Gov. DeSantis signs animal rights bill ‘Trooper's Law'
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the 'Trooper's Law bill that makes it illegal to leave your pet behind and tied up during a natural disaster evacuation.
The bill is named after the Bull Terrier who was tied to a fence on I-75 near Tampa during Hurricane Milton.
A Florida Highway Patrol rescued the dog, who later got the name Trooper.
The penalty for violating the law is up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is here. What to know about forecasts, emergency alerts
The 2025 hurricane season, which runs June 1-Nov. 30, is predicted to have above-normal activity — with 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, four of which could be major. Colorado State University's early predictions show a 65% probability of a hurricane making landfall in Florida and a 35% chance of it being a major hurricane, over a Category 3. CSU further broke down the probabilities and Florida's East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula, has a 26% probability, which is 5% higher than the average. Last year, there were 18 named storms during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service. Five were major hurricanes with winds over 111 mph; 11 were hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater; and Florida got hit with three hurricanes: Debby, Helene and Milton. Leading up to Hurricane Milton's landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, at least 14 tornadoes spawned throughout the Treasure Coast, resulting in six people dying at Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in St. Lucie County. Leading up to this hurricane season, over 880 workers were cut from NOAA in February, which includes the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, USA Today reported. Another 1,000 employees were later included in President Trump's plan to cut costs in fiscal year 2026. Whether you're a lifelong or longtime Floridian or recently moved to the Sunshine State, here's what you need to know about preparing for hurricane season. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The season peaks around mid-August and late October because the waters in the equatorial Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico get warm enough to help support tropical wave development. (President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.) Here are the CSU predictions for 2025 (compared to an average season): Named storms: 17 (14 on average) Named storm days: 85 (69 on average) Hurricanes: 9 (7 on average) Hurricane days: 35 (27 on average) Major hurricanes: 4 (3 on average) Major hurricane days: 9 (7 on average) Accumulated Cyclone Energy index (ACE measures overall activity): 155 (123 on average) ACE in the western half of the Atlantic basin: 93 (73 on average) Net tropical cyclone activity (NTC): 165 (135 on average) The National Hurricane Center this year will institute these changes to its prediction methods: May issue earlier advisories up to 72 hours — instead of 48 hours — before a system with storm surge and/or tropical storm-force winds Will narrow the cone of uncertainty by 3-6% Will use new symbols on weather maps representing the cone of uncertainty. An experimental cone of uncertainty launched in 2024 displayed watches and warnings for inland counties for the first time, as well as for coastal counties. Before that, the National Weather Service issued hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for inland counties, but the National Hurricane Center's maps didn't show them, only those for coastal counties. Based on feedback, the National Hurricane Center decided to add a symbol this year — diagonal pink and blue lines — for counties where both a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect. Since 1953, the National Hurricane Center has released a list of names in alphabetical order for Atlantic tropical storms before each season begins, which it recycles every six years. But it retires names of storms that are excessively deadly or costly, if it would be insensitive or inappropriate to use them again. These are the 2025 Atlantic tropical cyclone names: Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy Knowing if you live in an evacuation zone and where your evacuation routes are is vital if you need to leave quickly. Each county has designated evacuation zones, typically on barrier islands and in low-lying, flood-prone areas, especially for mobile homes and other unsafe structures. If you're unsure if you live in one, each county has an interactive map on its website showing evacuation zones and the best routes to take, whether an evacuation is ordered or if you're just being precautionary to relocate somewhere safer. Just type in your address to see if you fall within an evacuation zone in Indian River, Martin or St. Lucie. Hurricane shelters are opened if a storm threat is imminent, but they should be considered a refuge of last resort. The Treasure Coast has 39 shelters, which include four animal-friendly one and three for special needs. The shelters are designed to house residents of the barrier islands, low-lying or flood-prone areas, evacuation zones, mobile or manufactured homes, or those without shelter. Pre-registration for special needs shelters is available online on each county's website. The special-needs shelter is at Anderson Middle School, 7000 S.E. Atlantic Ridge Drive in Stuart. The pet-friendly shelter is at Willoughby Learning Center, 5150 S.E. Willoughby Blvd in Stuart. There are eight others: Port Salerno Elementary School at 3260 S.E. Lionel Terrace Warfield Elementary School at 15260 S.W. 150th St., Indiantown Jensen Beach Elementary School at 2525 N.E. Savannah Road Palm City Elementary School at 1951 S.W. 34th St. J.D. Parker Elementary School at 1050 S.E. 10th St., Stuart Citrus Grove Elementary School at 2527 S.W. Citrus Blvd., Palm City Indiantown Middle School at 16303 S.W. Farm Road Jensen Beach High School at 2875 N.W. Goldenrod Road The special-needs shelter is at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce, and the two pet-friendly shelters are at Fort Pierce Westwood High School, 1801 Panther Lane in Fort Pierce, and Treasure Coast High School, 1000 S.W. Darwin Blvd. in Port St. Lucie. There are 11 others: Lakewood Park Elementary School at 7800 Indrio Road Fort Pierce Central High School at 4101 S. 25th St. Parkway Elementary School at 7000 N.W. Selvitz Road, Port St. Lucie Samuel S. Gaines Academy K-8 at 2250 S. Jenkins Road, Fort Pierce West Gate K-8 at 1050 N.W. Cashmere Blvd., Port St. Lucie Chester A. Moore Elementary at 827 N. 29th St., Fort Pierce Floresta Elementary at 1501 S.E. Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie Bayshore Elementary at 1661 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie Oak Hammock K-8 at 1251 S.W. California Blvd., Port St. Lucie Port St. Lucie Community Center at 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd. Morningside Elementary at 2300 S.E. Gowin Drive The special-needs shelter is at Treasure Coast Elementary School, 8955 85th St. in Sebastian, and the pet-friendly shelter is at Liberty Magnet Elementary School, 6850 81st St. in Vero Beach. There are 13 others: Sebastian Elementary School at 400 Sebastian Blvd. Fellsmere Elementary School at 50 N. Cypress St. Sebastian River Middle School at 9400 County Road 512 Sebastian River High School at 9001 90th Ave. Pelican Island Elementary School at 1355 Schumann Drive, Sebastian Storm Grove Middle School at 6400 57th St., Vero Beach Gifford Middle School at 4530 28th Court VBHS Freshman Learning Center at 1507 19th St., Vero Beach Glendale Elementary School at 4940 8th St., Vero Beach Oslo Middle School at 480 20th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach Osceola Magnet School at 1110 18th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach Indian River Academy at 500 20th Street S.W., Vero Beach Vero Beach Elementary School at 1770 12th St. Tornadoes can strike at any point during the year, but Florida twisters are most common in spring and summer. They are categorized by the Enhanced Fujita Scale based on their winds: EF0: 65-85 mph EF1: 86-110 mph EF2: 111-135 mph EF3: 136-165 mph EF4: 166-200 mph EF5: Over 200 mph The Treasure Coast was hit with at least 14 tornadoes before Hurricane Milton made landfall, which resulted in six deaths in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village mobile home community northwest of Fort Pierce. The most destructive tornado was an EF3 with winds from 136-165 mph that touched down in St. Lucie and Indian River counties. People living in manufactured homes and low-lying, flood-prone areas should have a storm emergency plan and disaster kits ready to go if tornado, flood or hurricane threats hit the area, said St. Lucie County Public Safety Director Ron Guerrero. Here's what the different tornado alerts mean and tornado safety tips to follow, in the event of one: Tornado watch: Possibility of tornadoes in or near the watch area. Tornado warning: A sighting or weather radar indicating a tornado. Try to move to an interior room on the lowest level in a sturdy building and stay away from windows. Tornado emergency: Issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. Here are some safety dos and don'ts if you find yourself caught in a tornado, according to NOAA: Seek shelter immediately, especially if in a mobile home, vehicle or outdoors. Move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. If you're driving, it is recommended to find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head. If in a mobile home, get to a sturdy shelter as soon as possible. If not, take shelter in a nearby ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Make sure to lie flat covering your head with your hands. Stay as low as possible by moving into an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building, making sure to stay away from windows, doors and outdoor walls. Interior rooms can be bathrooms, closets or halls with no windows. Use your hands, pillows, heavy coats, blankets, quilts, or helmets to shield your head from flying debris. Leading up to a storm, make sure to be prepared with an emergency kit with these items, according to NOAA: Backpack or storage tub to hold your supplies Bottled water, one gallon per person is recommended Non-perishable food and a can opener for canned foods Flashlight with extra batteries First aid supplies Bandages Ointment Disinfectant wipes Any daily or prescription medication taken Tissues Toilet paper and bags with ties for personal sanitation Paper and pen or pencil (to take notes, play games, etc.) Sleeping bag or warm blanket Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Personal hygiene items Whistle to signal for help Important documents (identification, insurance information, banking information, wills, etc.) Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book Battery-powered radio and a NOAA weather radio Formula and diapers for infants Extra pet food A dust mask or cotton T-shirt to help filter the air Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Cups and utensils A change of clothes for each person in your home Rain gear Cash Paper towels Fire Extinguisher Cards or games Do not stay outside; get to shelter as quickly as possible Avoid being by windows, doors and outside walls Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado Do not open windows or doors Do not take shelter under a highway overpass if you're caught in a tornado while in your car You can sign up for emergency alerts on your phone at Check with your service provider to find out if your cell phone or mobile device is compatible with receiving wireless emergency alerts. However, not all wireless service providers offer wireless emergency alerts, and some participating service providers may not offer it on all mobile devices, according to the Federal Communications Commission. NWS recap: 11 tornadoes confirmed, 3 more suspected on the Treasure Coast Exclusive look: Inside Spanish Lakes after Hurricane Milton killed six people If you do not receive emergency alerts, check with your service provider to see if your mobile device is compatible. If it is, and you still don't receive messages, check out your user manual, or if you have an iPhone, follow these steps: Go to settings and click on the notifications tab. Scroll to the bottom of the screen. Under government alerts, turn the type of alert on or off. Each county has its own alert system. You can sign up for AlertMartin, and Alert Indian River on the Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie county websites. Part of preparing for a hurricane is knowing what government agencies to contact in an emergency. Phone: 772-226-3900 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-462-8100 Website: Phone: 772-287-1652 Website: Twitter: Phone: 772-569-6700 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-220-7000 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-462-7300 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-978-4600 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-646-6309 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-589-5233 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-467-6800 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-871-5000 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-287-1122 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-226-3993 Website: Phone: 772-621-3400 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-288-5710 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-288-5360 Website: Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane 2025 season forecast shows Florida storm predictions
