President Donald Trump and his Democratic White House challenger Joe Biden have held dueling rallies in the critical election state of Florida.
Joe Biden told supporters: “You hold the power. If Florida goes blue [Democratic], it’s over.”
Celebrating soaring economic figures, President Trump said of his rival: “He’s going to lock you down.”
With just five days to go until Election Day, Joe Biden has a solid lead nationally in opinion polls.
However, his advantage looks less assured in the battleground states, such as Florida, that will decide who ultimately wins the White House.
More than 81 million people have already voted, 52 million of them by mail, setting the US on course for its highest electoral turnout rate in more than a century.
On October 29, at a rally in Tampa, President Trump reveled in a new federal projection that the US economy had expanded at an unprecedented 33.1% annual rate in the most recent quarter, following a record 31% contraction in the previous three months during the coronavirus crash.
Florida is a must-win for President Trump and a key opinion poll average shows him just 1.4 points behind Joe Biden, which amounts to a statistical dead heat.
At a 100-minute outdoor rally, President Trump told thousands of people, many of them crowded together without masks: “Joe Biden’s plan is to deliver punishing [coronavirus] lockdowns. He’s going to lock you down.”
“Look, we were compared to Europe,” noted the president.
“‘Germany is doing so well, France is doing so well, everyone’s doing so well.’ No, they’re not doing well.”
While emphasizing Europeans were allies, he continued: “They’re spiking up big, they’re shutting down, they’re locking down.
“I disagree with that because we’re never going to lock down again. We locked down, we understood the disease and now we’re open for business.”
The president was introduced by First Lady Melania Trump, making a rare appearance on the campaign trail. Her biggest applause line came when she said: “We are a country of hope, not a country of fear or weakness, and we have a leader who shows us that every single day.”
Donald Trump had been due to hit another key state, North Carolina, on October 29, but canceled that event in Fayetteville because of foul weather from Tropical Storm Zeta in the area.
The storm reportedly disrupted early voting in another election battleground, Georgia, sparking power cuts in some precincts and toppling trees that blocked off mobile polling sites.
President Trump – who began this month in hospital with coronavirus – is visiting 10 states in the last week of the campaign and will host 11 rallies in the final two days, a campaign official said.
He is hoping that media coverage of his rallies will compensate for his chronic deficit in ad spending as a result of his now-limited campaign coffers.
In Florida alone, according to data from ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG, Joe Biden and his allies are outspending Donald Trump by more than three to one.
In a potential boost for President Trump, on October 29 he won a rare thumbs-up from an African American celebrity, rapper Lil Wayne, who appeared to endorse him.
Lil Wayne tweeted: “Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump@potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done.”
Hurricane Hermine has killed at least one person in Florida and caused severe damage along the state’s northern Gulf Coast.
Hermine is the first hurricane to hit Florida in eleven years.
As the storm pushed into Georgia, it knocked down power lines leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
Gusts of 80mph caused storm surges that flooded part of the coast.
Photo NASA
In Cedar Key, waters rose more than 9.5ft, among the highest surges ever seen, according to the National Weather Service.
After making landfall on September 2 in the morning, Hurricane Hermine swept through Florida and, weakening to a tropical storm, is now making its way towards South Carolina.
A tropical storm warning was issued for parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City, the National Hurricane Center said.
The US Coast Guard also warned boaters and swimmers along the New York and New Jersey coasts to use caution in what is expected to be rough surf and hazardous rip currents this weekend.
Police in Taylor County, Florida, that has a population of more than 20,000, said the storm had inflicted “severe damage”.
In Tallahassee, where people were urged to move to higher ground to avoid flash floods, at least 70,000 homes were without power at one point, affecting 60% of people in the region.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott had earlier declared a state of emergency for 51 counties across the state.
According to weather officials, Hurricane Hermine could bring heavy rains along the East Coast in the coming days.
In Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal also declared a state of emergency, for 56 counties, but the state was spared the havoc it had expected.
“We’re having a bit of a sigh of relief,” said Jim Butterworth, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
However, 107,000 customers were reported to be without power across the state as crews worked to repair damage.
Some models show that Hurricane Hermine will stall near the New Jersey coast next week, potentially bringing prolonged heavy rain to the area.
Hurricane Hermine has become the first to hit Florida in 11 years.
Hermine has made landfall in northern Florida early on September 2 as a Category one hurricane, bringing with it a heavy storm surge.
Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 51 counties as residents were braced for the dangerous storm.
