Florida
Biden gives life in prison to 2 death row inmates from Florida, 35 others
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, including two Florida men, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.
The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings, including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities.
It means just three federal inmates are still facing execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history.
“I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement. “Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
Of the 37 people who received commuted sentences, two are from Florida. Ricardo Sanchez Jr. and Daniel Troya were sentenced to death in 2009 for killing two children, ages 3 and 4. The men were also convicted of killing the children’s parents in a 2006 shooting along the Florida Turnpike, which prosecutors said was related to a drug debt.
Sanchez and Troya were the only men from Florida on federal death row.
The Biden administration in 2021 announced a moratorium on federal capital punishment to study the protocols used, which suspended executions during Biden’s term. But Biden actually had promised to go further on the issue in the past, pledging to end federal executions without the caveats for terrorism and hate-motivated, mass killings.
While running for president in 2020, Biden’s campaign website said he would “work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level, and incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example.”
Similar language didn’t appear on Biden’s reelection website before he left the presidential race in July.
“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden’s statement said. “But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.”
He took a political jab at Trump, saying, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has spoken frequently of expanding executions. In a speech announcing his 2024 campaign, Trump called for those “caught selling drugs to receive the death penalty for their heinous acts.” He later promised to execute drug and human smugglers and even praised China’s harsher treatment of drug peddlers. During his first term as president, Trump also advocated for the death penalty for drug dealers.
There were 13 federal executions during Trump’s first term, more than under any president in modern history, and some may have happened fast enough to have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus at the federal death row facility in Indiana.
Those were the first federal executions since 2003. The final three occurred after Election Day in November 2020 but before Trump left office the following January, the first time federal prisoners were put to death by a lame-duck president since Grover Cleveland in 1889.
Biden faced recent pressure from advocacy groups urging him to act to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The president’s announcement also comes less than two weeks after he commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and of 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes, the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.
The announcement also followed the post-election pardon that Biden granted his son Hunter on federal gun and tax charges after long saying he would not issue one, sparking an uproar in Washington. The pardon also raised questions about whether he would issue sweeping preemptive pardons for administration officials and other allies who the White House worries could be unjustly targeted by Trump’s second administration.
Speculation that Biden could commute federal death sentences intensified last week after the White House announced he plans to visit Italy on the final foreign trip of his presidency next month. Biden, a practicing Catholic, will meet with Pope Francis, who recently called for prayers for U.S. death row inmates in hopes their sentences will be commuted.
Martin Luther King III, who publicly urged Biden to change the death sentences, said in a statement issued by the White House that the president “has done what no president before him was willing to do: take meaningful and lasting action not just to acknowledge the death penalty’s racist roots but also to remedy its persistent unfairness.”
Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by one of the men whose death sentence was converted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.”
“The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.”
By WILL WEISSERT and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
Tampa Bay Times staff writer Romy Ellenbogen contributed to this report.
Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.
Florida
No. 5 Arkansas Clinches Super Regional Berth by Run-Ruling South Florida, 10-2
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Behind a pair of four-run innings, the No. 5 national seed Arkansas Razorbacks recorded their third-consecutive run-rule victory by defeating South Florida, 10-2 (6 inn.) in the 2026 Fayetteville Regional Final to clinch their fifth Super Regional appearance in program history on Sunday afternoon at Bogle Park.
With the win, Arkansas will host a Super Regional next weekend at Bogle Park against Duke (42-15). The Razorbacks previously hosted Super Regionals in 2021, 2022, and 2025. It marked the first time in program history that Arkansas went undefeated in NCAA Regional play with all wins coming by run-rule.
South Florida got out to an early 1-0 lead courtesy of Jamia Nelson hitting into a 6-4-3 double play with no outs in the top of the second inning. The Razorbacks responded with four runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of an RBI double from Atalyia Rijo and a three-run home run from Kennedy Miller. South Florida cut the Hogs’ lead to 4-2 courtesy of a leadoff solo home run from Alexa Galligani in the top of the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Arkansas extended its advantage to six, plating runs courtesy of an Ella McDowell double, an RBI groundout from Tianna Bell, a Dakota Kennedy single, and Karlie Davison doubling down the line in right field. Dakota Kennedy then clinched the run-rule and the Hog’ Super Regional Berth in the sixth inning with a two-run double into the left-center field gap that made it the final, 10-2.
Arkansas smashed an NCAA Tournament program record six doubles while recording 11 hits in the win. In addition to Kennedy Miller’s three-run blast, Brinli Bain paced the Hogs offensively with a 3-3 day that featured her 18th double of the season, a run scored, and a walk. Karlie Davison continued her postseason tear at the plate with a 2-3 day that featured a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Dakota Kennedy also recorded a pair of hits in a 2-3 effort with a double and three RBI.
