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Florida cities rank among best coastal small towns in United States

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Florida cities rank among best coastal small towns in United States



Stuart ranked No. 2 for best coastal small town in the United States.

Stuart ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for best coastal small town.

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The Treasure Coast city has been recognized as one of the best coastal small towns in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for several years. Stuart was ranked No. 2 in 2023, No. 1 in 2024 and No. 2 in 2025.

Stuart was praised for its access to the St. Lucie River; its parks, such as Flagler and Shepard; its museums, such as Stuart Heritage Museum and Road to Victory Military Museum and its restaurant-lined downtown.

Florida secured two spots on the top 10 list, with Stuart at No. 2 and Cedar Key at No. 10.

These rankings are determined by a panel of industry experts, invited weekly by USA Today 10BEST, who nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across different areas. 10BEST editors then vet the nominations before selecting a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for four weeks. 

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Best coastal small towns in the United States

These are the top 10 best coastal small towns in the United States, according to the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards:

  • 1. Pismo Beach, California
  • 2. Stuart, Florida
  • 3. Morro Bay, California
  • 4. Avalon, California
  • 5. Castine, Maine
  • 6. Cape May, New Jersey
  • 7. Gulf Shores, Alabama
  • 8. Beaufort, North Carolina
  • 9. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
  • 10. Cedar Key, Florida

Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.



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Truck driver’s body found after he disappeared in Florida

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Truck driver’s body found after he disappeared in Florida



The body of Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez, 41 was discovered in coastal Georgia, according to FBI officials.

The body of a truck driver was discovered in Georgia nearly two weeks after he went missing from a Florida rest stop, officials said.

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Alejandro Jacomino González, 41, of Miami, picked up vehicles in Georgia on April 16 and was transporting them to Miami. He stopped at a rest stop in Brevard County, Florida on April 17 about 1:21 a.m. and rested for several hours.

The truck’s GPS showed shortly before 8 a.m., the truck “traveled one exit south and then turned north toward Jacksonville, Florida,” according to the FBI.

“Shortly after, González stopped responding and the truck was reported missing,” the FBI said.

The truck, without some of the vehicles González was transporting, was located in Port Wentworth, Georgia. Three vehicles were recovered in Florida, FBI officials said.

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González’s body was located in coastal Georgia. Details on how he died, when and how his remains were located were not provided.

FBI seeking help from public in case of killed Florida truck driver

The FBI is seeking anyone who has photos or video from the Brevard County rest area in Grant-Valkaria, Florida between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. April 17.

Officials are especially interested in the southern portion of the rest stop, near the ramp reconnecting to Interstate-95. Images can shared through an online form.

Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

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No. 10 Florida State softball comes up short on the road at Florida

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No. 10 Florida State softball comes up short on the road at Florida


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  • The Florida Gators defeated the Florida State Seminoles 4-3 in a midweek softball game.
  • Florida State initially led 2-0 before Florida tied the game and later took the lead.
  • The Seminoles tied the game again in the fifth inning, but the Gators scored the winning run in the bottom half.
  • No. 8 Florida defeated No. 10 Florida State 4-3 in a midweek softball game.
  • FSU initially took a 2-0 lead but could not overcome Florida’s subsequent scoring rallies.
  • The Seminoles will next play a road series against Boston College starting May 1.

No. 8 Florida handed No. 10 Florida State a narrow midweek loss, edging the Seminoles 4-3 Tuesday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

It was FSU’s first loss at Gainesville in five years.

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FSU (43-8, 18-3 ACC) matched UF hit for hit for much of the game but could not overcome a pair of early deficit swings, falling to the Gators (46-8, 16-5 SEC) for the second time this season.

The Seminoles scored three runs on seven hits and drew three walks. Ashtyn Danley and Kennedy Harp each went 2-for-3, and five different FSU players recorded hits.

FSU struck first in the second inning. Singles by Bella Ruggiero and Harp, along with a walk to Shelby McKenzie, loaded the bases. Hayley Griggs followed with a soft single to left to plate Ruggiero, and Isa Torres added a sacrifice fly to score McKenzie and give the Seminoles a 2-0 lead.

Florida answered with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to tie the game, then pushed ahead 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI single.

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The Seminoles responded in the fifth, again loading the bases. Anna Hinde lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right, allowing Torres to tag and score to tie the game at 3.

Florida regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a solo run and held the Seminoles scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 4-3 victory.

Bella Dimitrijevic started for FSU and worked three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in her 13th start of the season. Marlee Gaskell (2-1) relieved in the fourth, pitching 2 1/3 innings and striking out three while surrendering five hits. Makenna Reid entered in the sixth and recorded two flyouts to keep the Seminoles within a run.

Florida State will resume ACC play with a road series at Boston College beginning Friday, May 1, in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

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How to watch FSU softball vs. Boston College

  • Date: Friday, May 1
  • Time: 4 p.m. EST
  • Where: Harrington Athletics Village, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
  • TV/Stream: ACC extra

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.



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FBI asking for help locating missing truck driver after suspected car hauler hijacking in Florida

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FBI asking for help locating missing truck driver after suspected car hauler hijacking in Florida


BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The FBI is investigating the suspicious disappearance of truck driver Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating him.

On April 16, investigators say Gonzalez picked up multiple vehicles from the Port of Brunswick, in Georgia. He departed the Brunswick port headed South for Miami, Florida, the drop off location for the vehicles.

Timeline of disappearance

At approximately 1:21 a.m., the FBI says Gonzalez arrived at a truck stop in Brevard County, Florida, where he rested for several hours. At 7:49 a.m., GPS from the truck driven by Gonzalez indicates the truck drove South one exit and then turned North towards Jacksonville. Soon after, Gonzalez became unreachable and the truck was reported missing.

On April 17, the truck was located in Port Wentworth, Georgia, however Gonzalez was not located in the truck. Additionally, several vehicles were missing from the hauler. Since the discovery of the truck, three vehicles have been located in Florida. Others are still missing, along with Gonzalez.

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The FBI is seeking photos and video footage from any people located in or around the Brevard County Rest Area in Grant-Valkaria, Florida, between the hours of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m., on Friday, April 17, specifically focusing on the southern portion of the rest area near the ramp that enters back onto I-95 South.

The public is encouraged to share those photos and videos here.

Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.



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