Public Safety: A Belleview dad, James Westervelt, faces first-degree murder charges after his 6-month-old son died in 2024 following an alleged leaf blower attack; he told police he thought it would be “fun.” Courts & Civil Rights: A Florida English professor is suing South Florida State College, claiming she was fired after a president objected to her assigning an award-winning short story. Invasive Species: Florida biologists used Burmese python mating behavior to remove a record 8,080 pounds of invasive snakes in six months, and researchers are radio-tagging pythons to find nests with up to 111 eggs. Health Watch: Florida reported 17 leprosy cases so far in 2026, continuing a sharp rise since 2022. Environment & Agriculture: Southwest Florida officials are asking residents to watch for the giant African land snail after a new sighting, warning of rapid spread and quarantine risks. Local Life: Central Florida’s housing market shows 1,306 active price-reduced listings, with 53.37% past 60 days. Space Coast: Rep. Byron Donalds unveiled “Florida’s Space Race” to bring NASA headquarters to Brevard County. Crime: Sarasota police arrested a man accused of throwing a brick through a Chabad synagogue window, charging it as a hate crime.