Saylor Timmerman was dominant in relief, fanning four while retiring all nine batters faced to improve to 10-2 on the season. Timmerman relieved Payton Burnham, who allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in her three innings pitched.
Carley Ernst (5-5) took the loss for South Florida (44-17) after yielding four runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings of work.
The Razorbacks are now 45-11 on the season with a program-record 24 run-rule victories and a 27-3 home record at Bogle Park. The Razorbacks’ 45 wins are the third-most in program history, trailing only the 1999 (46) and 2022 (48) teams.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Payton Burnham made her 17th start of the season for Arkansas, while South Florida went with sophomore right-hander Carley Ernst.
In the top of the first inning, Tianna Bell made an impressive play at first base on a hard-hit line drive from the Bulls’ Olivia Elliot. Burnham then issued consecutive flyouts to Reagan Johnson in center field to complete the 1-2-3 frame.
Brinli Bain doubled off the wall in center field with one out in the bottom of the first inning. South Florida second baseman Kathy Garcia-Soto then turned an unassisted double play to end the inning.
South Florida loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second inning, courtesy of a walk and a pair of singles. The Bulls took the early 1-0 lead courtesy of Jamaia Nelson hitting into a double play. Burnham then induced a flyout to left field to end the inning with a runner stranded on third.
Karlie Davison continued her postseason tear at the plate with a double into the right-center field gap. A batter later, Atalyia Rijo tied the game with a double into the right-center field gap that plated Davison. Kailey Wyckoff drew a walk before Kennedy Miller gave Arkansas a 4-1 lead with a three-run home run to center field. Arkansas loaded the bases following Miller’s blast with a walk from Johnson, a single from Bain, and a walk from McDowell, but USF escaped with a flyout.
Rijo was the lone batter to reach base for either team in the third inning. Johnson made an impressive leaping grab on the warning track for the second out in the top half of the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, South Florida cut the Hogs’ lead to 4-2 courtesy of a solo home run from Alexa Galligani. Following the home run, Saylor Timmerman entered the circle in place of Burnham and retired her first three batters faced courtesy of a diving stop by Ella McDowell at third and consecutive strikeouts.
Arkansas responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johnson singled through the right side with one out, then stole second base. Bain followed with a walk, and Ella McDowell drove in Johnson with an RBI double to give Arkansas a 5-2 lead. The Hogs would add two more runs courtesy of an RBI groundout from Tianna Bell and an RBI single from Dakota Kennedy. Davison added the fourth and final run of the stanza with an RBI double down the right-field line.
Both teams were retired in order in the fifth inning as Timmerman picked up her third strikeout of the contest.
Timmerman registered another 1-2-3 frame during the top of the sixth courtesy of a groundout, strikeout, and groundout. In the bottom of the sixth, Bain collected her third hit of the contest with a single through the right side to lead off the bottom of the sixth before being pinch-run for by Kasey Wood, who would advance to second on a walk by Ella McDowell. Dakota Kennedy ended the run-rule triumph with a double into the left-center field gap that allowed both Wood and McDowell to score, making it the final 10-2.
NOTABLES
- With the win, Arkansas earned its fifth trip to a Super Regional in program history. Arkansas previously made appearances in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2025 while hosting its three previous Super Regionals.
- The Hogs’ 24th run-rule victory of the season broke the single-season program record of 23 initially set in 2025.
- Arkansas is 308-9 when scoring eight or more runs all-time, including a 173-1 mark during the Courtney Deifel era (2016-present). The Razorbacks are on a 121-game winning streak when scoring 8+ runs. The last loss the Razorbacks had when accomplishing the feat was a 12-11 loss to Oklahoma State on Feb. 11, 2021, during the season opener at the Best on the Bayou Classic in Monroe, La.
- Arkansas is now 27-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including an 20-16 mark under head coach Courtney Deifel. The Razorbacks have now won six consecutive regional round games dating back to 2025.
- Brinli Bain registered her 18th double of the season, which is tied for the second-most by a Razorback in program history alongside Jessica Bachkora (2010).
- The Razorbacks 45 wins are the third-most in program history, trailing only a 46-win season in 1999 and the 2022 squad’s 48 wins. Arkansas has now eclipsed last season’s win total.
- The Hogs’ six doubles in the win were the most during an NCAA Tournament game and tied for the second-most in any game in program history, trailing only a pair of seven-double performances against Lamar on March 4, 2017, and Missouri State on April 28, 2010.
