Florida
Doctor accused of fatally removing patient’s wrong organ indicted
Family of dead Alabama man claims surgeon removed wrong organ
The family of Alabama man William Bryan claims that he died after his liver was mistakenly removed from his body during surgery at a Florida hospital.
unbranded – Newsworthy
PENSACOLA, FL — A Florida doctor has been indicted in connection with the death of a 70-year-old man who had his liver wrongly removed instead of his spleen during an August 2024 medical procedure at a hospital, authorities said.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, was indicted on a second-degree manslaughter charge by a grand jury in Walton County, Florida, on Monday, April 13, according to the county sheriff’s office and the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit. He was arrested on the morning of April 13 and later released on a $75,000 bond, online inmate records show.
In a news release, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said the grand jury indictment connected Shaknovsky to the “operating room death of an Alabama man.” William Bryan, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and his wife, Beverly, were visiting their rental property in Okaloosa County when William Bryan suddenly began experiencing left-sided flank pain, according to the family’s attorney.
They went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Walton County, and he was admitted for further studies pursuant to concern for an abnormality of the spleen. The sheriff’s office said Shaknovsky had removed William Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen during what was scheduled to be a laparoscopic splenectomy, “resulting in catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table.”
The grand jury indictment follows an extensive investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office, the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, and other state and medical authorities, according to the news release. The sheriff’s office said the jury found probable cause to “charge that the actions taken in the operating room constituted criminal conduct” under state law.
“Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor,” Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a statement. “The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss.”
Medical examiner found spleen still in William Bryan’s body during autopsy
A Pensacola law firm, Zarzaur Law P.A., is pursuing a civil lawsuit on behalf of William Bryan’s family, citing wrongful death, medical malpractice, and personal injury.
William Bryan began suffering “severe abdominal pain” while on vacation with his wife in August 2024, according to Joe Zarzaur, the Bryan family’s attorney. Shaknovsky, who was a surgeon at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital at the time, had diagnosed William Bryan with hemoperitoneum and splenic injury, or bleeding of the spleen, an operative report states.
William Bryan initially elected to hold off on surgery until they got back to their home in Alabama, but Beverly Bryan said Shaknovsky told her husband would bleed to death if he traveled in his condition, according to Zarzaur. Shaknovsky performed the procedure after discussing the “risks, benefits and alternatives” with the couple, the operative report states.
During the procedure on Aug. 21, 2024, William Bryan died from massive blood loss after the removal of the “large” spleen, according to the operative report. After the procedure, a pathologist realized the removed organ labeled “spleen” was actually liver tissue, Zarzaur said.
Once an autopsy was done, the medical examiner determined William Bryan’s liver had been removed, and his spleen was still in his body with a cyst attached to it, according to Zarzaur.
“The spleen had a small cyst on it that had some hemorrhage around it, but it was not a fatal issue,” Zarzaur said. “It was a fairly routine-looking cyst. It probably would have been very treatable.”
Thomas Shaknovsky involved in 2023 surgical mishap
In September 2024, the Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo ordered an emergency suspension of Shaknovsky’s license. Ladapo had cited William Bryan’s death and a prior incident in 2023, in which Shaknovsky removed a portion of a different patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland and purportedly claimed the adrenal gland had “migrated” to a different part of the body.
The 2023 case was settled, and no lawsuit was filed against the surgeon or Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, according to Zarzaur. State records show that Shaknovsky paid $400,000 in 2024 to settle a medical malpractice claim.
“That one got swept under the rug,” Zarzaur said at a news conference in September 2024 while announcing the case. “Here we are in a case after that.”
The Florida Department of Health lists Shaknovsky’s current medical license status as “retired.” The department defines retired status as the licensed practitioner “not practicing in the state of Florida, but maintains a retired license status.”
“The licensed practitioner is not authorized to practice in the state of Florida,” according to the state health department. “The practitioner is not obligated to update his/her profile data.”
Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY
ORLANDO, Fla. – Over the past couple of years, experts have noticed a heavy decrease in lovebugs across Central Florida.
However, that trend may have just been reversed.
