Latest news with #TreasureCoastNewspapers
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
State Attorney, St. Lucie Sheriff announce reopening of 2006 Florida's Turnpike murders case
ST. LUCIE COUNTY −Sheriff Richard Del Toro and 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl announced the reopening of the 2006 Escobedo family murder case during a morning news conference May 27. State and local officials plan to begin proceedings to prosecute and seek the death penalty against Daniel "Homer" Troya, 42, and Ricardo 'Ricky' Sanchez, Jr., 41, whose federal death sentences for the 2006 drug-related slayings of a family on Florida's Turnpike in St. Lucie County were commuted by former President Joe Biden The federal death sentences of Daniel "Homer" Troya, 42, and Ricardo 'Ricky' Sanchez, Jr., 41, were commuted in December 2024." "We're up to the task and we're going to do it," Bakkedahl said. "We will leave no stone unturned, no avenue unpursued. Our pursuit of justice for Damien and Julian." The men were sentenced to death in 2009 for their involvement in the drug-related slaughter of the Escobedo family - Jose, 28, and Yessica Escobedo, 25, who were living in Greenacres in Palm Beach County with their two sons, Luis Damien, 3, and Luis Julian, 4. "It is a pursuit of justice," Bakkedahl said. "This is not political." This story will be updated. Escobedo murders: Prosecutors to pursue death penalty Editorial: Trump, Biden undermine justice with Florida Turnpike killers Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: State death penalty sought in 2006 Escobedo turnpike murders in SLC
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Don't miss June's full moon. Best Florida viewing of rare 'Major lunar standstill'
Get ready for a special sight in the sky in June. We're in the middle of a major lunar standstill, meaning June's full moon will be at its lowest point since 2006. It's won't happen again until 2043. If you're outside, the moon will appear larger than normal low on the horizon and may even be orange or reddish. Here's what to know. The next full moon will be on Wednesday, June 11. It's known as the strawberry moon. June's full moon will be special. "In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be the lowest full moon seen until 2043, staying unusually close to the horizon " according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Look for the full moon at 3:44 a.m. ET June 11, about 22 degrees above the southern horizon. "When the moon is low in the sky it appears especially big." The last time the full moon was this low was 18.6 years ago, according to in what's known as a major lunar standstill. It won't happen again until 2043. As the moon shines through the thick layer of air, it may appear golden, orange, or even reddish. June's full moon is the closest full moon to the summer solstice, which falls on June 21 this year. The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Look toward the southern horizon at 3:44 a.m. ET on June 11. Can't pull yourself out of bed? You can see it later but that's the time it will reach its peak. Make sure you have a clear view since the moon will only be about 22 degrees above the horizon. "Every day, the moon rises in the east and sets in the west, but the location of the moonrise and moonset on the horizon changes, moving from north to south to north again over the course of a month. Throughout the 18.6-year lunar cycle, the northernmost and southernmost extremes also change," said. "During a major lunar standstill, the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and moonset are at their farthest distance apart. This affects how long the moon appears to stay in the sky." Called a 'major lunar standstill,' the natural phenomenon doesn't take place over one day but over about two years when the moon rises and sets at more northerly and southerly spots along the horizon, said. The summer solstice occurs at 10:41 p.m. ET, June 20 this year. The solstice marks the exact time when the sun reaches it northernmost point in the sky, according to EarthSky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks the shortest night and longest day of the year. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: June full moon, major lunar standstill. Where, when see Florida
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Law enforcement officers run Special Olympics Florida torch through St. Lucie County
