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Fishermen describe rescue of teens who spent 16 hours adrift overnight off Gulf coast

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Fishermen describe rescue of teens who spent 16 hours adrift overnight off Gulf coast


Cutting through the waters and chilly temperatures off Florida’s Gulf coast just after sunrise early Tuesday, a trio of fishermen aboard a small boat experienced the catch of a lifetime: They spotted two 16-year-old friends who had spent the night adrift on a paddleboard waving down their rescuers from atop an oyster bar miles from shore.

The teens, identified by family and friends on social media as Eva Aponte and Avery Bryan, survived 16 hours on the water in temperatures that dipped into the low 40s. Rescuers described them as shivering cold with cuts to their hands and feet from razor-sharp oyster shells but otherwise OK.

The teens were blown off course Monday about 4:30 p.m. near the fishing village of Cedar Key by strong winds while wearing just shorts and sweatshirts with no life jackets.

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As darkness fell – and temperatures dropped – so did the odds of survival. A massive search of the Gulf waters by the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sheriffs’ offices and a fleet of volunteer civilian boats continued all night without success.

Capt. Will Pauling of Inglis, Florida, and his fellow anglers Alex Jefferies of nearby Yankeetown and Russell Coon of Clermont, near Orlando, scrapped their plans early Tuesday for a morning of snook fishing to join the search. They were on the water looking for the teens by 8:30 a.m., just after sunrise, and found them within 30 minutes.

“We tried getting out there as soon as we could, and it paid off,” Pauling said in a phone interview.

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Jeffries said he told the teens after their rescue, “You laugh about this one day, just not today.”

The teens and their families didn’t immediately respond to phone messages Tuesday to discuss their ordeal.

Winds pushed the teens off course returning from Atsena Otie Key, an historic and uninhabited island town of abandoned buildings about a half mile from Cedar Key, across a shipping channel. The paddle is popular and usually safe when tides are favorable and winds are mild, generally below 5 mph. Monday’s winds were gusting more than twice as strong.

It wasn’t clear initially where the teens may have drifted. Tides and current could have pushed the teens into the Gulf, further from shore. It turned out, their inflatable paddleboard had acted like a sail and was pushed by winds southeast across Waccasassa Bay toward Mangrove Point, off the coast of Yankeetown, about 15 miles away. 

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“It was an inflatable object. It’s treated more like a balloon,” said Cap. Gary Bartell Jr. of Crystal River, who spent the night searching for the teens. He picked them up in his airboat from Pauling’s small boat. 

A photo shows the rescuers carrying the wayward teens – who were too weak to stand – over their shoulders across an oyster bar toward the airboat. On board, Bartell and his 8-year-old son, Brody, gave the girls snacks and the coats off their backs. Bartell then delivered them to their families and officials at Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park.

“They had a great spirit for two young ladies that were stranded in the middle of the night, that 

had drifted 15 miles from their original location, especially in those high winds that we had last night,” Bartell said.

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Sue Colson, the mayor of picturesque Cedar Key, said the Gulf waters can be more dangerous than they look. 

“We look so picture card perfect, and just slick and pretty,” Colson said. “You just don’t feel in danger here, which is a great thing to feel by the way.”

This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at diego.perdomo@ufl.edu. You can donate to support our students here.



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Florida top-ranked signee selected in Round 4 of MLB draft

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Florida top-ranked signee selected in Round 4 of MLB draft


The Baltimore Orioles selected Florida signee Kevin Roberts Jr. with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB draft.

Roberts, UF’s top-ranked signee, is expected to forgo his college career and is the only member of Florida’s signing class to not enroll for the summer. A slot value of $711,800 is a bit low for a highly touted high school recruit, but it would be a big whiff by the Orioles if they don’t get him signed.

Perfect Game ranks Roberts No. 19 overall and No. 8 among shortstops nationally. Most of that is because he is incredibly projectable at 6-foot-5-inch and 220 pounds with good speed. There’s good bat speed and solid pop in his bat, showing exit velocities in the mid-90s as a 16-year-old. Roberts is also very young. He won’t turn 18 for another two weeks, giving pro teams extra time to develop him.