Wind gusts reached 80mph on September 1, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
City officials in the state capital Tallahassee, which is in the path of the storm, said at least 70,000 homes were now without power.
Photo Wikipedia
Tallahassee weather officials warned of the risk of flash floods and urged people there to move to higher ground, but winds have now started to reduce as the storm moves inland.
While the area is prone to storms and storm surges, it has not seen a hurricane in close to 4,000 days.
The last hurricane to strike Florida was Wilma in October 2005, which made landfall in the same year as Katrina and caused five deaths and an estimated $23 billion of damage.
Gov. Rick Scott said: “This is life threatening. We have not had a hurricane in years.”
He added that 8,000 members of the Florida National Guard were prepared to be deployed in the wake of the storm.
Rick Scott ordered evacuations in five counties in Florida’s north-west and called for voluntary evacuations in three other coastal counties.
St Petersburg was littered with downed palm fronds and tree branches, and low-lying streets were flooded.
According to weather officials, Hurricane Hermine will also hit Georgia and the Carolinas, and could bring heavy rains along the East Coast in the coming days.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 56 counties.
The US government has approved a ferry service between Florida and Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years.
Services between the two countries stopped when the US imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in 1960.
The US announced the restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba in December 2014.
The US government has now lifted the ban and a number of ferry companies say they have been given licenses.
The latest announcement does not necessarily mean that boats will start launching for Cuban shores straight away, as there are bureaucratic hurdles to overcome in both countries.
However, the move is another indication of Washington’s desire to put the policies of isolating Cuba in the past and begin a new era of co-operation.
President of the Miami-based United Americas Shipping Services Joseph Hinson called the move “a great step forward”.
Joseph Hinson said that “if all goes smoothly we could have things up and running by September”.
Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said it also had a license.
“This is a historical event. Thanks to President Barack Obama, to whom we are very grateful, for his leadership,” the company wrote on its Facebook page.
Ferries will also be allowed to transport cargo to Cuba, which sits 90 miles from southern Florida.
A new charter flight service from New York City, operated by JetBlue, had already been announced.
The service was agreed during a recent trade delegation of New York-based companies to Cuba, led by state governor Andrew Cuomo.
Despite the new flights and ferry services, a travel ban on Cuba is still in place for US citizens.
Only those who have the right paperwork in 12 different categories are permitted to visit Cuba.
James Barney Jr., a 9-year-old Florida boy who fought off a 9-foot-long and 500 pounds alligator with his bare hands, talked to reporters during a press conference at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Friday, August 8, 2014.
The boy talked about his survival of the dramatic alligator attack while swimming in a lake in Kissimmee, Florida, on Thursday.
“I felt its jaw. I felt its teeth,” James Barney Jr. said.
James Barney Jr. fought off a 9-foot-long and 500 pounds alligator with his bare hands (photo ABC News)
James Barney Junior is in hospital recovering from his injuries. He had been riding his bike with friends when he decided to take a dip in a dangerous lake near Orlando.
The surgeon who treated the boy said the alligator left about 30 marks from both claws and teeth, leaving a tooth embedded in the skin.
James wanted to keep the tooth, but said officials wouldn’t let him.
“The tooth is pretty big. I wanted to keep it but animal control came in and took it so they could find the alligator that attacked me,” he said.
James Barney Jr. said officials estimated the beast to measure about nine-foot long and weigh in at 500 pounds.
Officials have since closed the beach, and brought in trappers to try to catch the animal.
Asked whether he planned to go for a dip in Lake Toho again, James Barney Jr. replied: “Negative.”
Justin Bieber has appeared in a Miami court accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Police said Justin Bieber, 19, was arrested early on Thursday after racing his sports car on a Miami Beach street.
They said the singer did not co-operate when pulled over and also charged him with resisting arrest without violence and having an expired driving license.
Justin Bieber was granted bail set at $2,500.
The arrest comes a week after his home in Los Angeles was searched by police following allegations he had thrown eggs at his neighbor’s house.
Justin Bieber was accused of causing significant damage to the property. One member of his entourage was arrested for alleged drug possession following the search.
In the latest incident, police said Justin Bieber had been racing a yellow Lamborghini against another sports car in the early hours of Thursday.
The Miami Herald reported that members of the musician’s entourage had apparently used their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street, effectively creating a drag strip.
Justin Bieber has appeared in a Miami court accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs
Miami-Dade Police said Justin Bieber didn’t co-operate with officers at first, questioning why he had been stopped. He also had an invalid Georgia driver’s license, they alleged.
The driver of the second car – a red Ferrari – was also arrested and both cars impounded, they said.
