Cocaine worth $1.1m found by Tampa mayor Jane Castor on family’s fishing trip

The mayor of Tampa has found cocaine with an estimated street value of about $1.1m floating in the Atlantic while on a fishing trip with her family. Jane Castor, who was the city’s first female police chief before becoming mayor, was fishing off the Florida Keys on 23 July when she made the discovery. She […]

Coronavirus Variant EG.5 Takes Top Spot from ‘Arcturus’

A new coronavirus strain has taken over as the top variant circulating in the U.S. EG.5 was responsible for more than 17% of new coronavirus cases over the past two weeks, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s the highest prevalence of any strain circulating, rising above the so-called “arcturus” […]

Leprosy is on the rise in the US and could be endemic in Florida, report says

Leprosy could be endemic in the US state of Florida, a new report has found. Officially called Hansen’s disease, leprosy is a type of bacterial infection that targets the nervous system and causes swelling under the skin. A new report, published in the US-based Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, found cases in the southwest of America […]

Barack Obama’s personal chef drowns in pond near the family’s Massachusetts home

The personal chef of former president Barack Obama has drowned near the family’s home in Massachusetts. The body of 45-year-old Tafari Campbell was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond, near the Obamas’ home on Martha’s Vineyard on Monday. The chef, from Virginia, was still employed by the Obama family, who were not staying at the property […]

Deadly US southwest heatwave will expand to cover much of America as warnings issued

A deadly heatwave simmering in the US southwest since spring is expected to spread to several other states, with multiple heat warnings being issued. The heatwave, which has led to extreme temperatures such as 45.5C (114F) which was recorded in Arizona’s capital Phoenix on Sunday, is forecast to expand into central and eastern parts of […]

US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis involved in car crash

The Florida governor, who is running for the 2024 Republican nomination, was involved in an accident in Tennessee but is uninjured, his campaign press secretary said. “This morning, the governor was in a car accident while traveling to an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee,” said Bryan Griffin. “He and his team are uninjured.” Police told local […]