The power is there, but he’ll need to refine the contact tool a bit. Still, with plus speed and a strong arm — he clocked fastballs at 94 mph when pitching — Roberts figures to make an easy transition to center field.

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Of course, it would have been nice for Florida to get Roberts on campus, but Florida has plenty of options in the outfield, and Brendan Lawson is returning at shortstop next season. If this is the only loss from Florida’s 2026 signing class, it’s a big win for Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators.

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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NW Florida authorities make two more arrests in murder case

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NW Florida authorities make two more arrests in murder case


WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) – The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida posted on its Facebook page Saturday the latest arrests in the murder of Jason Coulthart.

Here is the post:

TWO ADDITIONAL ARRESTS IN JASON COULTHART HOMICIDE; JOHNSON STILL AT LARGE

WALTON COUNTY, FLA — The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has made two additional arrests in connection with the murder of Jason Coulthart, marking the fourth and fifth individuals charged in relation to the ongoing investigation.

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On July 10, 2026, Michael Ray White, 74, and Kathleen Morris, 59, of Santa Rosa Beach, were arrested for accessory to a capital felony after the fact and obstruction.

According to investigators, White knowingly provided assistance to Johnson as she evaded law enforcement between June 25 and June 30, 2026.

Evidence shows White initially denied knowing Johnson while talking to investigators but later admitted she was at his home on multiple occasions during that period.

White also allowed Johnson and a second suspect, Martin Leaverton, to stay at the home, provided supplies, and later coordinated moving Johnson to a second location.

Morris, who resides at the same address, was also arrested in connection with the case after admitting she assisted Johnson by transporting her, providing supplies, and misleading deputies regarding Johnson’s presence at the residence.

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Text messages recovered from Morris’s phone further corroborate her involvement in helping Johnson avoid capture.

Interviews with additional witnesses, including Martin and Sandra Leaverton, provided further confirmation that both White and Morris knowingly sheltered Johnson and assisted her efforts to elude law enforcement.

The Leavertons admitted retrieving Johnson’s belongings, supplying her with a cell phone, and attempting to find out‑of‑state refuge for her. They are still behind bars at the Walton County Jail.

The discovery of Coulthart’s remains occurred on June 25, 2026, following two independent statements provided to the Niceville Police Department regarding a body located on a property on Sunset Lane in Freeport.

A residential search warrant was executed that same day, leading to the discovery of human remains. An arrest warrant for Johnson was issued on June 26, 2026. This week, the remains were confirmed to belong to Jason Coulthart.

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Johnson remains at large. She is considered dangerous, and anyone who has seen her or has information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office immediately.

“Anyone found to have helped or is still assisting Isabelle Johnson avoid arrest will be charged accordingly,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “If you give her a place to stay, help her hide, or lie for her, you will face consequences. This is a homicide case. We will not allow anyone to get in the way of this investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 892‑8111 or contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 863‑TIPS.

Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.



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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for July 10, 2026

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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for July 10, 2026


The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 10 drawing

02-39-44-46-56, Mega Ball: 23

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Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from July 10 drawing

11-15-32-40-45-46

Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 11-20-21-24-25

Evening: 06-11-15-20-33

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Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 10 drawing

Morning: 15

Matinee: 13

Afternoon: 09

Evening: 04

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Late Night: 08

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

play

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

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Winning Pick 2 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 6-0, FB: 5

Evening: 0-4, FB: 8

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 7-5-3, FB: 5

Evening: 5-8-1, FB: 8

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 2-2-4-2, FB: 5

Evening: 0-4-4-1, FB: 8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 4-4-6-0-0, FB: 5

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Evening: 9-2-9-8-1, FB: 8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
  • Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
  • Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

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  • Full name
  • City of residence
  • Game won
  • Date won
  • Amount won
  • Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
  • Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.



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