The other driver was later named as an R&B singer known as Khalil. He was also set bail by the court.
“During the investigation Mr. Bieber made statements that he had consumed some alcohol, that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication,” said Miami Beach police chief Raymond Martinez.
“They were starting from a stop position and they were accelerating to a high rate of speed, going almost double the speed limit… in that area.”
The arrest report said the singer “had slow deliberate movements” and a look of “stupor” when the officer told him to step out of the Lamborghini.
The two men were first taken to Miami Beach police station and later transferred to a Miami-Dade County jail before their court appearance.
The street where police say Justin Bieber was racing is a residential area in mid-Miami Beach.
Small apartment buildings are along one side of the street and on the other side are a high school, a youth centre, a golf course and a fire station.
Miami Beach Police released mugshots of Justin Bieber after the singer has been arrested and accused of road racing and driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Miami Beach Police said Justin Bieber was detained after racing on a street early on Thursday.
Police said Justin Bieber, 19, did not co-operate when pulled over and was also charged with resisting arrest without violence and having an invalid driver’s license.
Justin Bieber has had several run-ins with police in recent years.
The arrest comes a week after his home in Los Angeles was searched by police following allegations he had thrown eggs at his neighbor’s house.
In the latest incident, police said Justin Bieber had been driving a yellow Lamborghini when he was arrested in the early hours of Thursday.
The Miami Herald reported that members of the musician’s entourage had apparently used their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street, effectively creating a drag strip.
Police say Justin Bieber didn’t co-operate at first, questioning why he had been stopped. He also had an invalid Georgia driver’s license, officers said.
Miami Beach Police released mugshots of Justin Bieber after the star has been arrested and accused of road racing and DUI
The driver of a red Ferrari was also arrested and both cars impounded, said Miami-Dade Police spokesman Sgt Bobby Hernandez.
Police later named the other driver as an R&B singer known as Khalil.
“During the investigation Mr. Bieber made statements that he had consumed some alcohol, that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication,” said Miami Beach police chief Raymond Martinez.
“They were starting from a stop position and they were accelerating to a high rate of speed, going almost double the speed limit… in that area.”
The arrest report said Justin Bieber “had slow deliberate movements” and a look of “stupor” when the officer told him to step out of the Lamborghini.
Justin Bieber and Khalil were first taken to Miami Beach police station and later transferred to a Miami-Dade County jail pending an initial court appearance expected later on Thursday.
The street where police say Justin Bieber was racing is a residential area in mid-Miami Beach.
Ex- NFL and Florida State player Todd Williams has been found dead in a Tampa Bay area hotel. He was 35.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies responded to the Sarasota Suites late Monday morning, just hours before the Seminoles won a national championship.
Todd Williams, a Bradenton native, had reportedly complained to his mother of feeling sick on Friday. She found his body Monday.
He could not taste anything and had stomach pain for about a month, his mother, Ozepher Fluker, said, so she advised him to go to the hospital to get checked out Friday.
After not hearing from him over the weekend, Ozepher Fluker went to the hotel. She said she knew her son was gone when she heard crying coming from his room. Ozepher Fluker said Todd Williams lived at the hotel for about six years.
Todd Williams was one of Florida’s top prospects after his senior season at Southeast High in Bradenton
Todd Williams, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman, was a member of the 1999 FSU Seminoles, who won the national championship. The team was led by another Southeast star, Peter Warrick.
Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Bristow says they haven’t found anything suspicious, but an autopsy will be performed.
Todd Williams was one of the state’s top prospects after his senior season at Southeast High in Bradenton.
He was a redshirt freshman on the Seminoles’ 1999 national champion team.
Todd Williams was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 2003 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers.
A two-year-old toddler, Nicholai Garrett was rescued by a group of brave men after the boy fell into Caloosahatchee River, Florida.
Nicholai Garrett dropped into the Caloosahatchee River after he tripped and fell while walking with his mother and grandmother on a pier.
Several witnesses in Centennial Park saw what happened, including Andy Fowler, 54, who jumped in to help the boy.
But as Andy Fowler tried to get the boy ashore, he became tired while fighting the river’s strong current.
That was the moment when Robert Moss jumped in.
A two-year-old toddler, Nicholai Garrett was rescued by a group of brave men after the boy fell into Caloosahatchee River, Florida
Robert Moss, 43, told ABC affiliate WZVN: “I heard there was a baby in the water and instincts took in. I seen him go down once when I got out to him, he went down again.
