Florida
NASA images reveal “ghost forests” in Florida
NASA and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) satellite images have unveiled a concerning phenomenon in Florida: the emergence of “ghost forests” in the state’s mangrove ecosystems.
These watery graveyards of once-thriving trees are a product of mangrove forests’ increasing vulnerability to intensifying storms and environmental change.
Mangroves are vital to the Florida Everglades. Known for their picturesque, half-submerged roots that create natural tunnels for kayakers, these trees also serve essential ecological and environmental functions.
Mangroves stabilize coastlines, buffer against erosion, store carbon and provide critical shelter for marine life.
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Florida is estimated to have 600,000 acres of mangrove forests, though their distribution has changed in recent decades mostly as a consequence of human activity, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Although mangroves are renowned for their resilience, including their ability to withstand flooding, the recent findings published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment revealed that stronger and more frequent hurricanes are overwhelming this natural adaptability.
Using decades of Landsat satellite data spanning from 1999 to 2023, researchers identified troubling patterns in mangrove recovery following hurricanes. Unlike previous studies that typically focused on single events, this study paints a broader picture of how these forests respond to storms over time.
The team categorized mangrove conditions into four groups: healthy (unaffected by storms), disturbed (impacted by storms but recovered within a single growing season), recovering (requiring more than one season to recover) and declining (failing to recover and entering long-term decline).
The aftermath of recent hurricanes revealed a sharp rise in the number of declining mangroves. These forests, unable to recover, often transition into “ghost forests,” where dead trees haunt the once bustling coastline.
“Our monitoring has shown a significant increase in the area of mangroves that have lost their natural recovery capacity following recent hurricanes, such as Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022,” Zhe Zhu, a co-author of the study and a former member of the USGS–NASA Landsat science team said in a statement.
The Landsat-based maps from the study showed clear contrasts between mangrove recovery after hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Irma (2017) in the southern Everglades National Park bordering the Gulf of Mexico.
Lauren Dauphin, using data from Yang, Xiucheng, et al. 2024/NASA Earth Observatory
While most mangroves recovered naturally after Wilma, a significant portion of mangroves impacted by Irma entered a long-term decline, turning into ghost forests.
“Comparing post-hurricane conditions in Florida revealed that the increased frequency and severity of disturbances are challenging mangrove resilience, potentially diminishing their ability to recover and sustain ecosystem functions,” the researchers wrote in the study.
A key innovation of this study was the use of a machine-learning algorithm to analyze satellite data, enabling continuous and detailed tracking of mangrove conditions. This approach provides an early warning system, helping land managers identify areas at risk before losses become irreversible.
“Our research aims to provide an early warning system for mangrove decline, helping to identify areas at risk before irreversible loss occurs,” Zhu said.
The researchers plan to refine their algorithm to better differentiate between the drivers of mangrove change, such as extreme weather, rising sea levels or human activity. They also aim to expand the study to monitor mangroves globally.
“By identifying whether changes are driven by extreme weather events, rising sea levels, or human activities, we can provide more targeted insights for conservation and management strategies in a rapidly changing environment,” Zhu said.
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Reference
Yang, X., Zhu, Z., Kroeger, K. D., Qiu, S., Covington, S., Conrad, J. R., & Zhu, Z. (2024). Tracking mangrove condition changes using dense Landsat time series. Remote Sensing of Environment, 315, 114461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2024.114461
Fishback is among 42 candidates running to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis.
VERO BEACH — Over 100 people, mostly young men, packed a conference room the evening of April 11 at the Ocean Breeze Inn on Ocean Drive to hear James Fishback speak.
The 31-year-old who has never held political office is one of 42 candidates running to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot seek reelection because of term limits.
As soon as he took the podium, the Republican gubernatorial hopeful took jabs at the leading Republican candidate, Byron Donalds, who has the support of President Donald Trump.
He rattled off nicknames for Donalds, who is Black, including “By’rone Donalds” and “AIPAC Shakur” — a play on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and rapper Tupac Shakur.
Many in the mostly White crowd responded in laughter.
“If you want a data center in Vero Beach, Byron Donalds is your guy. If you want to stand up for cattle ranchers and citrus growers, I’d like to think I’m your man,” he said.
Emerson College polling shows Fishback is trailing with 5% support among Florida Republicans. He is getting national attention from young conservatives and far-right groups, including his January appearance on conservative political activist and commentator Tucker Carlson’s podcast. Carlson endorsed him.
