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Kodiak bear cubs were found in Florida, thousands of miles away from their native home: ‘Climbing on my car’

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Kodiak bear cubs were found in Florida, thousands of miles away from their native home: ‘Climbing on my car’


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PENSACOLA, Fla. — Two Kodiak bear cubs, a unique subspecies of the brown bear, were found in a rural area of the Florida Panhandle thousands of miles away from their native home, authorities said.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office shared a video on social media Wednesday of their encounter with the friendly cubs, who appeared to try and play with a responding deputy. Around 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2023, the sheriff’s office received a call from a man who had spotted the pair of cubs and said: “they didn’t appear to be our common Northwest Florida black bears.”

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The cubs had been roaming around on a road in a rural area in north Okaloosa County, about 50 miles northeast of Pensacola and over 160 miles west of Tallahassee, Florida. The responding deputy’s body-camera footage showed the cubs playfully following the man who reported them and the deputy along with trying to climb into her patrol vehicle.

“They’re climbing on my car,” the deputy says in the video. “…It’s like they’re not afraid of people cause they’ll walk right up to you and they’ll let you pet them. They’re very curious.”

The sheriff’s office said it held off on sharing the video until after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wrapped up its investigation into the bears’ origins.

The FWC later determined the bears were Kodiak bears, a subspecies of the brown bear native to Alaska. Sometimes referred to as the Alaskan brown bear, they can grow up to 1,500 pounds, three times the size of Florida’s native black bears.

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Kodiak bears belonged to a ‘self-proclaimed bear trainer’

The cubs were transferred to a “secure location for safekeeping,” while the FWC conducted its investigation, the sheriff’s office said. It was determined that the bears had escaped from an enclosure at a residence in the area where a “self-proclaimed bear trainer” lives.

The resident faces various state wildlife violations, according to the sheriff’s department.

The Miami Herald reported that the resident operates a “game farm,” according to a FWC affidavit. He told authorities that the bears belonged to someone else but he acquired them last February, according to the newspaper.

Kodiak bears are the largest bears in the world

Kodiak bears are considered the largest bears in the world, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). A large male can stand over 10 feet tall on its hind legs and 5 feet tall when standing on all fours.

The subspecies are native exclusively to the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago and have been isolated from other bears for about 12,000 years, the ADF&G said. There are about 3,500 Kodiak bears.

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Does Florida have bears?

Black bears are the only species of bear native to Florida, according to the FWC.

There are about 4,000 bears statewide and they typically can be found roaming forests and swamps from the Panhandle down to the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.

Keeping wild, exotic animals

Many states struggle with issues related to exotic or wild animals, such as the spread of diseases to people and native animals, and animals that escape and compete with native species, according to the ADF&G.

But in almost every case, according to the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, keeping a wild animal is illegal. Wildlife species are protected by state and federal laws, and at least one special permit is required to keep a wild animal in captivity.

Most cities and counties have local ordinances that prevent people from keeping wild animals in captivity, according to the association.

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Tips for bear encounters

The National Park Service advised people to remember that bears are wild and can be dangerous.

“Their behavior is sometimes unpredictable. Although rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death,” according to the agency.

Here’s what to do if you encounter a bear:

  • Identify yourself by speaking to the bear in a calm, assertive voice
  • Stand upright and remain still but slowly wave your arms
  • Slowly back up to a secure location, leaving the bear a clear escape route
  • Avoid direct eye contact as this could be perceived as aggressive behavior
  • Stop and hold your ground if the movement irritates instead of calms the bear
  • Do not make any sudden or abrupt movements
  • Do not run, this can trigger a chase instinct
  • Do not climb a tree; they can climb faster than you
  • Do not approach or surprise a bear, especially if one might be injured



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Tallahassee gas prices rise due to Iran war; how to find cheapest pump prices

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Tallahassee gas prices rise due to Iran war; how to find cheapest pump prices


If you’re kicking yourself for not filling up your vehicle over the weekend or earlier this week, you have good reason.