Lovebugs are known for flying through the air while getting “stuck” together during their explosive breeding seasons, causing plenty of splatters on the front of people’s cars.
But in recent years, Florida natives have noticed a stark drop in the number of these pests flitting about.
During a 2024 conversation with Dr. Norman Leppla — a professor at the University of Florida specializing in pest management — he explained that lovebugs’ disappearance was part of a larger trend.
“I really don’t know why, but we’re having a crisis globally with the loss of insect species and all kinds of other organisms just plain disappearing. And we’re quite worried about it,” he said at the time.
[ Where did all the lovebugs go?]
But this week, News 6 reached out for a follow-up after several members in the newsroom noticed more lovebugs in the air this year.
“Your newsroom members are correct in noticing more lovebugs than last year,” Leppla wrote. “I have seen some in North Central Florida during the past couple of weeks where there were none last year. They certainly aren’t abundant, however.”
According to Leppla, the number of lovebugs you see flying around depends on the survival of larvae, which in turn depend on continuous moisture to feed and develop.
Female lovebugs can lay hundreds of eggs, but if the environment is too dry or submerged for too long, the larvae end up dying — resulting in fewer lovebugs.
Typically, lovebug season pops up twice per year in Florida: in April to May, and August to September.
Per Leppla, lovebugs actually reached nuisance levels last month down south in places ranging from the Florida Keys up through Ft. Myers.
“They probably occurred in swarms along the lower east coast, as well,” he continued. “They will continue to be relatively abundant in local habitats where larvae can develop. Lovebugs will exist as far north as the climate will enable the larvae to survive.
However, lovebugs aren’t originally from Florida.
They actually hail from the Yucatán in Mexico, having traveled into the Gulf Coast through Texas during the early-to-mid 1900s. In the Sunshine State, they weren’t seen until around 1950.
That means that even if lovebugs really did disappear from Florida, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gone for good.
“They live in that tropical habitat, and they came here as our habitat became more conducive to lovebugs,” Leppla previously explained. “That’s usually what happens. And so they spread, and they can certainly just recede right back to the tropics.”
[ Don’t touch these fuzzy Florida bugs!]
But that begs the question: what are the impacts of lovebugs possibly disappearing from Florida?
The short answer? Not much.
In fact, lovebug guts reportedly contain an enzyme that can eat through the clearcoat of a vehicle, which can damage the vehicle’s paint. As such, it could be good news for drivers.
“It’s not going to cause a lot of issues for the folks here in Florida,” Leppla stated. “Only the car wash people.”
Leppla gave News 6 a few tips to keep the pesky insects away. Here’s what you should know:
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Lovebugs are attracted to light colors, so you can avoid wearing light-colored clothing and being near light-colored walls to not draw them in
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They are also bad flyers, so you can use a fan to blow them away
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Lastly, lovebugs don’t fly at night and take a break around noon, so if you limit outdoor exposure during the morning and afternoon times you may be able to avoid them
Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
When does voting end for 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida? 5 pm ET Friday, June 19, 2026, on hgtv.com and foodnetwork.com.
Voting is underway for the 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Florida − who’s going to win?
The home and garden network’s sweepstakes contest began last month, and those interested in the $1.3 million grand prize − a fully furished poolside paradise near Orlando and some cool cash − have just over a month to try their luck.
Voting continues twice a day at HGTV and Food Network sites. Here’s what we know.
What to know about 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Florida
The three-bedroom, three-bath HGTV Smart Home in Apopka, which is about 20 miles from Orlando, boasts a so-Florida vibe with its upscale tropical, relaxed decor. But what makes it a “smart home?” The state-of-the-art technology, functionality and mindful use of space when it came to the design. Or so says the designers and hosts of the 2026 HGTV special, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt. The HGTV reality show hosts, who live in Tampa, made the inside and outside living spaces comfortable and compatible with Florida’s relentless summer heat, yet magazine cover-worthy.
Over the years, the Kleinschmidts have hosted “100 Day Dream Home,” “White House Christmas 2024,” “100 Day Hotel Challenge” and “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge,” all on HGTV. Their inside knowledge as Florida residents came into play with the 2026 HGTV Smart Home design.
