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Staff ReportsOctober 5, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday declared a state of emergency in 29 Florida counties as Tropical Storm Nate seems headed for the state. Scott issued Executive Order 17-262 declaring a state of emergency in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, […]

Associated PressSeptember 11, 2017

With the arrival of what is potentially one of the most devastating storms to ever hit Florida, officials have set aside 3.2 million liters (0.85 million gallons) of water, filled 67 trailers with meals, and amassed 24,000 tarps. They also have asked the federal government to kick in 11 million meals and millions more liters […]

Tamara LushSeptember 10, 2017

Announcing itself with roaring 130 mph winds, Hurricane Irma plowed into the mostly emptied-out Florida Keys early Sunday for the start of what could be a slow, ruinous march up the state’s west coast toward the heavily populated Tampa-St. Petersburg area. With an estimated 127,000 huddling in shelters statewide, the storm lashed the low-lying string […]

Associated PressJuly 4, 2017

A large stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast is open for recreational scalloping. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened an area from St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to the Pasco and Hernando County line to recreational scalloping over the weekend. A recreational salt water fishing license is required to gather bay scallops, and […]

Keith MorelliJune 16, 2016

The number of snook along Florida’s Gulf Coast finally is where it was before a devastating freeze in January 2010 decimated the population, forcing the state to impose an unprecedented ban that hit hard the charter fishing and tourism industry from Tampa Bay south. Snook, widely considered Florida’s most popular nearshore game fish that drew […]

Keith MorelliJune 8, 2016

Besides the toll taken on the humans of Florida, Tropical Storm Colin claimed what may be hundreds of sea turtle nests buried beneath the sands along the state’s Gulf Coast, wildlife advocates say. “There was damage,” said Joe Widlansky, sea turtle biologist with Sea Turtle Trackers, a group in Pinellas County that monitors the marine […]

Phil AmmannAugust 30, 2015

Tropical Storm Erika may have been full of sound and fury, at least for a while. In the end, though, it signified nothing. After causing floods and mudslides throughout the Caribbean, Erika rapidly lost much of its steam on the way to Florida, but not before leaving Southwest Florida with little more than the threat […]

Associated PressJuly 2, 2015

Trying to close the books on the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, BP agreed Thursday to provide billions of dollars in new money to five Gulf Coast states in a deal the company said would bring its full obligations to an estimated $53.8 billion. Federal and state government officials touted the record-breaking $18.7 […]

Phil AmmannJuly 2, 2015

Florida, the federal government and other Gulf Coast states on Thursday came to an agreement with oil producer BP to resolve years of legal claims over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The historic resolution, tentatively set at $18.7 billion, will be the largest environmental settlement ever. Payments, to be split among Mississippi, Alabama, […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 19, 2015

Tallahassee failed to make a ranking of the top 50 college towns but Panama City did? And St. Augustine ranks No. 1? Bogus. A web site called Collegeranker.com posted the ranking this week. I’m immediately attracted to any ranking of college towns. After working as a news reporter in non-college town Montgomery, Ala., for four […]

Tag: Gulf Coast
During 'Dry January,' a new study shows Orlando and Miami as 'sober curious' hot spots, even though these two cities have a strong drinking culture.

Rick Scott declares state of emergency for Nate

Irma recovery could require 11M meals, 24,000 tarps and more

‘Pray for us’: Hurricane Irma begins its assault on Florida

Florida opens large stretch of Gulf Coast for scalloping

Gulf Cost snook fishery finally rebounds from devastating 2010 cold snap

Tropical Storm Colin claims hundreds of sea turtle nests on Gulf Coast

Bill Day’s latest: A thunderstorm turns Rick Scott into Chicken Little

$18.7B deal clears path for BP to close books on Gulf spill

Kathy Castor: BP settlement “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for economic recovery

St. Augustine and Panama City — the nation’s top college towns?