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Florida to Louisiana braces for likely tropical storm or Hurricane Helene as weather threatens Gulf of Mexico

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Florida to Louisiana braces for likely tropical storm or Hurricane Helene as weather threatens Gulf of Mexico


Millions of people living along the Gulf Coast are being urged to make sure preparations are in place as the next tropical threat to the U.S. brews in the Caribbean, and there are increasing signs that the ingredients needed for a tropical storm or hurricane to form are coming together.

A number of computer forecast models depict a strong tropical storm or hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico by the end of this week, but there still remains a lot of uncertainty in the forecast, with several potential outcomes.

The system expected to threaten the Gulf Coast has now been dubbed Invest 97L, which is simply a naming convention that allows the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to run specialized computer models to help forecasters obtain additional information on tropical disturbances being monitored for development. 

The development odds for Invest 97L have been steadily increasing, and the NHC says there is a high chance of tropical development from the northwestern Caribbean Sea to the southern and eastern Gulf of Mexico over the next seven days.

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The NHC says a broad area of low pressure is currently producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and portions of Central America.

“Environmental conditions appear favorable for development of this system, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form during the next few days while moving northward across the northwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico,” the NHC said in its latest tropical weather outlook.

The system is expected to dump heavy rain over portions of Central America during the next several days, according to the NHC.

The NHC said areas of the northwestern Caribbean, Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and western Cuba should closely monitor the progress of the system.

A number of computer forecast models depict a strong tropical storm or hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico by the end of this week. FOX Weather

Later this week, the NHC says the system is expected to move northward over the Gulf of Mexico, and communities along the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast should also stay alert.

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Where could the tropical disturbance go in the Gulf of Mexico?

“How strong the storm will be and exactly where the most intense effects will occur is an open question,” FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross wrote. “There is a general consensus in the various computer forecasts on how the steering pattern will evolve, but it’s the details that make a difference in whether a storm hits one location or another location hundreds of miles away.”

Through Monday, the development chances for Invest 97L will likely continue to increase, and a tropical depression or tropical storm could form in the western Caribbean by Tuesday.

Norcross said Hurricane Watches could then be issued for portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast, and we could be tracking Tropical Storm Helene by the middle of the week.

The NHC says a broad area of low pressure is currently producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and portions of Central America. FOX Weather

On Thursday or Thursday night, the storm, whether it’s a tropical storm or Hurricane Helene, could make landfall somewhere between Louisiana and Florida.

“Residents on or near the coast between Louisiana and Florida should stay well informed,” Norcross continued. “This will be a fast-developing situation, so now is the time to think through what you would do in the potentially affected areas if a significant storm comes your way late in the week.”

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By Friday, the storm will likely begin to weaken as it moves inland across the Southeast. However, it will continue to produce heavy rain and gusty winds along its path.

Building a weather puzzle

Pieces of this complicated weather puzzle are slowly coming together. That includes a weather pattern known as the Central American Gyre. 

The gyre is a sprawling area of low pressure that feeds off moisture streaming in from the Pacific Ocean and forms near or over Central America.

The system expected to threaten the Gulf Coast has now been dubbed Invest 97L. FOX Weather

At its core, it is a heavy rain producer with impacts extending outwards hundreds of miles and leading to threats of torrential rainfall, flooding and landslides for more than a dozen countries centered in and around Central America.

However, organized low-pressure centers can develop into tropical storms or even hurricanes within the larger gyre if water temperatures and upper-level winds become favorable for tropical development. Current water temperatures in the Caribbean are near the record-warm levels set last season. 

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The ultimate fate of tropical development will depend on the location of the gyre, how strong it becomes and the atmospheric steering – or blocking – patterns occurring in the southern U.S.



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Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home

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Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home


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More details are emerging on an alleged altercation between Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell and a Florida beachgoer.

The “I Want It That Way” singer, 51, reportedly called 911 following the incident on March 22, and later filed a complaint in Walton County, Florida, according to People and ABC 13.

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Though Littrell sought battery charges against a local man whom he said set up a beach chair on his private property and refused to leave, the prosecutor ultimately declined to pursue the case. Now, a video released by ABC 13 is shedding new light on the incident.

