{"id":310898,"date":"2026-06-17T20:43:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/310898\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T20:43:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:43:17","slug":"florida-based-west-marine-closing-59-stores-after-bankruptcy-filing-newsradio-wfla-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/310898\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Based West Marine Closing 59 Stores After Bankruptcy Filing | Newsradio WFLA Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Fort Lauderdale, FL &#8211; A major marine supply retailer is reducing its nationwide store count as part of a restructuring effort following a recent bankruptcy filing.<\/p>\n<p>West Marine, a Fort Lauderdale based company known for selling boating, fishing, sailing, and marine products, announced plans to close 59 stores across 23 states after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. <\/p>\n<p>The move is part of a broader effort to reorganize the company&#8217;s operations while continuing business at its remaining locations.<\/p>\n<p>According to court filings, the closures represent a significant portion of the retailer&#8217;s footprint but do not signal the end of the company. <\/p>\n<p>West Marine has stated that it intends to continue serving customers through its remaining stores, online platform, and distribution network during the restructuring process.<\/p>\n<p>Florida is among the states most affected by the planned closures. <\/p>\n<p>Several locations throughout the state are expected to shut down, including stores in Port Charlotte, Venice, Jacksonville, Orlando, Bonita Springs, Winter Haven, Palm Coast, and Fernandina Beach. <\/p>\n<p>Additional closures are planned in states including California, Washington, Michigan, Texas, and North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Company officials have cited a combination of financial challenges that contributed to the bankruptcy filing. <\/p>\n<p>Court records point to rising operational costs, long term lease obligations, shifting consumer spending patterns, supply chain issues, and reduced demand following a surge in recreational boating activity during the pandemic years.<\/p>\n<p>Liquidation sales are expected to take place at affected locations as the company works through the bankruptcy process. <\/p>\n<p>Despite the store closures, West Marine has indicated that it plans to emerge from Chapter 11 with a smaller retail footprint and a renewed focus on its core business operations.<\/p>\n<p>The restructuring process remains ongoing as the company seeks approval from the bankruptcy court for various aspects of its plan.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;provider_name&#8221;:&#8221;TikTok&#8221;,&#8221;provider_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_height&#8221;:720,&#8221;thumbnail_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com\/tos-useast5-p-85c255-tx\/ocdyGSgIEEDEMSvFjKBqMqOmfTEDBwBPIDYufu~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&#038;x-expires=1781881200&#038;x-signature=sDp%2FfF2VLUEXSifJss%2FbJqb%2F6xk%3D&#038;t=4d5b0474&#038;ps=13740610&#038;shp=81f88b70&#038;shcp=43f4a2f9&#038;idc=useast5&#8243;,&#8221;thumbnail_width&#8221;:1280,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;A business jet crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, and caught fire Tuesday night, killing one person and causing chaos as people left their vehicles to frantically try to smash the cockpit window and free those inside. #texas #planecrash #highway&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;video&#8221;,&#8221;version&#8221;:&#8221;1.0&#8243;,&#8221;width&#8221;:&#8221;100%&#8221;},&#8221;embed_type&#8221;:&#8221;video&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cblockquote class=\\&#8221;tiktok-embed\\&#8221; cite=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@apnews\/video\/7652241771463724302\\&#8221; data-video-id=\\&#8221;7652241771463724302\\&#8221; data-embed-from=\\&#8221;oembed\\&#8221; style=\\&#8221;max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\\&#8221;> \\u003csection> \\u003ca target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221; title=\\&#8221;@apnews\\&#8221; href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@apnews?refer=embed\\&#8221;>@apnews\\u003c\/a> \\u003cp>A business jet crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, and caught fire Tuesday night, killing one person and causing chaos as people left their vehicles to frantically try to smash the cockpit window and free those inside. \\u003ca title=\\&#8221;texas\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221; href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/texas?refer=embed\\&#8221;>#texas\\u003c\/a> \\u003ca title=\\&#8221;planecrash\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221; href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/planecrash?refer=embed\\&#8221;>#planecrash\\u003c\/a> \\u003ca title=\\&#8221;highway\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221; href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/highway?refer=embed\\&#8221;>#highway\\u003c\/a>\\u003c\/p> \\u003ca target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221; title=\\&#8221;\u266c original sound &#8211; The Associated Press &#8211; The Associated Press\\&#8221; href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-The-Associated-Press-7652241905589226253?refer=embed\\&#8221;>\u266c original sound &#8211; The Associated Press &#8211; The Associated Press\\u003c\/a> \\u003c\/section> \\u003c\/blockquote> \\u003cscript async src=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\\&#8221;>\\u003c\/script>&#8221;,&#8221;provider&#8221;:&#8221;TikTok&#8221;,&#8221;rendering_hint&#8221;:&#8221;default&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;embed&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@apnews\/video\/7652241771463724302&#8243;},{&#8220;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cp>Authorities closed Loop 20 in both directions following the crash, with police warning the shutdown would last into Wednesday as investigators, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FBI, assessed the scene and crews cleared jet fuel and debris. NetJets confirmed the aircraft was part of its fleet and stated it is cooperating with authorities during the investigation.