Florida

Divers rescue ‘ginormous,’ severely-injured loggerhead turtle off Florida Keys

Published

10 months ago

March 15, 2025

Divers rescue ‘ginormous,’ severely-injured loggerhead turtle off Florida Keys

MARATHON, Fla. – An “ancient,” 322-pound loggerhead turtle is getting a new lease on life thanks to an alert scuba diver who found it severely injured off the Florida Keys, according to the Turtle Hospital.

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The “ginormous” turtle, now nicknamed “Lenny,” is estimated to be more than 60 years old and was found off the coast of Islamorada on Friday with “severe injuries to its front flipper and its head” because of a predator attack, staff said.

Diver Mike Papish worked with the Turtle Hospital and Sundance Water Sports “to organize a team to rescue the injured turtle after spotting him in distress on an earlier dive,” a Turtle Hospital news release states.

Turtle Hospital staff took Lenny via “turtle ambulance to its facility in Marathon for treatment.

“A full recovery is hoped for so the reproductive sea turtle can be returned to the wild just in time for mating season,” the news release states.

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Florida

County-by-county: Freeze watch issued for Central Florida

Published

9 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

County-by-county: Freeze watch issued for Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ahead of the coldest temperatures in years for Central Florida, the National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for Friday morning.

A freeze watch means temperatures of 32 degrees or lower are possible.

Actual air temperatures Friday morning

Exterior pipes should be protected in Marion, Sumter and northern Lake counties where temperatures could be below freezing for four to six hours.

Marion County

Sumter county

Lake county

Plants sensitive to the cold should be covered or brought inside by Thursday evening.

Orange County

Flagler county

Osceola county

Brevard County

Volusia county

Seminole county

Polk county

It’s also a good idea to bring pets inside.

A strong Arctic cold front is expected to arrive Thursday morning. Temperatures top out in the upper 50s and lower 60s early in the day, but are expected to fall for most of the afternoon.

Temperatures will bottom out in the 20s and 30s across Central Florida.

This does not include the wind.

Parts of Central Florida could again dip below freezing Saturday morning.

A reinforcing shot of cold air arrives Sunday which could send parts of Central Florida back below freezing Monday morning.

A big warmup arrives late next work week and into the following weekend.

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Florida

Cruise ship out of Florida hit by norovirus outbreak; 94 affected

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Cruise ship out of Florida hit by norovirus outbreak; 94 affected

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A cruise ship that departed Florida has been hit by a norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that 94 people fell ill on the Holland America Line cruise ship Rotterdam during its voyage between Dec. 28, 2025, and Jan. 9, 2026.

Those affected by the norovirus outbreak showed the typical symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

The virus, which is highly contagious, is the number 1 cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms appear between 12 and 48 hours after exposure and can include other symptoms like stomach pain, headaches, and fevers.

According to the CDC, 85 passengers out of 2,593 reported being sick. Nine of the 1,005 crew members reported being ill as well.

The CDC said Holland America Line and the Rotterdam crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures and quarantined those who fell ill to prevent the disease from spreading further.

CruiseMapper.com showed that the ship departed Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28. The cruise line’s website also has several future voyages out of Fort Lauderdale as well.

8 On Your Side has reached out to Holland America for more information on the outbreak.

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Florida

See photos of Monday’s SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

See photos of Monday’s SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

After a push to nearly the end of the launch window, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off on Florida’s third launch of 2026.

The rocket lifted off at 4:08 p.m. Monday, January 12 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It had originally been scheduled for earlier in the afternoon, but the launch time was repeatedly pushed back. SpaceX did not give a reason for the change in timing.

The Falcon 9 carried 29 Starlink internet satellites to orbit on the booster’s 25th mission. No sonic booms were heard in Brevard County, as the booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Next SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

The next Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida is scheduled for no earlier than 1:01 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The mission is the next batch of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites, titled Starlink 6-98.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

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