Florida
Fewer Florida manatees are dying of starvation this winter

A manatee care crew member feeds lettuces to manatees in crucial care at ZooTampa in Florida in 2021. Photograph: Eva Marie UzcateguiAFP by way of Getty Pictures
Florida wildlife officers are seeing manatee fatalities dwindle this winter after bringing again a feeding program for a second 12 months.
- However some specialists fear this answer is not sustainable in the long run.
By the numbers: 79 Florida manatee deaths had been reported between Jan. 1 and Feb. 3 of this 12 months, per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee.
- That is a 48% decline from the identical time interval the 12 months earlier than, and a greater than 60% drop from 2021, when a document 1,100 manatees starved to demise in Florida.
Why it issues: Manatees aren’t simply light giants that Floridians love — the aquatic herbivores play an important position as “environmental engineers” in native waterways, College of Miami marine biologist Jill Richardson tells Axios In the present day.
- Grownup manatees want 100-200 kilos of seagrass a day to outlive, and since they eat the fastest-growing seagrass, it permits for larger aquatic biodiversity.
Catch up fast: State wildlife officers first arrange a feeding program at Florida Energy & Gentle Firm’s Cape Canaveral Power Heart for the 2021-2022 winter season. They introduced it again this winter to assist manatees get by means of the primary December chilly entrance.
- Heat water runoff from the power attracts lots of the marine mammals, usually known as “sea cows.”
- This winter, FWC has already fed greater than 175,000 kilos of romaine lettuce to manatees.
Sure, however: Richardson believes that such an method will solely assist briefly.
- “All of it begins with the ecosystem as the inspiration,” Richardson stated. “If we do not actually get working laborious on bettering water high quality in our shallow water bays and shallow water coast ecosystems, it is like placing a Band-Support on a extremely massive downside.”
Between the traces: Manatees’ pure habitats together with heat springs and plentiful seagrass have been devastated by human improvement and environmental air pollution.
What we’re watching: The company is anticipated to decide on the petition by this month.
Be good: It is nonetheless unlawful for individuals to feed manatees, and people stay the mammals’ best menace.
Hear your entire dialog with Jill Richardson on the Axios In the present day podcast.

Florida
Triple-digit heat possible as South Florida enters hottest stretch of 2025

South Florida is heading into one of the hottest stretches of the year, with temperatures expected to soar into the low 90s this weekend and early next week. The combination of high heat and humidity could make it feel more like 100 degrees in some areas.
The heat is already building Friday, with morning temperatures in the mid to upper 70s along the coast and slightly cooler readings—upper 60s to low 70s—further inland. Afternoon highs are expected to climb into the upper 80s and 90s, with “feels-like” temperatures pushing well into the triple digits.
Dry, sunny, and sweltering through the weekend
Despite the intense heat, conditions will remain mostly sunny and dry through the weekend. Beachgoers will be glad to know there’s only a low risk of rip currents along the Atlantic coast. Boating conditions also look favorable, with no alerts or advisories issued for the Atlantic or Florida Keys waters.
The heat will intensify over the weekend, with forecast highs in the low 90s on both Saturday and Sunday under clear skies. The trend continues into early next week, with Monday and Tuesday expected to be the hottest days of the year so far.
Slight rain chances midweek, but heat sticks around
By Wednesday, there’s a small chance for isolated showers, though the region will largely stay dry. Spotty rain is more likely on Thursday, but temperatures will remain well above average in the low 90s.
CBS News Miami
Florida
Ex-MLB star Furcal faces felony charges in Florida

SUNRISE, Fla. — Former major league shortstop Rafael Furcal is facing felony charges in South Florida, authorities said.
The former All-Star turned himself in at the Broward County jail Wednesday and was released on bail a short time later, according to court records. He’s charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and throwing a missile into a public or private dwelling or vehicle.
Court records didn’t list a defense attorney for Furcal. His former agent, Paul Kinzer, declined to comment on the charges and did not provide a way to reach Furcal directly.
The Sunrise Police Department issued the warrant for Furcal’s arrest Monday, but it didn’t immediately release details about what led to the criminal charges.
Furcal, 47, started with the Atlanta Braves in 2000, followed by stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was with the Cardinals in 2011 when they beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series. He finished his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins in 2014.
Furcal completed the 12th unassisted triple play in MLB history on Aug. 10, 2003, while playing for the Braves against the Cardinals.
Florida
Florida Panthers one win from advancing to Stanley Cup conference final after beating Maple Leafs