In the video, submitted as evidence, Littrell approached a man, identified by the outlet as Kyle Gallagher. Gallagher was sitting on the beach as Littrell videotaped Gallagher with his phone and came within a few inches of his face. The man pushed Littrell’s phone away, and the two began filming each other and hurling expletives.

The boy band member then turned the camera to his own face, laughing and said, “This is what I deal with, people like this,” to which the man responded, “You came and shoved your phone in my face, bro.” The dispute continued, with both men getting heated, and Littrell at one point saying, “You wanna be gay?”

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Gallagher argued that Littrell’s property is next to public beach access, while the singer responded, “I can’t wait till this gets out, bro.”

In statements to authorities, both men offered a different version of events, with Littrell characterizing Gallagher as violent and a disturbance to the peace, while Gallagher said he only batted away the singer’s phone out of reflex and being startled.

Walton County Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell declined to pursue charges, citing both a lack of criminal intent and the video backing up Gallagher’s version of events, per ABC 13. USA TODAY has reached out to Mitchell’s office as well as the Walton County Sheriff.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Friday, April 3, Littrell’s lawyer alleged he is one of several people in the beachfront neighborhood who are frustrated by trespassers.

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“Mr. Littrell enjoys positive relationships with his neighbors. They share a common challenge: repeated trespassing by individuals who deliberately enter private property to provoke confrontation,” the singer’s attorney, Peter Ticktin, wrote in the statement. “These incidents have affected multiple homeowners in the area and predate Mr. Littrell’s purchase of his home.”

The statement continued: “A trespasser placed a personal beach chair on Mr. Littrell’s private property and refused to leave. When Mr. Littrell approached him calmly, the trespasser became aggressive and struck Mr. Littrell in the face without provocation. This was an act of battery against a homeowner attempting to protect his property.”

Ticktin pushed back on “the claim that Mr. Littrell used a homophobic slur,” calling it “false.”

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“The full video of the encounter shows unequivocally that no such language was used. Sexual orientation played no role in this incident, and any suggestion otherwise is knowingly false,” Ticktin said.

“Mr. Littrell and his family purchased what they saw as their dream home, only to discover an ongoing pattern of trespassing and harassment targeting private property owners along their and their neighbors’ stretch of beach. These actions are not about public access, public beaches exist on both sides of the neighborhood and remain open and uncrowded,” Ticktin continued. “Instead, certain individuals appear intent on challenging the very concept of private property rights.”



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Florida State baseball drops series opener to Virginia

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Florida State baseball drops series opener to Virginia


Florida State baseball its opportunities Thursday night, but strikeouts and one big inning sunk the Seminoles in their series opener with Virginia. The Cavaliers struck for four runs in the bottom of the fourth and held on from there for the 4-3 win.

The Seminoles were poised to strike in the top of the first after Brayden Down started the game with a hit by pitch. Noah Sheffield then reached by error, an error that placed the runners at second and third. Unfortunately, the next three Seminole batters — Hunter Carns, Kelvyn Paulino and Eli Putnam — all struck out. Wes Mendes sat down Virginia 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first.

Both offenses were relatively quiet in the second and third innings with only two UVA baserunners. FSU picked up a two out double in the fourth from Putnam, but John Stuetzer fanned to end the threat. Mendes picked up a quick out to start the fourth before allowing three straight hits that scored two Cavalier runs. Mendes finally recorded out number two but followed that up by allowing a two-run no-doubter over the right field fence.

The Seminoles struck right back in the top of the fifth, started by a Stuetzer single. Dowd reached by error and Noah Sheffield made the game 4-1 with an RBI double. Carns followed that up with a two-run RBI single. Paulino grounded out to end the inning with FSU down 4-3.

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Mendes finished the fifth with a final line of 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. Chris Knier took the mound in the sixth and kept Virginia off the board for the remainder of the game.

From the top of the sixth inning forward, Seminole batters went 0-12 with four strikeouts. As a whole, the FSU offense fanned 11 times for the game. The loss of Myles Bailey looms large as the offense will need to bounce back tomorrow at 2 p.m. in game two to avoid the team’s first series loss in conference play.



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4/20 holiday is this month. Is weed legal in Florida?

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4/20 holiday is this month. Is weed legal in Florida?