Up Next
The Razorbacks will face the Duke Blue Devils in Super Regionals. Duke beat Arizona twice on Sunday by the scores of 8-6 and 9-4. Game times will be announced in the coming days.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Florida
A Newly Built Oceanfront Compound in the Florida Keys With Its Own Sandy Beach Lists for $40 Million
A newly completed waterfront compound in the Florida Keys hit the market last week for $40 million.
It’s the second-most-expensive listing in all of the Keys, topped by a property just down the road that’s asking $42 million.
The roughly 7-acre spread on Plantation Key was previously home to the five-house compound of the late naturalist Herbert Zim, the founder and editor in chief of the Golden Guides nature book series.
For many decades, it was both Zim’s family estate and where he produced his Golden Guides, according to the current owner, Todd Maino. He bought the property, which encompasses six parcels, from Zim’s estate, he said. Mansion Global couldn’t determine what Maino paid.
Over the course of about four years, Maino, a commercial and residential developer, transformed the property into a new compound that was completed last year. There’s a new 8,200-square-foot main house with five bedrooms and a renovated three-bedroom guest house. Maino said he left some cosmetic details unfinished to allow the next owner to personalize the home.
“They can make it their own instead of buying somebody else’s vision,” he said.
Off the main house, there’s a 120-foot pool with a hot tub, and beyond that, a sandy beach extends along the property’s 480 feet of water frontage. There’s a dock within a grandfathered-in boat basin that’s larger and deeper than what would be allowed today.
“The drag is over 6 feet, so you can have a pretty large boat there,” listing agent Angel Nicolas of the Nicolas Group at Serhant said. He and his colleague Courtney Conley listed the property a week ago.
The property is full of Florida wildlife, from osprey and sandpiper nests to peacocks that wander around.
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“I actually had a manatee have a baby in the boat basin,” Maino said. “It’s ecologically balanced with nature. It’s not concrete jungle—it’s not Miami.”
Because much of the property is open land and not covered in protected trees, there’s opportunity to further develop the estate, whether that be adding another house or amenities like a tennis court or a helipad.
The main house and guest house, which stand on their own waterfront parcels, are also available for sale separately. The lot with the guest house is priced at $15 million, while the main-house lot is asking $27 million, Nicolas said.
Florida
Country star Morgan Wallen walks out with Florida legend Tim Tebow, refuses to Gator chomp
Country music superstar Morgan Wallen is one of the hottest acts on the planet right now and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
His 2026 “Still The Problem” tour has been rolling through the United States and packing seats at every stop, and that wasn’t any different when Wallen made it to the Sunshine State.
His first of two shows in Gainesville, Florida, saw the country sensation playing to a sold-out crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium where the Gators play, and speaking of the Rowdy Reptiles, Wallen had to pick someone for his patented walkout to appeal to the droves of students decked out in orange and blue.
Morgan Wallen performs the song “’98 Braves” at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 19, 2023. (Getty Images)
Enter Tim Tebow, the two-time national champion and Heisman Trophy winner. As far as picks go, Wallen knocked this one out of the park.
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When in Rome — or Gainesville, rather — right?
Judging by the crowd pop, I’d say Tebow was about as popular a pick as anyone Wallen could have gone with.
The man has a statue outside the very stadium where the concert was held, for crying out loud, so it’s safe to say Mr. Whiskey Glasses did his homework when choosing his walking buddy.
Tim Tebow appears on the SEC Nation set before the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Georgia Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Nov. 8, 2025. (IMAGN)
While he nailed it with the Tebow selection, Wallen wasn’t ready to fully ingratiate himself with the Florida faithful.
During their walkout, Tebow performed multiple Gator Chomps to fire the crowd up even more, but when he implored Wallen to join him, the multi-platinum singer respectfully turned him down.
That shouldn’t surprise anyone who is familiar with Wallen, who is an East Tennessee native and noted Volunteers supporter.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Morgan Wallen performs onstage during night two of his One Night At A Time tour at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 22, 2024. (John Shearer/Getty Images)
Any guy who writes a song called “Tennessee Fan” probably won’t be caught dead doing the Gator Chomp, so I can’t say I blame him.
It will be interesting to see who Wallen taps as his walking mate on night two of his stay in Gainesville.
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Rumor has it that Steve Spurrier could be the favorite, which would be hilarious given Spurrier’s history of tormenting the Vols.
Regardless, it’s nice to see a Vol and a Gator being so chummy with each other. A rare sight indeed.
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