“He kind of rolled his eyes and looked at me and said he didn’t think he was going to make it.”
Another man, Justin Bacon, also observed the struggle in the water and ran into the water to help.
Justin Bacon told WZVN: “When I saw the kid’s head go underwater, there was no thinking about it.”
Several witnesses in Centennial Park saw what happened, including Andy Fowler, 54, who jumped in to help the boy
Robert Moss was able to hang on to young Nicholai Garett and Andy Fowler, bringing them to shore where they were plucked out of the water by rescuers from the Fort Myers Fire Department.
The toddler was examined by paramedics at the scene and found to be in good condition, and returned to his mother.
Andy Fowler was hospitalized after swallowing water from the river, but is expected to fully recover.
Robert Moss, who sad the boy “wanted his mommy”, was grateful that the saga had a happy ending.
Robert Moss told WZVN: “I’m happy. My legs are sore and and I’m happy everybody’s OK.”
A saggy-pants clumsy beer-thief, accused of stealing beer from a Polk County convenience store earlier this year, was arrested on Wednesday, August 24.
Juan Luis Gutierrez was charged with petty theft and booked into the Polk County Jail, Florida, after he was identified based on convenience store surveillance system recordings.
Juan Luis Gutierrez, 27, tripped on his baggy pants while trying to steal beer earlier this year.
Saggy pants clumsy beer-thief was arrested in Polk County, Florida.
Polk County police said Juan Luis Gutierrez from Lake Wales, tried to steal two 18-packs of Bud Light from the E-Z Food Store, 15 Acuff Road in Lake Wales, on April 27.
As thief Juan Luis Gutierrez ran toward the get-away car, he tripped on his baggy pants and fell, and dropped the beer.
The driver was later identified as Angel Miguel Ortiz, 22, who was arrested on August 18 and charged with one count of petty theft. He has since bonded out of jail.
Polk County police said saggy-pants Gutierrez admitted to the incident.
[googlead tip=”patrat_mare”]Wednesday, Florida police announced that arrested Jared Cano,17, who had material to make pipe bombs at his home and had planned to attack and cause mass casualties at the Tampa high school that had expelled him.
A “potentially catastrophic” bomb plot hatched by an expelled high-school student has been thwarted in the US city of Tampa, Florida, according to the police.
“We were probably able to thwart a potentially catastrophic event the likes of which the city of Tampa has not seen and hopefully never will,” Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor told a news conference.
Jared Cano faces charges of threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device, possession of bomb-making materials and marijuana charges
Police named the suspect, as Jared Cano, 17, who is accused of planning to plant a device at Freedom High School in Hillsborough County, north Tampa and detonate it as students returned on Tuesday.
Fuel, shrapnel and plastic tubing, along with timing and fusing devices were found at his home, police said.
The teenager had previously been arrested on several juvenile charges.
[googlead tip=”vertical_mediu” aliniat=”stanga”] “Mr. Cano, who had been expelled from the school, was hoping to kill or injure more people than the 1999 shooting by two students at Columbine High School in Colorado,” police chief Jane Castor said.
In April 1999, two students at Columbine High School in Colorado killed 12 students and one teacher in one of the deadliest school massacres in US history.
“Mr. Cano was arrested on Tuesday night after an unnamed individual came forth with information about the plot,” said Jane Castor.
“That’s what we need in this community, to have the citizens involved in keeping this community safe,” she added.
“And that was a prime example of allowing us to avoid a very serious event yesterday.”
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In addition to the alleged bomb-making material found in his home, investigators also found drawings of rooms inside the school and statements about his intent to kill people, police said.
“The minute-by-minute plot targeted specific school staff and any students who were nearby,” police said.
St Petersburg Times reported that when Jared Cano appeared in court on Wednesday he was asked by the judge if he had anything to say.
Cano began: “The plan wasn’t…”, but a defence lawyer interrupted and advised him to say no more, reports the newspaper.
Jared Cano, the expelled student of Tampa Freedom High school has been arrested in the past for burglary, drug possession and weapons offences
Jared Cano faces charges of threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device, possession of bomb-making materials and marijuana charges.
[googlead tip=”lista_mare” aliniat=”dreapta”]
Chris Farkas, Freedom High School principal told media that Jared Cano had been expelled in April 2010 because of a non-school-related incident.
Farkas said of his former student’s arrest: “Once I found out and saw the information and saw what was taken from the apartment complex, that was when the reality and the fear set in that this was a real situation.”
Jared Cano has been arrested in the past for burglary, drug possession and weapons offences, according to police.
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