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Close call: Tornado touches down near Durbin Crossing, Liberty Pines Academy
Afternoon storms packed a punch. First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh says a tornado was spotted near Liberty Pines Academy and 9B and St. Johns Parkway in the Durbin area. A National Weather Service survey team will investigate the tornado strength this morning. The Loop in Nocatee sustained some damage to its patio, and several thousand people in Clay County lost power. A few afternoon and evening storms are expected before a drier weekend. Clouds will decrease early Saturday and give way to sunshine for the bulk of the day. Lower humidity for the weekend. Hurricane season starts this Sunday, June 1. WOKV will present First Alert Weather, Preparing for the Storm on Monday at 9:00 am. Listen for helpful tips to prepare your home, business, or church before storms even develop. Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh will offer insight from communities that were devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Three Big Things to Know: A new legal battle over immigration. Jacksonville's top attorney is advising JSO not to enforce state and local immigration laws making it a crime to be in the state and county without legal status in the country. Recall Mayor Donna Deegan refused to sign the local immigration bill over concerns it may be unconstitutional, and instead let it go into effect without her signature. Construction alert: Tonight, road crews will be working to replace finger joints on the Buckman Bridge. FDOT is also working on partial coatings and steel work along the West Beltway. Most of the work will happen overnight and on the weekends. But eventually they will take the bridge down to one lane. No FULL closures are planned. The $5.4 million project is expected to be completed in early 2026, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. Today marks two weeks since a fire tore through the hourly parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport and some drivers say they're in limbo. While the state fire marshal investigates the origin and cause of the fire, an attorney representing several driver says the statute of limitations in Florida is two years, so they have plenty of time to decide whether to sue. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority says most impacted drivers have been contacted, but they're still working to contact the rest.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Ron DeSantis Blocks Repeal of 'Free Kill' Medical Malpractice Law
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has blocked a bill which would have repealed a so-called "free kill" medical malpractice law in the state. Why It Matters This year, the Florida legislature approved a bill that would have repealed a 1990 Florida law that bars unmarried adult children over the age of 25 and their parents from recovering medical malpractice damages in cases involving the deaths of their parents or children. This law has been known as the "free kill" law and Florida is the only state in which it exists, having been signed into law by then-Governor Lawton Chiles. Since 2017, Florida has had no caps on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice suits because the Florida Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a public event where he announced he would sign a bill banning the use of fluoride in public water systems, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Miami. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a public event where he announced he would sign a bill banning the use of fluoride in public water systems, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky The state House approved the measure 104 votes to 6. On May 1, the Senate passed it 33 votes to 4 and rejected an amendment that would have included caps. What To Know DeSantis said the bill lacked limits on damages and claimed this would make it harder for the state to recruit doctors. He said the proposal could "open flood gates" for litigation. What People Are Saying DeSantis said: "If you don't have those caps, then you really are incentivizing a lot more litigation to take place in the state of Florida. None of that is free lunch. Somebody will have to pay for it. And unfortunately, I think if this bill became law, I do think the cost would be borne by the physicians, who would potentially flee the state, to people that wouldn't have as much access to care." Florida law firm Palmer Lopez previously described the law as one of the Sunshine State's "most controversial medical malpractice statutes," adding that: "If you do not have a surviving spouse or any children younger than 25, the grim reality is that you're the sole individual with the legal standing to initiate a wrongful death claim against the doctor. Tragically, by the time your case could potentially reach court, you would no longer be alive to see it through [ …] While the situation may sound absurd, it, in fact, describes the reality of many medical malpractice victims in Florida." Jacksonville Republican Senator Clay Yarborough previously said: "This is a 35-year-old law that needs to be repealed. It's unjust. It shouldn't be on the books." Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joe Ladapo said: "The wise thing to do in that situation is to have caps in that situation. Frankly, it's insane to have a system with no caps on noneconomic damages." What Happens Next The legislature could override DeSantis' veto in the next week. Meanwhile, DeSantis signed new legislation on Wednesday that will impose tougher penalties on individuals who abandon pets during natural disasters.
