INVASIVE SPECIES

Palmetto Bay man wrestles, kills 128-pound python in Florida City

In Florida City, Jason Leon captured the longest Burmese python recorded in Florida.

Courts

Star witness in Rilya Wilson case walks free from prison

Robin Lunceford, originally slated to spend her life behind bars, testified that a Kendall woman confessed to murdering the foster child.

Coral Gables

Demolition reduces Coral Gables music landmark Spec’s to rubble

The Wrecking Crew was a famed Los Angeles collective of studio musicians who backed everyone from Simon & Garfunkel to the Beach Boys in the 1960s, and the Carpenters to the Captain & Tennille in the 1970s.

Coffee

Colombia’s fight against coffee blight may show the way for stricken Central America

As coffee-leaf rust sweeps through Central America and Mexico, Colombian farmers are just beginning to emerge from their own battle with the blight. But will the lessons they’ve learned also be useful in Central America?

Huge tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb, kills 51

A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

Tallahassee

Gov. Scott vetoes hundreds of millions from state budget

From a coast-to-coast bike trail to tuition increases, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed more than $350 million from the state budget, which he signed Monday.

West Miami-Dade mother in baby death suffers depression, lawyer says

A West Miami-Dade woman accused of leaving her baby to die in a sweltering car will remain jailed. Her lawyer said Monday that she suffers from depression associated with the child’s birth.

Weather alert: Severe storms expected to roll into South Florida again

Heavy storms rolled across the region Monday night, bringing flooding under several inches of rain and power outages to both Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Marlins 2, Diamondbacks 1

Ricky Nolasco finally gets run support as Marlins edge Diamondbacks

Ricky Nolasco struck out 11, and the Marlins snapped a season-high, seven-game losing streak despite managing only two runs.

FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD

Florida National Guard in transition phase

The Florida National Guard’s emphasis is changing as foreign deployments dwindle. Now its members are getting serious training to face a familiar foe — the next big hurricane