Wildfires Cause Air Quality Advisory, Road Closures

The wildfire crisis gripping North Florida and South Georgia intensified sharply Friday. A fire straddling the Georgia-Florida border had consumed more than 30,000 acres and was only 10% contained, with multiple Florida counties under mandatory evacuation orders.

Smoke blanketed Northeast Florida, triggering air quality advisories in Jacksonville and road closures across Nassau County. Florida Forest Service crews remain deployed across the region as officials urge residents near I-95 to monitor conditions.

Florida officials say an 18-month drought has set the stage for one of the worst fire seasons in decades. Extreme dryness and persistent winds continue to fuel rapid fire growth across the region.

USF Student Found Dead; One Missing

The remains of one of two missing University of South Florida doctoral students were discovered Friday on the Howard Frankland Bridge—a tragic turn in a case that has gripped Tampa Bay all week.

Hillsborough County deputies confirmed the remains belong to Zamil Limon, 27, a Bangladeshi Ph.D. candidate reported missing since April 16. His autopsy is pending, and no cause of death has been publicly announced.

A suspect—Limon’s roommate—was taken into custody Friday following a barricade standoff at their shared Tampa home, which was triggered by a domestic violence call to deputies. Formal charges were filed, though specific details were not publicly disclosed at the time of the sheriff’s news conference.

Authorities are still searching for Nahida Bristy, 27, also a Bangladeshi national and USF doctoral student, whose whereabouts remain unknown. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact investigators at (813) 247-8200.

Ancient Past Unearthed at Cape Canaveral

University of Central Florida (UCF) anthropology students are excavating Native American artifacts, pottery, and 1800s homestead remains at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, continuing a decade-long archaeological partnership with the military.

Working at the DeSoto Grove Site near the Banana River, students have uncovered shark bones, turtle shells, and pottery from Indigenous hunter-gatherers who lived there between roughly 900 and the 1500s.

Led by UCF professor Sarah “Stacy” Barber, the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project documents more than 100 sites spanning prehistoric peoples, 1800s homesteads and Cold War-era rocketry structures.

However, the Air Force has not earmarked funding for next year, and historians warn sea-level rise and coastal erosion could destroy some sites within 25 to 50 years.

➤ Orlando: Thirty-one sloths died in a warehouse on International Drive connected to the planned “Sloth World” tourist attraction, which hadn’t opened yet. Orange County issued a stop-work order; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating. (More)

➤ Statewide: Whole Foods Market is expanding its Florida footprint with new stores under development in multiple cities statewide, reflecting continued demand as fast-growing metro areas add residents. (More)

➤ Melbourne: Scientists say seagrass meadows devastated by recent hurricane seasons are making a surprising comeback along Florida’s East Coast. Researchers credit major storms for stirring up stagnant sediment, improving water clarity, and enabling regrowth. (More)

➤ Panama City Beach: City leaders approved plans to install 2,600 feet of 6-foot aluminum fencing around Aaron Bessant Park to improve safety during large-scale events at the Panhandle venue. (More)

➤ Cape Coral: The city’s fourth annual Culture Fest returns today at Cultural Park, celebrating the city’s global mix with live music, international cuisine, and cultural performances from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (More)

➤ Hillsborough County said it’s unlikely to meet the Tampa Bay Rays’ June 1 deadline for finalizing a stadium funding deal, which could jeopardize the entire project’s feasibility. (More)

➤ The Orlando Magic host the Pistons in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series this afternoon with the series tied 1-1. Tip off’s at 1 p.m. ET. (More)

➤ Five players from Florida schools went in the first round of the NFL Draft: Miami’s Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15, Florida’s Caleb Banks at No. 18, Miami’s Akheem Mesidor at No. 22, and UCF’s Malachi Lawrence at No. 23. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | NFL Draft | Golf

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➤ The 2026 Interstate Mullet Toss opened Friday at the Flora-Bama in Perdido Key, with tossing running through Sunday and $20 entry fees benefiting local charities. (More)

➤ The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society opens its renovated koala habitat today, celebrating the facility’s first joey, born to mother Ellin last fall and still riding in her pouch. (More)

➤ The “Scarface mansion” in Key Biscayne just listed for $237 million, a South Florida real estate listing record. The waterfront compound features deep-water access and sweeping Biscayne Bay views. (More)

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Have you ever purchased a meal for a stranger?

1. Yes
2. No

Friday’s Results:

Have you ever stood or swam under a waterfall? 

1. Yes: 64%
2. No: 36%

Which is Florida’s largest freshwater lake?

Show me the answer