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>As of Wednesday morning (June 17), the cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Laredo Mayor Victor Trevino offered condolences, saying, &quot;Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by the recent private jet crash.&quot;\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;html&#8221;},{&#8220;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;@provider&#8221;:&#8221;Facebook Video&#8221;,&#8221;@query&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/graph.facebook.com\/v23.0\/oembed_video?access_token=121897277851831%7CB5Jm6zMX5ynaMiun755Y_feWNSc&#038;format=json&#038;omit_script=true&#038;omitscript=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flaredopd%2Fvideos%2F993526286767397&#8243;,&#8221;@url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/laredopd\/videos\/993526286767397&#8243;,&#8221;author_name&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;author_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cdiv class=\\&#8221;fb-video\\&#8221; data-href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/laredopd\/videos\/993526286767397\\&#8221; data-app-id=\\&#8221;121897277851831\\&#8221;>\\u003c\/div>&#8221;,&#8221;provider_name&#8221;:&#8221;Facebook&#8221;,&#8221;provider_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.facebook.com&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_height&#8221;:0,&#8221;thumbnail_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_width&#8221;:0,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;video&#8221;,&#8221;version&#8221;:&#8221;1.0&#8243;,&#8221;width&#8221;:500},&#8221;embed_type&#8221;:&#8221;video&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cdiv class=\\&#8221;fb-video\\&#8221; 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The storms, expected to intensify through the evening, bring the risk of damaging winds, large hail, and potentially long-track tornadoes.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>According to \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/40-million-people-midwest-path-severe-weather-tornadoes\/story?id=133742983\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>ABC News\\u003c\/a>, more than 40 million people are in the path of these storms, which come just a day after a tornado damaged 40 homes in Freeland, Michigan. The National Weather Service warns that destructive winds exceeding 70 mph and tennis ball-sized hail are possible across the region.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>\\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/weather-news\/damaging-winds-large-hail-tornadoes-possible-severe-storms-reload-midwest-south\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>Fox Weather\\u003c\/a> reports that the severe weather threat extends to parts of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. These areas could experience multiple rounds of storms, increasing the risk of flash flooding. Cities like Minneapolis, Omaha, and Wichita are under a level 2 out of 5 threat, while Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis are at a level 1 threat.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The weather system is part of a massive cold front moving across the Northern Plains and Midwest, bringing heavy rain and snow to higher elevations. This setup is expected to cause significant air travel delays and could lead to flash flooding in some areas.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>As the storm system progresses, it is expected to impact the Northeast by midweek, with severe weather forecasted for cities along the I-95 corridor, including New York City and Washington, D.C. The combination of severe storms and rising temperatures is anticipated to continue into Friday.\\u003c\/p>\\n&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;html&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;6043&#8243;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;station&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;catalog&#8221;}],&#8221;canonical_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-millions-across-midwest-face-severe-weather-threat\/&#8221;,&#8221;cuser&#8221;:&#8221;user\/ldap\/1122641&#8243;,&#8221;enable_featured_widget&#8221;:true,&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]},&#8221;external_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;fb_allow_comments&#8221;:true,&#8221;featured_widget&#8221;:{&#8220;country&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;},&#8221;feed_content_id&#8221;:&#8221;49d06b2792e215c29f2bfc0038f1a7c51f4968a053d2203a2bbbc4709962ce42&#8243;,&#8221;feed_partner_content&#8221;:false,&#8221;feed_permalink&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_type&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_vendor&#8221;:&#8221;iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;include_recommendations&#8221;:true,&#8221;include_video_monetization&#8221;:true,&#8221;is_sponsored&#8221;:false,&#8221;keywords&#8221;:[&#8220;keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Midwest&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/severe