Reporter

Bill Kearney

Bill Kearney is a senior editor and reporter covering Florida’s bountiful environmental, outdoor and travel topics. Previously, he was the editor of American Way magazine, and has spearheaded environmental, travel and lifestyle content for nearly two decades. An avid outdoorsman, he spends as much time as possible exploring nature in Florida.

Python-killer mystery: What animal was fierce enough to take down this massive snake?

May 20, 2025 at 10:19 a.m.

Biologists tracking a big python found it dead, chewed up and buried. They launched into a CSI-like investigation that revealed a surprising killer.

Large patches of sargassum seaweed are seen on the jetty beach at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach on Monday, April 28, 2025. The season for seaweed typically begins in May and peaks in June and July. The Optical Oceanography Lab at the University of South Florida is predicting a major seaweed season, with large swaths of the substance already present in the tropical Atlantic. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Record-breaking amounts of seaweed drifting toward Florida, experts say

May 9, 2025 at 10:40 a.m.

The stinky sargassum is currently traveling across the Atlantic and Caribbean.

This map shows sea surface temperature probabilities for July, 2025. The white areas denote normal temperatures while the hotter temperatures denote the probability of
above-normal temperatures. (Courtesy European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts)

Forecasters call for ‘near-average’ Atlantic hurricane season through September

March 6, 2025 at 9:32 a.m.

The Atlantic hurricane season could stay "near-average" through September for the U.S., according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Hurricane Milton, slightly weakened but still powerful, moves within 100 miles of Florida landfall

October 9, 2024 at 1:46 p.m.

Storm is a Category 4 with winds of 145 mph.

Hurricane Milton to expand before catastrophic landfall in Florida within 36 hours

October 8, 2024 at 11:40 a.m.

After intensifying at an astonishing rate on Monday, Hurricane Milton weakened slightly but is still forecast to strike Florida's Gulf coast within 36 hours with potentially historic destruction. Here's the...

Hurricane Milton can be seen by infrared satellite in the Gulf of Mexico at Category 5 strength at around 5 p.m. Monday. (NOAA/GOES-East)

Hurricane Milton is now one of the strongest hurricanes on record as warnings for Florida grow more perilous

October 7, 2024 at 7:25 p.m.

Hurricane Milton intensified at an astonishing rate over 24 hours, become one of the Atlantic's most powerful hurricanes on record as warnings for Florida's Gulf Coast grew more dire.

Hurricane Milton is now one of the strongest hurricanes on record as warnings for Florida grow more perilous

October 7, 2024 at 7:20 p.m.

Hurricane Milton intensified at an astonishing rate over 24 hours, become one of the Atlantic's most powerful hurricanes on record as warnings for Florida's Gulf Coast grew more dire.

Jerry McCullen, top of ladder left, and Carson Baze, top of ladder right, put plywood over the windows of a house ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall Thursday evening, in Alligator Point, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

‘Nightmare scenario’: Hurricane Helene will make catastrophic Florida landfall

September 26, 2024 at 8:32 a.m.

Warnings were expanded early Wednesday to include the entire Florida coast.

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