Lake Butler
LATEST NEWS
Florida executes man convicted of killing college student, raping victim's sister in national forest
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man convicted of killing a college freshman and raping the murder victim’s older sister while the siblings camped in a national forest 30 years ago was executed Thursday. Loran Cole, 57, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison for the 1994 killing of the 18-year-old student. Cole also was serving two life sentences for rape. Cole did not have a last statement. “No sir,” he said when asked if he had some final words. After the procedure began about 6 p.m. Cole briefly looked up at a witness in the front row. After three minutes, he began taking deep breaths, his cheeks puffing out. For a brief moment, his entire body trembled. Five minutes into the procedure, the warden shook him and shouted his name. Cole then appeared to stop breathing and then was declared dead.
Florida property insurance crisis: Why 1 expert says ‘more competitive rates’ may be on the horizon
The property insurance crisis is one many Floridians are familiar with: insurers completely leaving the Sunshine State and high rates among those that stay. However, things may be turning around soon enough.
DeSantis spotlights the border and fentanyl trafficking during Polk County media show
WINTER HAVEN — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, recently returned from a Florida State football game in Ireland, stood before enough law-enforcement officers Wednesday to form an entire offense and defense. A sign affixed to a podium read “LAW & ORDER” and bore an image of an alligator as DeSantis stood in a large...
National Hurricane Center tracking 2 tropical disturbances. See Florida impact for Labor Day
As Saharan dust begins to fade across the Atlantic basin, tropical activity is beginning to pick up. The National Hurricane Center is tracking two tropical disturbances, according to the latest advisory. Both currently show a low chance for development. ...
Florida running back Montrell Johnson cleared to play against No. 19 Miami following knee scope
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida running back Montrell Johnson has been cleared to play against No. 19 Miami on Saturday, a huge boost for the underdog Gators. Johnson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after sustaining an injury during the first week of training camp. But he returned to practice this week and was listed as a starter Wednesday. “If he’s on that depth chart — at the top of the list — that means he’s ready to go,” coach Billy Napier said following practice Wednesday night. Johnson has played in every game since following Napier to Gainesville from Louisiana-Lafayette. He has 1,658 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns in two years with the Gators despite sharing repetitions with Trevor Etienne.
The Athletic’s preseason prediction for Florida’s bowl game
Florida football faces one of the toughest schedules in recent memory this season which includes a gauntlet of top-25 teams. While some struggle to foresee a bowl appearance for the Gators this winter, others can squint hard enough to envision the Orange and Blue in the postseason. The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman and Stewart Mandel put together their college football preseason bowl projections recently and the good news is that Billy Napier and Co. earned a December berth — which assumes at least a .500 finish during the regular season. Dochterman and Mandel picked Florida to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the...
TECO defending company's request for a rate hike
TAMPA - Tampa Electric Company's executives, including its CEO, are in Tallahassee this week, defending the company's request for a rate hike. TECO is asking state regulators to approve $445 million in rate increases during the next three years. CEO Archie Collins said the company needs more revenue to pay for expenses, including equipment, fuel and future storm responses.
Austin Soto joins UFCJC as an academic adviser for master’s students
Austin Soto has joined the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Division of Graduate Studies and Research as an academic adviser for master’s students. Soto will provide comprehensive program guidance to assist students in navigating their coursework and meeting their academic and professional goals. His role includes...
Dangerous dog days of summer
Many Floridians get to work in comfortably air-conditioned offices during the summer. But many also don’t — and they could be in danger. We’re talking about more than 630,000 construction workers, more than 100,000 of the nation’s million farm laborers, and likely a total of about 2 million people in the state working outside now, during the historically hottest spring […] The post Dangerous dog days of summer first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.