karren were expecting to have a good time, but after one glass of wine, they say things became foggy.

Teresa Viscovich: “My speech was slurred. I couldn’t walk right.”

They were confused, but one thing was clear.

Teresa Viscovich: “Something is very wrong.”

The next day, they called police.

According to the police report, the women “were concerned that their bartender … drugged their drinks.”

He was texting the women trying to meet up with them after the cruise.

Teresa Viscovich: “The way the bar is set up is, you can’t see anything he’s doing back there.”

Police investigated but found “no video on the cruise and no evidence of who, if anyone, had put anything in their drinks,” and the case was closed, despite the fact that the women had their hair tested, and the results showed they were positive for GHB, which the Drug Enforcement Administration says is known as a date rape drug.

Teresa Viscovich: “I’ve never done drugs a day in my life.”

The women are now suing Jungle Queens Inc. for failing to prevent drugging on a boat.

We went to the Jungle Queen to get a response.

A lawyer for the boat company sent a statement saying in part:

“Jungle Queens has taken the allegations … very seriously. Jungle Queens has worked hard at building a reputation … and the safety of their guests are of the greatest importance. We have conducted a thorough investigation and have concluded there is no evidence to support these baseless and defamatory allegations.”

Adding that after the cruise, the women “stated they had a great time in text message communications with a crew member.”

Jungle Queens Inc. filed motions to dismiss the complaints, saying the allegations were insufficient. But the case is moving forward, and the women continue to recover from that night.

Teresa Viscovich: “My vision doesn’t line up anymore. Now, it’s like this.”

Teresa says memory issues forced her to give up her nursing license.

Teresa Viscovich: “That was a tough one, because the way it goes is, once a nurse, always a nurse. That was a huge piece of my identity, and it’s gone.”

Both women say they suffer from severe anxiety.

Karren Hanson: “I don’t do a lot of social situations that I used to do because they don’t feel safe anymore.”

They still can’t believe one girls trip could change their lives so much.

Seniors evicted from care facility due to bankruptcy
More than 100 local senior citizens are scrambling to find new homes after their senior living facility declared bankruptcy.

More than 100 people evicted from senior care facility due to bankruptcy

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Florida

Florida unveils AI system to predict deadly drug threats before they hit

Published

17 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Press Room

Florida unveils AI system to predict deadly drug threats before they hit

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida law-enforcement and public-health leaders on Wednesday unveiled a first-of-its-kind artificial-intelligence system designed to detect and warn communities about new drug threats before they become fatal.

The platform, called DrugAlert.ai was announced at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office alongside Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Project Overdose CEO Andrae Bailey. The system uses machine-learning to scan statewide drug data in real time, including toxicology screenings, EMS calls, arrest records and street-level intelligence, then issues alerts when dangerous substances emerge.

[WATCH BELOW: Fentanyl awareness taught in Osceola County with community event]

Lemma said the system could change how agencies fight the overdose crisis.

“I’m convinced this will be the model that is used across the country,” Lemma said.

Project Overdose confirmed the system had already generated its first statewide DrugTRAC alert, after carfentanil, one of the most lethal synthetic opioids ever identified, was detected in multiple Florida counties, including Orange and Seminole.

Bailey said the AI platform closes a critical time gap that once left communities blind for months.

“Data we used to work with was six months to a year old,” Bailey said. “The data coming through this system will be no older than 24 hours.”

[WATCH BELOW: New X-ray tech coming to Fla. agricultural stations to help combat illegal immigration, drugs]

Officials warned the technology is launching as Florida enters what researchers are calling the “fourth wave” of the overdose crisis, defined by mixtures of opioids, stimulants and synthetics that change too fast for human tracking.

Lemma said the tool allows police, hospitals and service providers to target resources faster and more precisely.

“Project Overdose has connected the dots like never before, public sector, private sector, the faith community, businesses, everybody is involved,” Lemma said.

Project Overdose confirmed Florida will use the alerts statewide and will issue targeted warnings ahead of large events, including next week’s EDC music festival, where officials anticipate increased drug activity.