Can the Florida Panthers really go back-to-back?
With a dominant roster and playoff experience, the Panthers are poised to make a strong run at back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
Sports Pulse
- Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout streak ended late in the third period, but he still made 32 saves.
- Depth players like Kulikov, Boqvist, Mikkola, and Greer scored key goals for Florida.
The Florida Panthers shut the Toronto Maple Leafs down – again – and are one win away from returning to the Stanley Cup conference finals.
Sergei Bobrovsky came within 1:06 of securing back-to-back shutouts to lead the Panthers to a 6-1 Game 5 victory over the Maple Leafs in Toronto on May 14. Florida will take a 3-2 lead back to Sunrise with a chance to close the series on May 16.
Bobrovsky went 143:25 without giving up a goal — starting late in the third period of Game 3 — before his skid was snapped. But that was not before another dominant 32-save performance.
“We’re definitely happy with where we’re at, but we’re also humbled and focused,” Bobrovsky said. “We just have to focus on the next shift, the next moment, and get ready.”
Aaron Ekblad opened the scoring with 5:22 to go in the first period. He fired a wrist shot off a feed from Sam Reinhart.
Dmitry Kulikov extended Florida’s lead to two goals 6:08 into the second period. His slap shot from the point deflected off the stick of Toronto forward Scott Laughton and past Joseph Woll.
Jesper Boqvist made it 3-0 by tapping home a feed from Reinhart off the rush with 9:55 to go in the second period. Niko Mikkola extended that lead to four goals with a slap shot off the rush with 5:59 to go in the middle frame.
A.J. Greer tacked on a fifth Panthers goal 6:23 into the third period, tapping home a rebound after a Jonah Gadjovich shot hit Jake McCabe in the face. Sam Bennett added a sixth goal 9:10 into the third period with a quick wrist shot on a power play.
”At the end of the day, the job’s not done,” Ekblad said. “There’s still a lot of work to do — to go home, recover and have our best game at home in Game 6.”
Here are three takeaways from Florida’s Game 5 victory:
Jesper Boqvist steps up in Evan Rodrigues’ absence
With Evan Rodrigues out of the lineup after taking a high hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Game 4, the Panthers opted to go with Jesper Boqvist over rookie Mackie Samoskevich on the first line next to Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov.
Boqvist stepped up and notched a goal and an assist despite going 25 games without a point and 39 games without a goal to finish the regular season and in the first seven games of the postseason.
Florida coach Paul Maurice trusted Boqvist with the assignment because of his defensive acumen and his versatility and he delivered. He helped set up Florida’s first goal by staying aggressive on the forecheck and keeping the puck in the offensive zone before Ekblad eventually fired the shot that gave the Panthers the lead. He flashed his speed off the rush to notch his first goal since Jan. 25.
”He’s just got so much speed and he battles out there,” Reinhart said. “Any time you can get those legs, especially in a tight-checking series like this, it’s going to be a positive. He stepped in, was very comfortable and he made some big plays to help us tonight.”
Panthers depth continues to shine in big ways
Through the first 10 games of the postseason, the Panthers have already broken a franchise record with 17 different players scoring in this postseason run — and their Game 5 performance was a big sign of that.
Florida was able to beat Toronto without its usual suspects completely taking over the game. Four players — Kulikov, Boqvist, Mikkola and Greer — all scored their first goals of the postseason. The Panthers got three of their goals from defensemen and had all four forward lines on the ice for at least one of the goals.
“They don’t get on the magazines,” Maurice said. “It’s special when those guys score.”
The Panthers have enough talent to where not one player has to take over the game on a day-to-day basis, and in Game 5, it was the entire roster that pitched in to steal a game in Toronto.
Florida continues to slow down Toronto’s rush attack
Ever since the midway point of Game 3, the Panthers have started to play their game and it has flipped the series on its head. Florida has gotten to its forecheck, stabilized its gap game on transition and has found the answer to slowing down the speedy Maple Leafs.
Game 5 was a perfect example of that. The Panthers held the Maple Leafs to just eight high-danger shots and one shot off the rush. Florida held onto the puck for the majority of the game and continued to hem Toronto in its own end and it led to an onslaught.
”I think they did a great job,” Bobrovsky said. “They played a hard gap game. Very simple, struck hard as a unit — all five guys. So, this was a good one.”
-
Austin, TX6 days ago
Best Austin Salads – 15 Food Places For Good Greens!
-
Technology1 week ago
Netflix is removing Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
-
World1 week ago
The Take: Can India and Pakistan avoid a fourth war over Kashmir?
-
News1 week ago
Reincarnated by A.I., Arizona Man Forgives His Killer at Sentencing
-
News1 week ago
Jefferson Griffin Concedes Defeat in N.C. Supreme Court Race
-
News1 week ago
Who is the new Pope Leo XIV and what are his views?
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
André 3000 Drops Surprise Album After Met Gala Piano Statement
-
News1 week ago
Efforts Grow to Thwart mRNA Therapies as RFK Jr. Pushes Vaccine Wariness