Gas prices have been going up steadily — sometimes sharply — since the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran started Saturday, Feb. 28.

In Tallahassee, prices have jumped 26 cents from last week with an average gallon of gas currently sitting at $3.08, according to AAA. The highest price on record in Florida’s capital city was $4.84 a gallon in June 2022.

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Since Monday, March 2, Florida gas prices have jumped almost 36 cents for a gallon of regular, according to AAA.

The war is spreading throughout the Middle East and at least six U.S. soldiers have been killed, including one from Florida.

Live updates: Senate won’t check Trump’s war

Here’s what you should know as the war with Iran continues.

Florida not alone in worrying about rising gas prices

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Gas prices surge as Iran war closes Strait of Hormuz

Gas prices rise as Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz threatening oil supply and raising fears of global economic fallout.

Gas prices were already rising before the attacks on Iran began Feb. 28. It’s a regular seasonal swing as spring arrives, according to AAA. 

➤ Americans fret over gas prices as Iran war widens

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks that have now killed at least six U.S. servicemembers, including one from Florida.

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➤ Florida Army Reserve captain killed in Iran war

Analysts said the war will likely drive up prices by an additional 20 to 30 cents per gallon, partly due to supply issues and partly due to global uncertainty.

Here’s a look at gas prices per gallon of regular provided by AAA this week:

  • March 5: $3.251
  • March 4: $3.19
  • March 3: $3.061

Compare to:

  • Week ago: $2.983
  • Month ago: $2.891
  • Year ago: $3.107

What’s average price of gas in Florida?

AAA posted the average price in Florida on March 5 was $3.241, slightly less than the national average of $3.251.

Here’s a comparison of the daily average price of a gallon of regular this week as provided by AAA:

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  • March 5: $3.241
  • March 4: $3.198
  • March 3: $3.068
  • March 2: $2.883

In comparison:

  • Week ago average: $2.940
  • Month ago average: $2.882
  • Year ago average: $3.084

Will Florida gas prices keep going up?

The national average price of gas is “likely to move toward $3.10 to $3.15 (per gallon) within one to two weeks … and to $3.20 to $3.25 within two to three weeks,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis with GasBuddy, on March 1.

On March 2, DeHaan said he expected gas prices “at average stations” nationally to increase by 10 to 30 cents in the coming week.

President Trump: Oil prices may be high ‘for a little while’

President Donald Trump told reporters March 3 oil prices may be high “for a little while.”

As soon as the war ends, “these prices are going to drop, I believe even lower than before,” Trump said. 

In a post on TruthSocial March 3, Trump said: “If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.”

How can you find the cheapest gas?

Whether you’re traveling or at home, gasbuddy.com offers information to find the cheapest prices for gasoline.

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Enter your state, city or ZIP code to find the Top 10 gas stations and cheap fuel prices.

Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. 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://palmbeachpost.com/newsletters.



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Florida college Republicans group chat reveals racist texts: ‘Avoid the coloreds like the plague’

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Florida college Republicans group chat reveals racist texts: ‘Avoid the coloreds like the plague’


It only took three weeks for a group chat for conservative students at Florida International University (FIU) to become a place where participants eagerly used racist slurs, prompting widespread condemnation from community leaders.

Abel Alexander Carvajal, secretary of Miami-Dade county’s Republican party and a student at FIU’s College of Law, reportedly started the chat after the killing of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, in September 2025.

But on Wednesday, the Miami Herald published leaked WhatsApp conversations in which the college Republicans made racist, sexist, antisemitic and homophobic comments, including variations of the N-word used more than 400 times. Knowledge of the chat’s existence was revealed on the same day that Republican lawmakers in Florida pushed forward a bill to rename a one-mile stretch of road alongside FIU in honor of Kirk.

