Florida
Ex-Florida coach Dan Mullen appears to shade Billy Napier after disastrous opener
With Florida fans chanting for his firing amid a blowout loss, head coach Billy Napier wasn’t about to find any sympathy from predecessor Dan Mullen.
Mullen, a college football analyst, recirculated a post on X from his ESPN colleague Matt Barrie that read, “The Florida coach that got fired went to three consecutive new years six games in his first three years. And was let go in his 4th season.”
The facts check out that Mullen posted a 29-9 record with appearances in the Peach Bowl, Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl (2-1 bowl record) over his first three seasons — climbing as high as No. 4 in the polls — before he was fired for going 5-6 in 2021.
His reluctance to fire defensive coordinator Todd Grantham until it was too late in powerbrokers’ eyes was a major contributor.
With one retweet on Saturday, Mullen suggested he’s still not over it.
Time seems to be ticking on Napier, whose tenure has been a disaster so far.
He was 11-14 through his first two seasons, including a loss in the Las Vegas Bowl, and he opened Year 3 with Saturday’s 41-17 loss at home to rival Miami.
Chants of “Fire Billy” and “Billy, you suck” reportedly rang out from the stands during the second half.
Napier was a hot Power Five coaching candidate after he went 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana, but the success hasn’t carried over in the SEC.
To add insult to injury, Miami quarterback Cam Ward — a Washington State transfer — took a shot at Gators fans and the renowned atmosphere at the “Swamp.”
“I played at USC. USC wasn’t packed, but it was louder than this,” Ward said. “I played at Oregon and it was louder than this. The Pac-12 is misspoken for. That’s where I believe real football is played. Coming from Washington (State), Washington is one of the loudest environments I’ve played.
“Some advice to the fans: I would say if you’re going to be loud, be loud when we’re huddling. You can’t just be loud when we break the huddle. By that time, there’s no point. We hear the play and we communicated already. But it was a good atmosphere to play in, and I was just excited that we were able to get a victory.”
What figures to get louder is the sound of the pressure on Napier.
Surveillance video shows family narrowly avoid lightning strike
A father and his children had a near miss during a thunderstorm in Massachusetts.
A man died and three of his family members were injured after a lightning strike hit people in the water off Fort Myers Beach in Florida on July 3, authorities said.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 2:20 p.m. Friday, July 3, to the 6500 block of Estero Boulevard after reports that a man had been struck by lightning while swimming in the Gulf. When first responders arrived, bystanders were already performing CPR.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts from witnesses and emergency crews, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the strike happened during active storm conditions moving through the area.
Authorities identified the victim as 51-year-old Viktar Kiryk.
Deputies said the three family members who were with Kiryk were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Officials said they were in stable condition following the incident. Emergency crews responded across multiple locations along Estero Boulevard as calls came in. USA TODAY reached out to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment.
Lightning risks in Florida waters
Lightning is a frequent hazard in Florida, especially during summer storm season. The National Weather Service says about 20 people are killed by lightning in the United States each year, with hundreds more injured.
Florida consistently ranks among the most lightning-prone states in the country. Lee County and nearby areas have been identified as frequent hotspots in recent annual lightning activity reports.
Safety officials warn that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a storm and that anyone outdoors should seek shelter immediately if thunder is heard. They recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sounds of thunder before returning outside.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
A motorcyclist was killed early Saturday in a crash involving a vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, police said.
Officers responded at approximately 2:45 a.m. to the 3000 block of West Broward Boulevard following a report of a vehicle and motorcycle crash.
When officers arrived, the motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.
The department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
Happy Fourth of July! Although the post office and government offices will be closed today, many grocery stores are open.
Don’t forget the hot dog buns or festive treats during your Independence Day cookout this afternoon.
Here’s what you need to know about grocery stores and whether or not they’ll be open today.
Buy Fourth of July essentials on Amazon Prime
Is Publix open on July 4th?
Publix is open on the Fourth of July.
Publix closes its doors for only three holidays each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Most Publix stores open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Publix stores regularly close at 9 p.m., but not many. Check hours at your local store.
Publix Liquors stores are also open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., depending on the location. However, Publix pharmacies will be closed, so fill any prescriptions you need before the holiday.
Is Aldi open on July 4th?
Aldi stores will be open with limited hours on July 4.
Some Aldi store locations in Florida open at 8:30 a.m., while others open at 9 a.m. Most Aldi locations close at either 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Holiday hours can vary from location to location, so check your local Aldi’s holiday hours before you go. You can find the store locator here to double-check the opening hours of your nearest Aldi.
Is Whole Foods open on July 4th?
Most Whole Foods locations will close early, at 6 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Under regular hours, most Florida Whole Foods locations open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. A few open at 7:30 a.m.
Some Whole Foods locations close at 9 p.m. while others close at 10 p.m.
Is Sprouts closed on July 4th?
Sprouts will be open during regular hours on July 4.
Store hours in Florida are typically from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Is Winn-Dixie open on July 4th?
Winn-Dixie locations in Florida will be open on July 4th, with regular hours.
Typically, Winn-Dixie stores in Florida open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. every day. Winn-Dixie’s wine and spirits services don’t open until 9 a.m.
Is Trader Joe’s open on July 4th?
Trader Joe’s locations will only be open until 5 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Most Trader Joe’s locations in Florida open at 8 a.m. A few open at 9 a.m. Trader Joe’s stores usually close at 9 p.m. during their regular hours.
Is Target open on July 4th?
Target will be open throughout the Fourth of July weekend; however, hours of operation may vary by location, so please check your local store’s hours before visiting.
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Most Target stores in Florida open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Target locations open at 7 a.m.
Is Walmart open on July 4th?
Walmart stores close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they will also be open for regular hours on the Fourth of July.
Buy Fourth of July essentials on Walmart
Most Walmart stores in Florida open an hour before Publix or Winn-Dixie, at 6 a.m. They close at 11 p.m. The same hours apply to most Walmart Neighborhood Market locations.
Is Costco closed on July 4th?
Costco will be closed on July 4.
Is Sam’s Club open on July 4th?
Most Sam’s Club locations will be open on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.
Is BJ’s Wholesale Club open on July 4th?
BJ’s Wholesale Club will be open regular hours on July 4 from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.
Is the Fourth of July a federal holiday?
Yes, the Fourth of July is a federal holiday. See all 11 federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day – Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in February
- Memorial Day – last Monday in May
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19
- Independence Day – July 4
- Labor Day – 1st Monday in September
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day – 2nd Monday in October
- Veterans’ Day – Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thursday in November
- Christmas Day – Dec. 25
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
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