Good Morning! On this day in 2000, Elian Gonzalez, a six-year-old Cuban refugee whose mother had drowned in the escape, was taken by force from the home of relatives in Miami by U.S. immigration agents to be returned to his father in Cuba.
With gas prices averaging $2.99 per gallon, the lowest so far this year, it’s a great time for a road trip. Where would you like to go?
We have a new sponsor today: Amass Brands Group, which is offering an investment opportunity in today’s edition.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 81/65° | Ft. Myers 🌤️ 89/66° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 87/66° | Key West 🌤️ 81/75° | Miami 🌤️ 80/73° | Ocala 🌤️ 91/63° | Orlando 🌤️ 89/66° | Pensacola ☁️ 78/67° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 83/67° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 88/60° | Tampa 🌤️ 89/67°
Gunman Fascinated with Nazis
Phoenix Ikner, the suspected gunman in the attack at Florida State University on April 17 that killed two people and injured several others, had a fascination with Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, according to screenshots of his online browsing history given to USA TODAY.
The suspect used a drawing of Hitler with the word “nein” in a thought bubble as a profile photo for an online gaming account.
For the name of another account, the 20-year-old used “Schutzstaffel,” better known as the SS—the group that served as Hitler’s personal bodyguard, led death squads and oversaw the Nazi concentration camps.
The Florida State student will be charged with first-degree murder once he is released from the hospital. Tallahassee’s police chief said Ikner will need to spend “a significant amount of time” in the hospital to recover from injuries incurred when police intervened in the shooting.
Four New Laws Signed
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills into law last week, and eight more are awaiting his signature. Three will take effect on July 1, while a law affecting pet insurance will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
The Peer Support for First Responders law expands the definition of first responders to include correctional officers and support personnel and gives them the same access to peer support services and confidentiality protections as other first responders.
The Electronic Transmittal of Court Orders law requires court records related to risk protection orders, the Baker Act, and the Marchman Act to be electronically communicated to law enforcement within six hours of being issued.
The Trust Funds law re-creates the Resilient Florida Trust Fund to support the associated state grant program within the Department of Environmental Protection.
Third ‘Xbox Murders’ Trial Begins
Jury selection began Monday in the resentencing trial of Troy Victorino and Jerone Hunter, two of the men convicted in the 2004 “Xbox murders,” which left six people and a dog dead in Deltona and drew national attention.
The original death sentences were overturned in 2017 after a Florida Supreme Court ruling required unanimous jury recommendations for the death penalty. Then, in 2023, their first resentencing trial was halted and declared a mistrial.
This trial will determine whether Victorino and Hunter are resentenced to death or life in prison.
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➤Brevard County: The landing gear of a plane with over 300 passengers collapsed when it veered off a taxiway after exiting the runway at the Melbourne-Orlando International Airport. No injuries were reported. (More)
➤ Lake City: A police officer was shot Sunday night after gunfire erupted during a fight at an annual Easter celebration at a local recreation center. (More)
➤ Tallahassee: Florida State University (FSU) resumed classes on its main campus on Monday, waiving mandatory attendance and offering virtual options for those not ready to return to the classroom. (More)
➤ St. Lucie: Following the shooting at FSU last week, the county sheriff announced Sunday that families will see increased law enforcement in and around local schools, emphasizing that there is no specific or credible threat. (More)
➤ Volusia County: Deputies are searching for Ryan Matthew Paul, an Orlando man who owns Beacon Restoration, wanted for stealing more than $300,000 in construction fees from an elderly woman. (More)
➤ Seminole County: The Citizen’s Academy is a free, open house event to be hosted by several departments in the county—from emergency management to parks and recreation—to provide residents with information about county services. (More)
➤ Florida Atlantic University’s volleyball team ended the regular season by sweeping three of its last four opponents. The No. 18-ranked Sandy Owls are the No. 1 seed in the conference championship tournament. (More)
➤ Miami Marlins left fielder Griffin Conine will be out for at least two months after dislocating his shoulder sliding into second base. (More)
➤The Florida Gators softball team clinched a series against Alabama after Korbe Otis’ walk-off RBI, her second walk-off winner of the season. (More)
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➤ NASA and SpaceX launched their 32nd commercial resupply mission—including nearly 7,000 pounds of food—to the International Space Station early Monday in a Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket. (See Launch)
➤The owner of Jade Orchids, a flower shop that has been in business for nearly 40 years, is seeking a buyer to continue the Collier County shop’s legacy. (More)
➤Collier County tourism experienced declines in February, the first year-over-year drop this season, with tariff, economic, and border concerns prompting a 23% decrease in Canadian visitors. (More)
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➤ The Maria Bonita sailboat, stranded on New Smyrna Beach since January, has been deemed a “public nuisance” by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Its removal is planned for next week. (See Photos)
➤ Barefoot alligator wrangler Mike Dragich, “The Blue Collar Brawler,” paused his Easter dinner to help a Jacksonville woman who spotted a large alligator in her yard. (Watch Video)
➤ A lion photobombed a couple’s wedding ceremony at the Brevard Zoo. (See Photos)
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Have you been to an out-of-state destination wedding?
Gunman Fascinated with Nazis