William Bejerano, who the Herald noted once tried to start an anti-abortion group at Miami Dade College, was the most prolific user of the N-word. Using the slur, Bejerano called for dozens of acts of extreme violence against Black people, including crucifying, beheading and dissecting.

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Dariel Gonzalez, then the College Republicans’ recruitment chair, who has recently applied to become a GOP committee member, responded to the calls for violence by saying: “How edgy.” He repeatedly used “colored” to describe Black people, including writing: “Ew you had colored professors?!” and “Avoid the coloreds like the plague,” according to the Herald.

Carvajal, who was appointed to a two-year role on the city of Hialeah’s planning and zoning board earlier this year, confirmed to the paper that the group chat was his doing, but he denied knowledge of the problematic comments until the publication contacted him about its logs last week.

“It’s been five months since this was sent and this is the first time I’ve seen this message,” Carvajal told the Herald.

“I guess to an extent, I bear some responsibility, cause I created a chat. But if I had seen this at the moment, I would have removed [Bejerano] from the chat. I probably would have even blocked his number.”

The Herald found that Carvajal had deleted 14 messages sent by other participants in the chat and 42 of his own messages before the publication obtained the chat’s logs.

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He also participated in some of the racist discussions. While referring to a Black student who allegedly left FIU’s College Republicans after a member of the group “called her a [N-word]”, the Floridian reported that Carvajal wrote: “Why didn’t miggress leave?” Elsewhere in the chat, the publication reported that Carvajal used “Miggress”, “Migglet” and “Migger” to refer to Black women, Black children and Black people, in general.

At one point, Gonzalez wrote: “You can fuck all the [K-word, a slur for Jewish people] you want. Just don’t marry them and procreate.”

Ian Valdes, the Turning Point USA FIU chapter president, responded, “I would def not marry a Jew,” before changing the group chat’s name from “Uber [R-word slur for disabled people] Yapping” to “Gooning in Agartha”. “Gooning” is a gen-Z slang term for male masturbation, while “Agartha” is a mythical white civilization promoted by Heinrich Himmler, one of the most powerful leaders in Nazi Germany next to Hitler.

Gonzalez reportedly described Agartha to the group chat as “Nazi heaven sort of”.

Kevin Cooper, the first Jewish chair of the Miami Dade Republican party, condemned the group chat in a statement published to X and called for Carvajal’s resignation.

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“The majority of our board voted to request Carvajal’s resignation. We have commenced removal proceedings and look forward to resolution from the Republican Party of Florida,” he wrote.

That call was echoed by Juan Porras, a Republican state representative and Miami-Dade GOP state committee member, who said in a statement: “Leadership carries responsibility. When someone in a leadership role engages in this kind of behavior, it damages the trust placed in our party by voters across Florida. For that reason, I am asking the Miami Dade Republican party secretary to step down from this position.”

In a joint statement, Florida Republican state senators Alexis Calatayud, Ileana Garcia and Ana Maria Rodriguez denounced the chats and called for the expulsion from party leadership of its participants.

“The individuals in the group chat have exposed how profoundly misaligned their beliefs are to the views of the Republican party of Florida,” their statement said. “We call for the immediate expulsion of the individuals disseminating from any level of leadership of the Miami-Dade Republican Party … We will not tolerate bigotry or discrimination.”

Multiple leaked group chats from young Republicans have created controversy in recent years.

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Last year, Politico published messages from a group chat of more than 100 conservatives across the country in which users also made racist and antisemitic comments. In 2022, a Young Republican group chat from North Dakota was revealed as a cesspool of homophobic and antisemitic rhetoric.



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Federal judge blocks DeSantis executive order declaring CAIR a 'terrorist organization'

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Federal judge blocks DeSantis executive order declaring CAIR a 'terrorist organization'


A federal court in Tallahassee has issued a temporary injunction blocking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a “terrorist organization.” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker’s order comes nearly three months after DeSantis signed his executive order on Dec. 8. The order directed Florida’s executive and Cabinet agencies, as […]



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