ST. LUCIE COUNTY − Law enforcement officers from over 300 Florida agencies — police departments, sheriff's offices, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Customs, Air Force Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — all participate in the statewide torch run to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Florida. Each year, over 5,000 officers carry the torch on a 1,500-mile relay through 67 counties. Money is raised through contributions from individuals and businesses along the way and through sales of Torch Run T-shirts and caps. The torch made its way through St. Lucie County May 10 from Central High School in Fort Pierce to Publix on Northwest St. James Drive in Port Saint Lucie. The torch run passed through Indian River County April 9 in Sebastian, with a stop in Riverview Park and in Stuart May 2, traveling north along US 1 from its intersection on Cove Road. Relaxation: Staff pick: Visuals Journalist Eric Hasert likes to unwind in Jetty Park in Fort Pierce Helping a Hero: Severely injured U.S. Army veteran provided new home in Port St. Lucie through Helping a Hero, other organizations Eric Hasert is a visuals journalist for TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers. To view some of his recent work, click here. He can be reached at 772-216-2342 or This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Video, Photos: Special Olympics torch passes through Treasure Coast
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Severe thunderstorm watch issued May 5 for Treasure Coast, as hail pelts some areas
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued May 5 for nine counties, including the Treasure Coast until 9 p.m., according to a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. 'We currently have a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties until 9 p.m. for severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds possibly up to 50 to 70 mph and hail up to 2 inches,' said meteorologist Robert Haley. Along with rain in the afternoon in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and southern Martin County around Port Salerno, dime-sized hail bounced on vehicles, outdoor furniture and concrete. The storm system is expected to bring scattered heavy rainfall that may cause drainage flooding and 'deadly cloud-to-ground lightning.' 'These storms are expected to develop along the sea breeze as it pushes inland,' he said, which are then expected to push back over the Treasure Coast into the early evening. 'There's going to be two rounds for the Treasure Coast counties: The first one is happening right now and then that activity will push inland,' Haley said. 'But then we expect it to move back towards the coast later this evening.' That second push could happen around 8 p.m., depending on location, he said. Radar 'It's actually not too different from the summertime afternoon thunderstorms where everything is just driven by chaotic boundary interactions and you just have to watch and see how things form and how things evolve,' he said. 'The extra ingredients that are going on (May 5) is the upper levels are more supportive of stronger thunderstorms than we typically see in the summer time so that's where the hail threat and the stronger wind threat is coming from.' Grand theft: Holy Cross Church ex-administrator faces prison for $700K embezzlement Driest counties: 82% of Florida still suffering from lack of rain. What we know Monday The tri-county area should be free of thunderstorms by midnight he said. There's a slight chance for more scattered showers on May 6, he said. 'The severe threat does not continue into (May 6,)' he said. 'Just some showers and thunderstorms possible.' (This story was updated with radar imagery, video and more information.) Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Treasure Coast under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What we know about luxurious South Korean passenger plane at Vero Beach Regional Airport
VERO BEACH — The large white-and-blue passenger airplane seen the week of April 21 at the Vero Beach Regional Airport wasn't a new Breeze Airways aircraft. The Hyundai Boeing 737-7GE aircraft is operated by a private owner and is registered in South Korea, according to its tail number information on Flightradar24, a flight-tracking service. It is about 129 feet long, slightly larger than Breeze's blue Airbus A220. But who was on it, what it was doing in Vero Beach and for how long remain a mystery. The 737 arrived in the afternoon April 21, according to Vero Beach Regional Airport Director Todd Scher. While private airplanes of this size aren't regularly flying in to the airport, it's not totally uncommon, he explained. 'A lot of people see an airplane that size and go, 'wow, that must have flown in a lot of people,' and actually usually it's no, its just a few people flying in real comfort,' Scher said. The plane was scheduled to depart from the airport April 22. The mystery plane has been seen in many places in the last year. It was photographed in Czechia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, China, Norway and the United Arab Emirates, according to These types of jets are called Boeing Business Jets, or BBJ. They are luxuriously modified, privately-owned jets. They feature bedrooms and spacious living spaces, according to More: Does that big jet flying out of Treasure Coast Airport mean passenger service is coming soon? More: Innovation helping fuel Breeze Airways' success at Vero Beach Regional Airport Kaila Jones is a visual journalist for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. You can reach her at and can view some of her recent work here. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Boeing 737 plane at Vero Beach airport privately registered in South Korea