It’s not the first time the home and garden network picked a site in the Sunshine State for its sweepstakes contest: Most recently, the 2024 HGTV Dream Home was on Anastasia Island, Florida, near St. Augustine, and the 2021 HGTV Smart Home was in Naples on the West Coast of the state.
How much is 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida, worth?
The grand prize for the 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Apopka, Florida, is worth more than $1.3 million. The newly built, fully furnished resort-style home about 20 miles from Orlando is a 3,000-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a pool and outdoor living space. The winner of the HGTV Smart Home sweepstakes contest will receive the keys to the home, the furnishings and decor inside and out, plus $100,000 in cash.
The home was built by Hartizen Homes with interior design by husband-and-wife HGTV stars Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt.
The outside living space includes a swim-up bar, outdoor projector, putting green and gourmet grill station. Inside, the HGTV Smart Home evokes an upscale Florida design featuring a game room, movie theater lounge with multiple screens, open-concept living spaces and lots of skylights.
What does 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Florida look like? Tour it with hosts Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt
HGTV Smart Home 2026 sweepstakes in Florida. See features, video tour
HGTV Smart Home in Apopka, Florida, by Orlando is worth $1.3 million. Voting is April 21, 2026, through June 19, 2026, at hgtv.com and foodnetwork.com
Video courtesy of HGTV
When does voting end for 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida?
According to sweepstakes contest rules, voting for the HGTV Smart Home 2026 giveaway runs 9 a.m. ET Tuesday, April 21, 2026, to 5 p.m. ET Friday, June 19, 2026. During that time, viewers can enter twice daily at hgtv.com/smart and foodnetwork.com/smarthome. A one-hour special about the 2026 HGTV Smart Home sweepstakes contest aired April 24, though streaming is available on HBO Max and Discovery+.
Photos of 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
The City Commission must vote on the idea, too.
STUART — Permission to have backyard chickens behind single-family homes and duplexes may soon be granted to homeowners here.
The city’s Community Redevelopment Board on May 5 voted 5-2 in favor recommending the City Commission approve the idea. It would give homeowners permission to have up to four chickens.
“I’m going to be really honest here,” Board Member Bonnie Moser said. “I have chickens in my backyard.”
She got them about 18 months ago, she said, with the permission of all of her neighbors.
Backyard chickens were approved by the City Commission in June 2017, but two weeks later a commissioner backtracked his “yes” vote, killing the deal that had passed 3-2.
“My 2-year-old son loves them,” Moser added. “We eat the eggs every day.”
The chickens are fed with the family’s food scraps, and the manure fertilizes her vegetable garden, she said.
Moser suggested two changes to the proposed ordinance. One, that allows the height of the coop to be increased to 7 feet and the other that allows the height of the required fence or hedge to be reduced to 5 feet. The Community Redevelopment Board also recommended the City Commission approve those changes.
Noise and smell
Concerns about noise are overstated, Moser continued. The chickens really make noise only when they’re laying eggs, which happens in the morning or midday.
“It’s a couple of clucks and then it goes away,” she said. “As long as they’re not being attacked by anything, they’re not making noise.”
The crows and dogs on her street make more noise than the chickens, Moser said.
Smell is another concern people have about allowing chickens behind homes, which Moser also addressed.
It’s only four chickens or less, she said.
Additionally, allowing chickens can be a great educational opportunity for children, Moser said, because children think food comes from the grocery store.
“So, cat’s out of the bag,” Moser said. “I’ve got chickens. Come and get them if you want them. But know that my 2-year-old would be very sad because the highlight of his day is going out there to collect eggs every day.”
Opposition to the idea
Board Chair Frank McChrystal and Board Member Frederick James opposed the idea.
“This will just lead us to a slippery slope,” James said. “If we allow chickens, why not allow pigs?”
Martin County got it right by prohibiting chickens, McChrystal said. He polled his neighbors, who said, “They’re bringing that up again?”
McChrystal said no more about why he opposed the idea.
The fee to have chickens would be $65 annually, Stuart Development Director Jodi Kugler said.
Keith Burbank is a watchdog reporter for TCPalm, usually covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com.
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