weather&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/storms&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/tornadoes&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/hail&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Chicago&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Kansas City&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/St. Louis&#8221;],&#8221;primary_image&#8221;:{&#8220;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;new_assets&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F5bc1f7f33a00c681701a28ac&#8221;},&#8221;primary_target&#8221;:{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[&#8220;genres\/News &#038; Talk&#8221;]},&#8221;publish_date&#8221;:1781709060000,&#8221;publish_end_date&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;publish_origin&#8221;:&#8221;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;seo_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;show_updated_timestamp&#8221;:false,&#8221;simplereach_enabled&#8221;:false,&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-millions-across-midwest-face-severe-weather-threat&#8221;,&#8221;social_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:&#8221;Millions in the Midwest face severe weather today, with damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes possible. 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width=\\&#8221;100%\\&#8221; height=\\&#8221;300\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221; style=\\&#8221;border: 0;\\&#8221; src=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/87-24-7-news-the-latest-20697776\/?embed=true&amp;keyid=EditorialPlayer\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221;>\\u003c\/iframe>&#8221;,&#8221;provider_name&#8221;:&#8221;ohembed&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_height&#8221;:0,&#8221;thumbnail_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_width&#8221;:0,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;rich&#8221;,&#8221;version&#8221;:&#8221;1.0&#8243;,&#8221;width&#8221;:&#8221;100%&#8221;},&#8221;embed_type&#8221;:&#8221;rich&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003ciframe allow=\\&#8221;autoplay\\&#8221; width=\\&#8221;100%\\&#8221; height=\\&#8221;300\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221; style=\\&#8221;border: 0;\\&#8221; src=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/87-24-7-news-the-latest-20697776\/?embed=true&amp;keyid=EditorialPlayer\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221;>\\u003c\/iframe>&#8221;,&#8221;provider&#8221;:&#8221;ohembed&#8221;,&#8221;rendering_hint&#8221;:&#8221;default&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;embed&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/87-24-7-news-the-latest-20697776\/?embed=true&#038;keyid=EditorialPlayer&#8221;},{&#8220;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;mimetype&#8221;:&#8221;image\/jpeg&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;image&#8221;},&#8221;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;Two girls friendly greeting each other with kiss in auditorium before training course&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a32b6433d1cbe55227e1f8b&#8221;,&#8221;new_tab&#8221;:false,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;source_credit&#8221;:&#8221;JackF \/ iStock \/ Getty Images&#8221;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Two girls greeting each other with kiss&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;asset&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;use_caption&#8221;:false},{&#8220;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cp>A Denver Public Schools teacher was fired after an investigation found\\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/colorado-teacher-fired-students-allegedly-pressured-kiss-classmates-skits\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;> she allegedly encouraged students to kiss classmates during French class skits\\u003c\/a>, with some students saying they felt pressured because these performances impacted their grades.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/colorado\/news\/making-students-kiss-colorado-teacher-fired\/\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>Denver Public Schools Board voted unanimously to terminate \\u003c\/a>\\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/colorado\/news\/making-students-kiss-colorado-teacher-fired\/\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>\\u003cstrong>Jennifer Honka\\u003c\/strong>\\u003c\/a>, a French language and culture teacher at Northeast Early College, for &quot;incompetence and neglect of duty.&quot; The investigation found Honka at times suggested or assigned kissing between students\u2014almost always between girls\u2014for biweekly classroom skits with titles like &quot;The Neighbors Saw Everything&quot; and &quot;The Boring Kiss.&quot; Students reported that these skits were part of their performance grades and that Honka allegedly enforced a rule in class: &quot;the answer is always &#8216;yes,&#8217;&quot; which some interpreted as direction to participate even if uncomfortable.