Florida

Did you know? There is a bear \

Published

7 months ago

May 5, 2025

Press Room

$Did you know? There is a bear \$

A possible fatal black bear attack on a man and dog was reported near Big Cypress Wildlife Management.
Florida’s “Taking of Bears” bill (HB 87) allows killing bears without penalty under certain self-defense circumstances.
The law requires notification of FWC within 24 hours of killing a bear, but possessing or selling bear parts is prohibited.

There was some startling news today (May 5) 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.

What to know: The Self-Defense Act of 2024

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.

When was the bill signed? Friday, June 21, 2024.

When did the bill go into effect? July 1, 2024.

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, including, but not limited to, 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, who will dispose of the body.

No one may possess, sell or dispose of the bear or its parts.

What do critics, supporters of Florida’s bear bill say?

Since the bill was first proposed, it drew in heavy criticism from wildlife activists, residents and even other lawmakers.

Defenders of Wildlife, a nonprofit conservation organization, voiced their concern from the start. After it was signed by DeSantis, 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, hunting advocate Lane Stephens said the bill would allow residents to feel assured they could protect themselves in their homes, especially in rural North Florida.

What do you do if you see a Florida black bear? What should you not do?

The FWC says if you encounter a bear at close range, they suggest you “remain standing upright, back up slowly and speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice.”

“Never approach or surprise a bear. If you see a bear from a distance, enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear. If you are close, do not make any sudden or abrupt movements. Back way slowly and be sure the bear has an obvious escape route.”

As for what not to do, the FWC advises you:

Do not make any sudden or abrupt movements
Do not run, this can trigger a chase instinct and bears can sprint up to 35 mph
Do not play dead, black bears eat dead things
Do not climb a tree, they can climb faster than you, too
Do not approach or surprise a bear, especially if one might be injured

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Florida

Indiana Fever player has her Florida State women’s basketball jersey retired

Published

9 hours ago

November 17, 2025

Press Room

Indiana Fever player has her Florida State women’s basketball jersey retired

Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard’s Florida State jersey was retired Sunday.

Howard wore No. 33 for the Seminoles from 2010-14, starting 127 games. She also holds heralded spots in program history:

1,811 points, fourth-most
1,046 rebounds, second
186 blocked shots, fourth

Howard’s scoring total was second when she left the program. She led FSU in career rebounds before Fever teammate Makalya Timpson (2021-25) grabbed more. The blocks were third most when Howard left, but Timpson has more.

The Fever selected Howard fifth overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft, and she played her first two seasons in Indiana. She returned in 2025 free agency, averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds for the league semifinalists.

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Subscribe to IndyStar’s YouTube page for Fever Insiders Live.

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Florida

Coast Guard rescues eight boaters 35 miles off Florida coast in disabled boat

Published

1 day ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Coast Guard rescues eight boaters 35 miles off Florida coast in disabled boat

VENICE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Coast Guard boat crew rescued eight boaters on Saturday after their 26-foot boat broke down 35 miles off the Venice Inlet.

At 9:30 p.m., the US Coast Guard (USCG) says an Air Station Miami aircrew located the disabled vessel in two to three foot seas and sent a boat crew to the boat’s location.

The boat was reported overdue by an officer with the Venice Police Department hours earlier at 1:44 p.m., per USCG.

See also: Florida deputy rushes into blazing trailer to pull residents to safety

The Coast Guard says all eight boaters were brought back to the boat ramp uninjured.

“Before going out on the water, make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will be back,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Beasley, a Station Cortez boarding officer. “We recommend being as specific as possible so rescue crews have a reliable place to start searching in case of emergency. Boaters should always have Coast Guard-approved life jackets, VHF radio, signaling devices, and an emergency position locator beacon or personal locator beacon.”

USCG also highlighted the importance of mariners taking a safety course before going on the water.

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Florida

Ole Miss football fans chant, ‘We want Lane’ as Rebels defeat Florida

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

Ole Miss football fans chant, ‘We want Lane’ as Rebels defeat Florida

Ole Miss football took home a win in the “Lane Kiffin Bowl” in Week 12 with a 34-24 come-from-behind win vs. Florida.

Just as the Rebels closed off their 10th win of the season, moving one step closer to appearing in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, Ole Miss fans at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium made one thing clear to the Rebels brass and Kiffin: They want Lane.

As captured by the ESPN broadcast, “We want Lane” chants broke out in the Ole Miss student section after Kiffin has been linked to the Florida open head coach vacancy, on top of numerous other Power Four conference openings. It appeared not to faze him, as he remained locked in on the final 60 seconds of the game:

Given what he has done in seven seasons at Ole Miss, Kiffin has become a regular on coaching hot boards as positions become available across college football.

On top of his ties to the state of Florida, former Gators coach Steve Spurrier, who told USA TODAY Sports’ Blake Toppmeyer last month that he is a fan of Kiffin and thinks he is a “very good coach.”

“I wanted to be Steve Spurrier,” Kiffin said during a recent appearance on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. “When I watched him and his offenses in the visor and kind of the way he’d throw jabs at other coaches and team and stuff, I was like, Steve Spurrier is the man. That’s what I want to be.”

Kiffin himself has talked at length about his name being tossed around in the coaching carousel, including saying on an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” that he will never “make a decision based on money” and that he hasn’t made one based on money in his coaching career.

The win over Florida moved Ole Miss’ record to 54-19 overall under Kiffin.

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