Latest news with #Panhandle
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Four people have died from flesh-eating bacteria in Florida. Who is at risk?
Four people in Florida have died this year from bacterial infections that can cause 'flesh-eating' wounds, the state's health department reported this month. The culprit, the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, thrives in warm seawater. The deadly cases were seen in counties spread around Florida's extensive coastline, from Bay County in the Panhandle and Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, on the Gulf Coast, to Broward County in southeastern Florida and St. Johns County just south of Jacksonville. Florida has seen 11 Vibrio vulnificus cases so far this year, the state's health department says. The bacteria can get into the body through open wounds in the skin and cause the surrounding tissue to die, a condition known as necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People can also get Vibrio vulnificus from eating contaminated foods, particularly raw oysters. It's unclear how the people in Florida were infected. About 1 in 5 people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, the CDC says. Antarpreet Jutla, an engineering professor at the University of Florida who researches Vibrio bacteria, said Vibrio vulnificus infections are still rare, though they tend to increase after hurricanes. Last year, Florida saw a total of 82 cases, which may have been exacerbated by the 'extremely active' hurricane season. What is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is one of over 200 species of Vibrio bacteria, said Rita Colwell, a professor emerita of microbiology at the University of Maryland. The majority of Vibrio infections aren't harmful to humans, Jutla said. Some only affect other animals. But Vibrio bacteria do cause about 80,000 infections in people each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Most of those cases are gastrointestinal. Only a small handful — 100 to 200 cases — are due to Vibrio vulnificus. Other Vibrio species, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus, are often the cause of those stomach illnesses. Another type of Vibrio, Vibrio cholorae, causes the diarrheal disease cholera. Because Vibrio bacteria prefer warm water, they are typically found along the southeastern shores of the U.S., but are also found on the West Coast as well. As ocean temperatures warm, more cases have been found further north in recent years, Jutla said, including some in New York, Connecticut and Maryland. Who is at risk? Vibrio bacteria can creep in open wounds after spending time in salty or brackish water, said Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease doctor at University of Florida Health. Most cases he's seen have been associated with spending extended time in the water, but he says that a brief exposure could be the 'only thing needed.' Visible signs of an infection can start in just a few hours, Beatty said, and include redness, swelling and 'bull's-eye' blisters. The site will also be painful. If infection progresses, it can get into the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which can be deadly. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills and dangerously low blood pressure, according to the CDC. People with liver cirrhosis, weakened immune systems and those over 65 are most at risk for infection, Jutla said. Vibrio vulnificus infections can be treated with antibiotics. How to prevent Vibrio infections Beatty said he recommends covering up any open wounds before going into the ocean. Even a waterproof Band-Aid does the job, he said. If people think they have an infection, they should seek care immediately, Beatty said. Delaying can be the difference between developing severe complications and a more mild infection. 'A delay in presenting to health care is truly the likely reason why most people have a more serious outcome than others,' he said. 'People who present within the same day with signs and symptoms of early infection, who receive antibiotics, can do well and can avoid a lot of these serious complications.' This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell sues Florida sheriff's office over beach trespassers
Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys performs during the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ORLANDO, Fla. — Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell says a local Florida sheriff's office isn't doing enough to protect his multimillion-dollar beachfront property from trespassers and is asking a judge for an order commanding deputies to do so. The petition filed last month by Littrell's company in a Florida Panhandle county touches on a perennial tug-of-war between usually-wealthy oceanfront property owners and beach-loving members of the public, especially in Florida, which has 825 miles of sandy beaches. Under Florida law, any sand on a beach below the high tide water mark is public. Many homeowners own the sand down to the average high-water line, though some counties over the decades have passed local ordinances that let the public use otherwise private beaches for sunbathing, fishing and walking if people have historically had access for those purposes. Property records show that Littrell's company purchased the property in Santa Rosa Beach in Walton County in 2023 for $3.8 million. A spokeswoman for the Walton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that the office doesn't comment on pending litigation. 'The Walton County Sheriff's Office prides itself on handling every situation, call for service, or interaction with professionalism using a customer service approach,' public information officer Lindsey Darby said in an email. 'This has always been our philosophy and will remain so moving forward.' In the petition, Littrell's company said that chairs, umbrellas and small tables had been put out on the beach, as well as 'No Trespassing' signs, to mark it as private property. But that effort had been in vain 'as numerous trespassers have set out to antagonize, bully, and harass the Littrell family by regularly, every day, trespassing,' according to the petition. The sheriff's office has refused requests to remove trespassers or charge them, and the family has had to hire private security, the petition said. Walton County, which has become home to several famous property owners besides Littrell over the past two decades, has been at the center of a recent fight between private property owners and the public over access to beaches. A 2018 Florida law that stemmed from a Walton County ordinance blocked any local government from passing ordinances dealing with public beach access until affected homeowners were notified, a public hearing was held and a court had determined whether a private beach was historically open to the public. Florida lawmakers this year approved legislation that restored control back to local authorities, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law last month in Santa Rosa Beach, the beach town where Littrell's house is located. Mike Schneider, The Associated Press
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why Ethan Chaplin's mother is GRATEFUL Bryan Kohberger will never face trial... as her two remaining triplets graduate from the same Idaho school
Stacy Chapin looks like any other mom sprinting down from Hill's Resort to pick up her daughter, Maizie, 23, fresh off a long day boating on the scenic Priest Lake, a slice of paradise in the northernmost portion of the Idaho Panhandle. Together, the 56-year-old, dressed casually in shorts and a T-shirt for the hot summer day, and Maizie, in her swimsuit, look like the picture of a happy mother and daughter duo. But beneath that warmth and ease is a mom who has lived through an unthinkable loss - the brutal murder of her 20-year-old son Ethan, at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho on November 13, 2022. Ethan, one of Stacy's triplets, was killed along with three fellow University of Idaho students who lived at the home. Two of the roommates survived. Suspected killer Bryan Kohberger recently admitted guilt in a surprise plea deal last week, reigniting tension among grieving families. But for the Chapins, the decision is a path towards peace and healing. 'Priest Lake is the most beautiful place, we call it God's country,' Chapin told the Daily Mail Wednesday. 'We have a place here and we spend every summer here. I've been coming for years. It was Ethan's true love, his favorite place was Priest Lake.' She gestures at the sand volleyball court where Ethan and his siblings and friends played so much that a bench overlooking the court now bears his name. Ethan also worked as a server at Hill's Resort which overlooks Priest Lake and the volleyball court. 'He was the clown of the family and he lifted any room that we were all in. I would say he was the top of the triplet pyramid. All things went through Ethan. He kept us all in check.' Chapin, who has long said she was determined to keep her family afloat despite a tragedy that could sink many people, said she, her husband Jim, and their remaining triplets, Maizie and brother Hunter, are 'are doing, all things considered, great.' 'Maizie and Hunter just successfully graduated in May, which is huge,' Chapin said. 'Our kids have gone from the lowest of lows on November 13 to graduation this past May 10, which was an incredible day for us.' The remaining triplets chose to continue their studies and graduate from UI despite the horrifying memories. 'That they graduated from the University of Idaho really speaks to our kids' perseverance,' their mother said. 