Florida

Family whose home was hit by space debris seeks damages from NASA

Published

1 year ago

June 23, 2024

Family whose home was hit by space debris seeks damages from NASA

A family is seeking compensation from NASA after a piece of metal trash from the International Space Station tore through the roof of their home in Naples, Fla. in March.

No one was hurt, but a legal representative for the Otero family described it as a “near miss” that “could have been catastrophic,” in a news release published Friday.

Homeowner Alejandro Otero previously told The Washington Post that on the day of the incident he received a panicked call from his son. He returned home to find the dense, cylindrical piece of charred metal a little smaller than a soup can lodged in a wall, and knew immediately it “was from outer space.”

“My clients are seeking adequate compensation to account for the stress and impact that this event had on their lives,” the family’s attorney, Mica Nguyen Worthy, said in a news release. “If the debris had hit a few feet in another direction, there could have been serious injury or a fatality.”

NASA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the legal claim.

NASA previously confirmed that the 1.6-pound cylindrical object that smashed through the roof of the Otero’s house was a piece of a 5,800-pound cargo pallet carrying old nickel hydride batteries released from the International Space Station in March 2021.

The space junk had been expected to burn up upon reentering the Earth’s atmosphere, but somehow survived, sparking concerns about a possible increase in such incidents in the future.

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“Space debris is a real and serious issue because of the increase in space traffic in recent years,” Worthy said.

How NASA responds to the claim could set a legal precedent for how it treats such incidents when they involve U.S. citizens and residents, Worthy said. She is asking NASA to treat the family’s case in the same way that it would meet its obligations under international space law.

In the case of international incidents, the “launching state” — the country that procured an object’s launch or the country from which it was launched — is liable for any damage its objects cause. In the early ’80s, the Soviet Union agreed to pay millions in compensation after a malfunctioning satellite burned up over Canada.

“If the incident had happened overseas, and someone in another country were damaged by the same space debris as in the Oteros’ case, the U.S. would have been absolutely liable to pay for those damages,” Worthy said.

Worthy did not immediately respond to questions on the claim, including how much the family is seeking. She told science and technology publication Ars Technica that the claim is “in excess of $80,000.”

NASA has six months to respond to the claim under the Federal Torts Claim Act, she said in the news release. The claim includes noninsured property damage loss, business interruption damages, emotional and mental anguish damages and the costs for assistance from third parties.

Praveena Somasundaram and Daniel Wu contributed to this report.

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Florida

Preview: December 19 at Florida | Carolina Hurricanes

Published

5 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Preview: December 19 at Florida | Carolina Hurricanes

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Carolina Hurricanes will try to move their win streak to six on Friday when they take on the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

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When: Friday, Dec. 19

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network App | Learn More

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

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Canes Record: 22-9-2 (46 Points, 1st – Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 4-1 Win over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, Dec. 17

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Panthers Record: 18-13-2 (38 Points, 5th – Atlantic Division)

Panthers Last Game: 3-2 Win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17

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Florida

Florida football’s Tank Hawkins announces entry into transfer portal

Published

17 hours ago

December 18, 2025

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Florida football’s Tank Hawkins announces entry into transfer portal

Florida football receiver Tank Hawkins announced Wednesday through social media that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, bringing his time in Gainesville to a close after two seasons with the Gators.

Hawkins thanked Gator Nation on a social media post, accompanied by a graphic that reflected on his journey with the Orange and Blue and confirmed his decision to explore new opportunities.

The sophomore wideout’s announcement makes him one of the latest Florida players to enter the portal during the winter window.

A former four-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Hawkins arrived in Gainesville as part of Florida’s 2024 recruiting class.

Florida’s roster continues to see movement as the program navigates the offseason, with departures and additions expected to reshape the depth chart ahead of the 2026 season.

Hawkins’ career at Florida

Hawkins appeared in 11 total games during his two seasons with the Gators, contributing as both a receiver and occasional ball carrier.

As a true freshman in 2024, he played in seven games and recorded 10 receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown, while adding three rushing attempts for 11 yards. He caught a 36-yard touchdown against Samford, which marked his first collegiate reception.

In 2025, Hawkins appeared in just four games. He finished the season with two receptions for 16 yards.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

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Florida

Florida man set to be executed for killing 2 during a home invasion – WTOP News

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Florida man set to be executed for killing 2 during a home invasion – WTOP News

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during home invasion robbery and later…

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during home invasion robbery and later confessing to three other killings is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening.

Frank Athen Walls, 58, is set to receive a lethal injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. Walls was convicted of two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, burglary and theft and sentenced to death in 1988. The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial, and Walls was again convicted and sentenced to death in 1992.

It would be Florida’s 19th death sentence carried out in 2025, further extending a state record for total executions in a single year.

According to court records, Walls broke into the Florida Panhandle mobile home of Eglin Air Force Base airman Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, in July 1987. Walls tied the couple up, but Alger managed to break free and attack Walls. Walls cut Alger’s throat and them shot him in the head when the airman continued to fight. Walls then went to attack Peterson and shot her as she struggled.

Walls was arrested the day after the bodies were found when his roommate tipped off police about Walls’ odd behavior. During a search of the home, investigators reported finding items from the crime scene, and Walls later admitted to the killings.

After his conviction, DNA evidence linked Walls to the May 1987 rape and murder of a woman, Audrey Gygi. Walls pleaded no contest, avoiding another trial and possible death sentence. Walls also admitted responsibility for the killings of Tommie Lou Whiddon in March 1985 and Cynthia Sue Condra in September 1986 as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Attorneys for Walls filed appeals in state court claiming that his intellectual disability and other medical issues should disqualify him from execution, but the Florida Supreme Court ruled against Walls last week. Appeals were still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A total of 46 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and more than a dozen other people are scheduled to be put to death in 2026.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976, the highest previous annual total of Florida executions was eight in 2014. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas with five each.

All Florida executions are conducted by lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections.

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Follow David Fischer on the social platform Bluesky: ‪@dwfischer.bsky.social‬

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