As many Americans gather to celebrate Easter this weekend, hundreds of thousands across the country are also gearing up for a different kind of holiday later this month.

“4/20” is cannabis culture slang for marijuana consumption, which makes April 20 (or 4/20) the designated holiday for stoners across the globe.

But is weed even legal in Florida? Here’s what to know before you light up later this month.

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When did ‘4/20 Day’ holiday start? See rumored origins

The true origin of why marijuana lovers spark up on 4/20 (or even associate the time 4:20 with smoking pot) isn’t clear, but there are two rumored possibilities:

  • The unofficial story of a group of high school students in the 1970s in California, who allegedly would meet to smoke pot every day at 4:20 p.m. However, this has never been confirmed.
  • According to a Vox article on the origins of the holiday, “One common belief is that 420 was the California police or penal code for marijuana, but there’s no evidence to support those claims.”

Can you smoke marijuana recreationally in Florida?

No, you cannot.

Despite receiving 55.9% of the votes, 2024’s Amendment 3, which sought to legalize recreational marijuana, did not achieve the 60% threshold needed to pass during the General Election. It saw 5,934,139 votes in total.

Is medical marijuana legal in Florida?

Medical marijuana is legal in Florida for residents diagnosed with a specific set of conditions who have applied for and received a Medical Marijuana ID Card or caregivers who have received a Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card.

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The following conditions are eligible for and to receive a Medical Marijuana Card:

  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
  • AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
  • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Comparable medical conditions or status to the above
  • A terminal condition
  • Chronic nonmalignant pain

Can I bring weed if I have a medical marijuana card from another state?

No. The state of Florida does not honor other states’ medical marijuana cards.

Can I get busted for possessing weed in Florida?

Without a Medical Marijuana Card (or Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card, for people assisting medical marijuana patients who are minors or who need help), if you are caught with pot, marijuana advocacy group NORML lists the following penalties under Florida Statutes:

  • Possessing 20 grams or less: first-degree misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and a maximum $1,000 fine.
  • Possession of paraphernalia: Misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and a maximum $1,000 fine.
  • Possessing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park or other specified areas: Felony, mandatory three-year sentence and maximum $10,000 fine.
  • Possessing from 20 grams to 25 pounds: Felony, up to five years in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine.
  • Possessing from 25 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from three to 15 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.
  • Possessing from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from seven to 30 years and a $50,000 fine.
  • Possessing more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from 15 to 30 years and a $200,000 fine.

However, many communities and municipalities have decriminalized possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana, meaning if you’re busted, you’ll get a fine (which will go up each time) and you may be required to attend a drug education program or do community service.

Areas that have decriminalized pot include Alachua County, Broward County, Cocoa Beach, Hallandale Beach, Key West, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Osceola County, Palm Beach County, Port Richey, Sarasota, Tampa and Volusia County.

Is it legal to sell weed in Florida?

Only licensed medical marijuana dispensaries may sell marijuana in the state of Florida. Even if the proposed recreational amendment passes next year, you still would have to buy your pot at a licensed dispensary.

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People charged with selling marijuana can face the following:

  • 25 grams or less, without renumeration: Misdemeanor, maximum 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine.
  • 20 grams to 25 pounds: Felony, maximum 5 years in jail, $5,000 fine.
  • 25 to less than 2,000 pounds or 300-2,000 plants: Felony, three to 15 years, maximum $25,000 fine.
  • 2,000 to less than 10,000 pounds or 2,000-10,000 plants: Felony, seven to 30 years, maximum $50,000 fine.
  • 10,000 pounds or more: Felony, 15 to 30 years, maximum $200,000 fine.
  • If within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park, or other specified areas: An additional 3-15 years, $10,000 fine

Are low-THC products like delta-8, delta-9, delta-10 or THC-O legal in Florida?

Assorted different types of so-called “diet weed” cannabinoids, such as delta-8, delta-9, delta-10 and THC-O, which are derived from hemp and not marijuana and contain lower levels of THC, are sort of legal here under the 2018 federal Farm Bill that allows farmers to grow industrial hemp.

While the Florida Legislature passed a bill in 2024 that effectively banned delta-8 and delta-10 products and set a 5-milligram-per-serving limit on delta-9, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it, reportedly to protect small businesses.

However, they remain federally illegal.

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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