'They're really something.' Chapin spoke to the Daily Mail just one week after Kohberger appeared in a Boise courtroom and admitted in a shock confession that he killed Chapin, his girlfriend Xana Kernodle, 20, Maddie Mogen, 21 and Kaylee Goncalves, also 21. Her interview also comes after the Chapins cooperated and appear in new docuseries, 'One Night in Idaho: The College Murders,' that premiered on Amazon Prime Video last Friday. The families are split over Kohberger's decision to take a plea deal and serve four life sentences without possibility of parole or appeal in order to avoid a possible death penalty. He will be formally sentenced July 23. Kaylee's dad Steve Goncalves has been vocal about how upset he is that there won't be a trial, saying 'Idaho has failed' him and his family by letting Kohberger accept a plea deal without the family's input. Jeff Kernodle, the father of Xana, also issued a statement saying he was 'disappointed' with the prosecutor's surprise decision to make a deal with Kohberger. Stacy Chapin, however, sees the plea deal as a positive — and a way to move on without subjecting her family to the miseries of a trial and possibly years of appeals by Kohberger's attorneys. 'Our family is happy for the plea agreement,' she said. 'Our kids, you know, had been subpoenaed. And for our family, that was a big deal to not have them involved in it, and not just our kids, but all of the kids. 'We've kind of tried to embrace and heal all of the kids, university, fraternity, sorority. 'There were tons of kids who had been subpoenaed. So it (the plea deal) was a relief on so many different levels.' When asked if she focuses on Kohberger and wonders, as many do, what his motive was for the quadruple murder, Chapin shakes her head no. 'I mean, you could spend a lot of time going down that rabbit hole but what good would that do any of us?,' she said. 'I mean, honestly, it's done. We can't bring Ethan back. Is it a tragedy? It's horrific. 'It goes without saying that we would take him back tomorrow. We would all love to have our kids back. But we try to only spend time in the most positive of things, and that isn't it.' The Chapin family continue to build their Ethan's Smile Foundation, a charity founded to both memorialize Ethan and provide scholarships in his name, Stacy said. So far, Ethan's Smile has awarded 86 scholarships and given out $105,000. 'You have to think about how you're going to memorialize your son and there were a lot of people that were just giving us money because I think they didn't know how else to help us,' she said. 'So we had to talk about what we were going to do with that money. And so we created a foundation, and it is the entire purpose of it is to scholarship kids in Ethan's name. 'We had no idea when we set out to do it that it would be so incredibly successful.' Other than the foundation, Stacy said her number one goal since losing Ethan 'is trying to protect Maizie and Hunter and give them the most normal life.' 'If I can do it and set a good example for them, then I would hope that they could do it too,' she said. 'And honestly, that's just it. It's just literally getting up. You just realize you just have to get the best out of the cards that were dealt, I suppose. And this is a tough one. 'I wouldn't wish it upon anybody, but it is what it is, and we just have to get the best that the rest of this life has to offer our family. That that is my motivation.' Chapin and her husband were in western Washington at their main home near Seattle when they got word of Ethan's murder and had to make the grueling six-hour drive to Moscow, Idaho. 'We picked up Macy and Hunter, and…. I just said to the kids, I do not know what the hell has just happened to our family, but it will not sink us. We may look a little bit different but we're just as good.' Stacy admits, however, that her well-known steely resolve and cheerfulness took a serious hit after her son was killed. 'But about five months after we lost Ethan (we said) you know, there's only so many mornings when you can cry into your coffee cup and wonder how you're going to get through the day. 'My husband Jim and I just made a decision one morning. We were like, OK, we're not getting anywhere. 'This is not a true measure of success for us and our kids and our family. 'And so we just decided from that day forward, we'd get up, shower, and forge ahead.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
National Hurricane Center Watching Gulf For Development
The National Hurricane Center is watching a cluster of thunderstorms off the Florida coast for the potential for tropical development later this week. Right now, the chances are low for development, but as these thunderstorms interact with the very warm water in the Gulf, there will be a small window of time where we could see development. Regardless, there will be numerous showers and thunderstorms along the Florida Panhandle and North Florida through the week. Watch to get the latest details on what could become Dexter.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Summer series: Dip into beachy fare and essential seafood restaurants near Tallahassee