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>An independent review cited by\\u003cem> Colorado Politics\\u003c\/em> found that \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.coloradopolitics.com\/2026\/05\/20\/denver-teacher-fired-after-same-gender-kissing-skits-in-french-class\/\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>while students were not physically forced to kiss, the scripts required them to give or withhold consent on a very personal activity\\u003c\/a> in front of their peers. One student told a chemistry teacher she was uncomfortable but participated in the kissing skit, later sharing a meme around school with the caption &quot;she makes girls kiss.&quot; After the incident, the student&#8217;s attendance dropped significantly. Another student refused to participate and said she received a zero for the assignment.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The investigation also revealed Honka shared personal information with her classes, including details about her sexuality, fertility struggles, suicidal thoughts, and childhood abuse. Honka defended these disclosures as efforts to build trust, but at least one student struggling with suicide reportedly left her class. The independent review found her approach to teaching French through skits was &quot;irresponsible and inappropriate.&quot;\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>\\u003cstrong>Jennifer Warren\\u003c\/strong>, principal at Northeast Early College, filed a police report with the Denver Police Department after a third student reported in-class kissing. The district investigation concluded Honka&#8217;s actions did not serve the best interests of her students, and district leaders commended students and staff who reported the incidents. Honka, who had previously received positive evaluations, denied forcing students to kiss and testified that alternatives such as blowing a kiss or fist bumps were offered if students were uncomfortable.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The Denver Public Schools spokesperson emphasized, &quot;The safety, emotional well-being, and dignity of our students are the absolute highest priorities&#8230; All schools must be spaces where students feel safe, respected, and supported.&quot; The district maintains it is committed to upholding professional conduct in classrooms.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;html&#8221;}],&#8221;canonical_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-teacher-fired-for-pressuring-students-to-kiss-classmates-in-skits\/&#8221;,&#8221;cuser&#8221;:&#8221;user\/ldap\/cccnyc1wjg&#8221;,&#8221;enable_featured_widget&#8221;:true,&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]},&#8221;external_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;fb_allow_comments&#8221;:true,&#8221;featured_widget&#8221;:{&#8220;country&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;},&#8221;feed_content_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_partner_content&#8221;:false,&#8221;feed_permalink&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_type&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_vendor&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;include_recommendations&#8221;:true,&#8221;include_video_monetization&#8221;:true,&#8221;is_sponsored&#8221;:false,&#8221;keywords&#8221;:[&#8220;keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;],&#8221;primary_image&#8221;:{&#8220;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a32b6433d1cbe55227e1f8b&#8221;},&#8221;primary_target&#8221;:{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;,&#8221;categories\/weird-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[&#8220;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;]},&#8221;publish_date&#8221;:1781708040000,&#8221;publish_end_date&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;publish_origin&#8221;:&#8221;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;seo_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;show_updated_timestamp&#8221;:false,&#8221;simplereach_enabled&#8221;:false,&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-teacher-fired-for-pressuring-students-to-kiss-classmates-in-skits&#8221;,&#8221;social_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:&#8221;Students said they felt pressured because the performances impacted their grades.&#8221;,&#8221;targets&#8221;:[{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;,&#8221;categories\/weird-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[&#8220;facets\/All Sites &#8211; 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width=\\&#8221;100%\\&#8221; height=\\&#8221;300\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221; style=\\&#8221;border: 0;\\&#8221; src=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/87-24-7-news-the-latest-20697776\/?embed=true&amp;keyid=EditorialPlayer\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221;>\\u003c\/iframe>&#8221;,&#8221;provider_name&#8221;:&#8221;ohembed&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_height&#8221;:0,&#8221;thumbnail_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnail_width&#8221;:0,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;rich&#8221;,&#8221;version&#8221;:&#8221;1.0&#8243;,&#8221;width&#8221;:&#8221;100%&#8221;},&#8221;embed_type&#8221;:&#8221;rich&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003ciframe allow=\\&#8221;autoplay\\&#8221; width=\\&#8221;100%\\&#8221; height=\\&#8221;300\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221; style=\\&#8221;border: 