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Florida

Lee Named to Jerry West Award Watch List – Florida Gators

Published

1 day ago

October 28, 2025

Press Room

Lee Named to Jerry West Award Watch List – Florida Gators

Florida men’s basketball senior Xaivian Lee has been named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason List, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday. The West Award is part of the Naismith Starting 5 positional awards.

A two-time first-team All-Ivy League performer at Princeton, Lee transferred to UF this offseason after averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season. A Toronto native, Lee has tallied 1,154 points, 406 rebounds, 302 assists and 124 3-point field goals in three career seasons entering 2025-26.

Lee joins backcourt mate Boogie Fland as a preseason Naismith Starting 5 honoree, with Fland named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list on Monday. The West Award has been presented since 2015, and the Gators’ Alijah Martin was on last season’s midseason watch list.

Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List

Brayden Burries	Arizona
Richie Saunders	BYU
Josh Dix	Creighton
Isaiah Evans	Duke
*Xaivian Lee*	*Florida*
Emmanuel Sharp	Houston
Kylan Boswell	Illinois
PJ Haggerty	Kansas State
Otega Oweh	Kentucky
Ryan Conwell	Louisville
Seth Trimble	North Carolina
Anthony Roy	Oklahoma State
Jason Edwards	Providence
Ian Jackson	St. John’s
Solo Ball	UConn
Rodney Rice	USC
Mason Falslev	Utah State
Malik Thomas	Virginia
Wesley Yates III	Washington
John Blackwell	Wisconsin

2025-26 Florida Men’s Basketball Ticket Information
Traditional season tickets are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Arena Pass
Arena Passes are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Single Games
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Florida men’s basketball season are now on sale.

Fans can purchase tickets at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

All Gators Weekend Pack
The All Gators Weekend Pack is now available, which includes the Florida men’s basketball game against Merrimack on Friday, November 21, and the Florida football game against Tennessee on Saturday, November 22, for only $149 plus taxes/fees.

All fans attending the Merrimack men’s basketball game will receive a 2025 NCAA National Championship replica ring, presented by Meldon Law.

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Fall Ball: Jacksonville Scrimmage Culminates Week Four – Florida Gators

Published

2 days ago

October 27, 2025

Press Room

Fall Ball: Jacksonville Scrimmage Culminates Week Four – Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Week four of the fall baseball season will see the Florida Gators tune up with a pair of intrasquad scrimmages leading up to an exhibition game against the JU Dolphins in Jacksonville, Fla. on Friday, Oct. 31.

First pitch for the Halloween matchup between Florida and Jacksonville is set for 6:30 p.m. at Vystar Ballpark with gates open to the public at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale now.

The Gators are the designated away team this year and will occupy the third-base dugout. The two teams will play one 10-inning contest.

This is the second-straight fall in which the Gators and Dolphins have faced off in Jacksonville, once again coinciding with the excitement of the Florida-Georgia football weekend. Florida claimed the inaugural fall meeting against JU in 2024 after posting a 3-1 record across four fall exhibitions vs. Georgia in Jacksonville (2019, 2021-23). As a result, the Orange & Blue is 4-1 across five fall exhibitions played in Jacksonville dating back to the first year of the tradition in 2019.

Following an off day on Monday, Oct. 27, Florida will hold three open practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prior to Friday’s exhibition. There will be open scrimmages on Tuesday (3:45 p.m.) and Wednesday (3:30 p.m.).

All fall practices and scrimmages are open to the public. Fans can access the concourse through Gate 3 of Condron Family Ballpark (located directly behind home plate).

Below is the current practice schedule for week four. All practice and approximate scrimmage times are subject to change.

Date	Practice	Scrimmage
Monday, Oct. 27	OFF	OFF
Tuesday, Oct. 28	2:00 PM	3:45 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 29	2:00 PM	3:30 PM
Thursday, Oct. 30	2:00 PM	NONE
Friday, Oct. 31	vs. JU	6:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 1	OFF	OFF
Sunday, Nov. 2	OFF	OFF

*Scrimmages typically begin approximately 90 minutes to two hours into each practice

Additionally, Florida’s fall season features a second exhibition game against Georgia Southern at Condron Family Ballpark on Sunday, Nov. 9. Admission is free for all fans.