Before the dog days hit, we're exploring quintessential Tallahassee summer food traditions for the next five weeks. First up is beachy fare. Coming up next on our list of 25 essential restaurants are places for ice cream, barbecue, cocktails and al fresco dining. Ahh, relax and let your tastebuds explore the season. Let's go to the coast. There's nothing like a summer day at the beach to whet your appetite for fresh seafood. With the salt air comes a hunger for salty oysters, sweet grouper and all the specialties of the Florida Gulf Coast. Just add an icy beverage and a sunset over the water to complete your experience. When the humidity gets unbearable, head for Panacea and beyond. Here are five places to keep you sated on your next jaunt to the seaside. Tallahassee waterfront: 'Best relaxed spot there is': Tallahassee Fish Camp at Lake Iamonia reopens Details: 5 Mashes Sands Road, Panacea; 850-984-5168; Perched on pilings at the edge of Ochlockonee Bay in Panacea, Angelo's has weathered its share of storms and still thrives after 80 years. Built and rebuilt, with a major update after Hurricane Dennis in 2005, Angelo's has been serving fresh seafood with a Greek flair since 1945. Sit on the breezy deck with a cold beverage and watch the water ripple, it's all part of the Panhandle's Forgotten Coast charm. The menu is loaded with winners, including the fried grouper sandwich, broiled flounder, heads-on shrimp, Angelo's oysters, whole char-broiled snapper, grouper fingers and more. For a spicy app, try the Buffalo Backs, broiled group and snapper backbones. Greek style trimmings of onions and feta are also available. Details: 91 Coastal Hwy, Panacea, 850-984-3474 After a fire damaged the restaurant in 2022, the Tropical Trader Shrimp Company rebuilt and reopened in early 2025. The coastal eatery, a stone's throw from Ochlockonee Bay, has been drawing a crowd all spring with the covered outdoor bar area and spicy shrimp tacos on the menu. Don't miss out on the grouper sandwich and hushpuppies! Appetizers include fried crab claws and recent menu specials have featured jumbo shrimp feta, chargrilled grouper alfredo, as well as and whole chargrilled pompano and whole char-grilled red snapper. Enjoy a cast of local bands with live music on the patio on the weekends. Details: 68 W. Gorrie Dr., St. George Island; 850-927-2987; Tempted by a dozen oysters, raw on the half-shell or baked with baked with butter and Parmesan? Tallahassee residents are just 80 miles away from this beachy paradise. You can walk up to the breezy Blue Parrot from the beach, rinse your feet off on the boardwalk and order a margarita from the deck with a front-row view of the Gulf. The popular Fresh Grouper Sandwich comes blackened, broiled or fried and the shrimp is always fresh. Thirsty? Try the Sand Blaster featuring mango, blackberry, lime and rum. Beachy fare includes conch fritters, shrimp baskets, seafood and and fish platters. The longtime restaurant is the host of the annual St. George Mullet Toss in June. Details: 201 St. James Ave., Carrabelle, 850-697-9712; This causal, picturesque restaurant makes the perfect rest stop along the scenic coastal drive on Highway 98. Catch Fathoms on the way home from St. George Island or Apalachicola for one last look at the water and live music on the patio. The menu packs steamed seafood along with low country boil, mullet dip, ahi tuna, oysters and other seafood classics. Nothing is fried at this casual eatery by the Carrabelle River. The grouper sandwich is highly recommended. The restaurant features plenty of outside seating to soak up the scenery and watch the boats. Dining: Best Old Florida-style restaurants? 16 beloved spots worth the road trip Details: 107 Mississippi Ave., Panacea; The Poseidon theme is fitting at Trident, a sea-to-table restaurant that opened in 2023 on Dickerson Bay in Panacea, 46 miles from Tallahassee. The outside deck tables have a picturesque view of the bay, and inside, hundreds of hanging sea creatures, sharks and jellyfish give you the feeling of being in an aquarium. Brothers Jesse and Tyler Rice, who own the farm-to-table Backwoods Crossing in Tallahassee, returned to their coastal roots with a vision for southern seafood and more. Try the lion fish tacos. The invasive fish was on special and delicious during a recent visit. The Blackened Grouper Po'Boy is a winner. The nautical theme continues in the large open-air bar downstairs, now complete with pool tables, and steps away from the beach volleyball net. Stroll out on the dock and watch the pelicans splash down. This article includes previously reported information. Have a dining favorite or suggestion? Contact TLH Features editor Martha Gruender at mgruender@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Summer series: Essential beachy seafood restaurants near Tallahassee