Candidate qualifying in Florida begins June 8. The primary election is Aug. 18.
Florida’s affordability crisis
Audience members most frequently asked Fishback about the state’s affordability crisis, given Florida’s rising cost of living and some of the lowest wages in the country.
Fishback said his primary strategy would be to ban private equity firms from buying single-family homes.
If elected governor, he said he would not prioritize growth over quality of life, harkening back to the 1980s, when Florida was less developed.
“I will never worship GDP (gross domestic product),” he said. “But as a Christian, I will worship G-O-D.”
Education, abortion and guns
As for teachers, Fishback proposed an increase in pay but wanted to limit classroom discussions of race and gender identity.
Fishback said abortion laws in Florida were too lax, and he pledged to provide paid maternity leave for every woman in Florida as a way to reduce the procedure.
On firearms, he said he would lower the minimum purchasing age from 21 to 18.
“The tragedy of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, and the killing of 17 souls by a sick, depraved man should have never been used as a pretext to disarm millions of 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds.”
The crowd erupted in its loudest applause of the evening.
Fishback’s thoughts on Israel
When an audience member asked about his thoughts on Israel, some members of the audience chuckled.
He said he does not “hate Israel or any country in the world.”
“Right now, our cup is not full, and we should not be in the business of filling up the cup for anyone else,” he said.
Who is James Fishback?
Fishback was born in Davie, a town in western Broward County.
His mother immigrated from Colombia, and his father owned a landscaping business and later became a bus driver. Fishback attended Georgetown University to study international economics, but dropped out sophomore year.
Before entering politics, Fishback worked at the hedge fund Greenlight Capital from 2021 to 2023. He said he had been the “head of macro,” but the firm said the highest role he obtained was a research analyst.
After Greenlight disputed Fishback’s title and accused him of sharing confidential portfolio information, the hedge fund sought to fire Fishback for low productivity, but he abruptly resigned, court records show.
He founded an investment management firm called Azoria Partners in 2023, which ran into legal trouble last year when a judge ordered him to turn over company stock and a list of luxury purchases.
Fishback also claimed to be an advisor for the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but its officials denied he had any role, Katie Miller, a spokesperson for DOGE head Elon Musk told ABC News.
Most recently, a viral video shows Fishback telling a Black man he “should be lynched” during an argument at the University of North Florida.
Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1345, or follow him on X @JackLemnus.
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 Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Winning Powerball numbers from April 11 drawing
06-47-49-53-60, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 11 drawing
01-04-22-36-48, Powerball: 17
Winning Florida Lotto numbers from April 11 drawing
03-06-09-20-29-35
Check Florida Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto Double Play numbers from April 11 drawing
07-29-36-39-42-50
Check Lotto Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 11 drawing
Midday: 22-25-27-31-34
Evening: 10-12-16-17-26
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 11 drawing
Morning: 02
Matinee: 04
Afternoon: 01
Evening: 08
Late Night: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
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
Winning Pick 2 numbers from April 11 drawing
Midday: 1-4, FB: 9
Evening: 6-2, FB: 1
Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 11 drawing
Midday: 9-3-6, FB: 9
Evening: 0-5-3, FB: 1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 11 drawing
Midday: 2-6-8-9, FB: 9
Evening: 3-0-2-7, FB: 1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 11 drawing
Midday: 2-5-4-2-9, FB: 9
Evening: 2-3-5-3-4, FB: 1
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:
- 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.
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, April 10, 2026.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 10 drawing
03-18-36-42-49, Mega Ball: 06
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from April 10 drawing
13-18-21-28-35-38
Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 10 drawing
Midday: 11-16-27-31-35
Evening: 12-13-14-19-24
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 10 drawing
Morning: 12
Matinee: 04
Afternoon: 02
Evening: 03
Late Night: 05
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
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
Winning Pick 2 numbers from April 10 drawing
Midday: 7-8, FB: 0
Evening: 1-6, FB: 7
Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 10 drawing
Midday: 8-0-6, FB: 0
Evening: 5-1-8, FB: 7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 10 drawing
Midday: 6-7-1-2, FB: 0
Evening: 4-3-9-0, FB: 7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 10 drawing
Midday: 7-5-1-2-1, FB: 0
Evening: 1-7-9-4-3, FB: 7
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:
- 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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