0;\\&#8221; src=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/87-24-7-news-the-latest-20697776\/?embed=true&amp;keyid=EditorialPlayer\\&#8221; frameborder=\\&#8221;0\\&#8221;>\\u003c\/iframe>&#8221;,&#8221;provider&#8221;:&#8221;ohembed&#8221;,&#8221;rendering_hint&#8221;:&#8221;default&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;embed&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/87-24-7-news-the-latest-20697776\/?embed=true&#038;keyid=EditorialPlayer&#8221;},{&#8220;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;mimetype&#8221;:&#8221;image\/jpeg&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;image&#8221;},&#8221;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;The Department of Education building in Washington, DC, March 24, 2025. US President Donald Trump signed an order on March 20, 2025, aimed at \\&#8221;eliminating\\&#8221; the Department of Education, a decades-old goal of the American right, which wants individual states to run schools free from the federal government. (Photo by Jim WATSON \/ AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON\/AFP via Getty Images)          &#8220;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a32ae815cca47257eaf0ec2&#8243;,&#8221;new_tab&#8221;:false,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;source_credit&#8221;:&#8221;JIM WATSON \/ AFP \/ Getty Images&#8221;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;US-POLITICS-EDUCATION&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;asset&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;use_caption&#8221;:false},{&#8220;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cp>President\\u003cstrong> Donald Trump\\u003c\/strong>\u2019s administration announced on Tuesday (June 17) \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/trump-administration\/education-department-civil-rights-doj-special-ed-hhs-rcna350429\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>a major restructuring of the U.S. Education Department\\u003c\/a>, transferring oversight of special education and civil rights to other federal agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will now manage special education programs, while the Department of Justice (DOJ) will take on enforcement of civil rights in education, according to administration officials.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>These \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/06\/16\/trump-to-shift-special-ed-to-xx-in-latest-move-to-shutter-education-department-00963237\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>moves are part of President Trump\u2019s long-stated goal to dismantle the Education Department\\u003c\/a>, shifting its responsibilities across the federal government. Education Secretary \\u003cstrong>Linda McMahon\\u003c\/strong> said the changes are intended to align federal services with the agencies best positioned to deliver them. In a statement, McMahon explained, &quot;As we scale back federal micromanagement when it hinders success, we are equally committed to bolstering the efficacy of federal oversight where it is essential.&quot;\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which manages about $15 billion in federal funding for students with disabilities, will move to HHS. The \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2026\/06\/16\/education-department-trump-admin-changes\/87846565007\/\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>DOJ will take responsibility for investigating discrimination complaints in schools and universities\\u003c\/a>, as well as for protecting student privacy and advising schools on related policies.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>Congressional leaders have added language to the latest spending bill rejecting any effort to permanently transfer Education Department duties without congressional approval. The House\u2019s proposed spending bill does not move funding to the Labor Department, signaling that lawmakers may not support the full dismantling of the agency.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The administration says the changes will be phased in over time, with ongoing discussions regarding staffing and implementation. The future of the Education Department remains uncertain, as only Congress has the authority to close it entirely. For now, the process of transition and debate over federal oversight of education 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Department&#8221;,&#8221;permalink&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/wflaorlando.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-trump-administration-begins-breaking-up-education-department\/&#8221;},&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-trump-administration-begins-breaking-up-education-department&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:{&#8220;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.iheart.com\/v3\/re\/assets.getty\/6a32ae815cca47257eaf0ec2&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Trump Administration Begins Breaking Up Education Department&#8221;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;The administration announced a major restructuring of the U.S. Education Department, transferring oversight of special education and civil rights to other federal agencies. &#8220;,&#8221;author&#8221;:&#8221;iHeartRadio&#8221;},&#8221;pub_start&#8221;:1781706480000,&#8221;pub_until&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;pub_changed&#8221;:1781706870181,&#8221;subscription&#8221;:[{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;,&#8221;categories\/politics&#8221;,&#8221;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;]},{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;,&#8221;categories\/politics&#8221;,&#8221;formats\/NEWSTALK&#8221;]},{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;syndications\/apple-news&#8221;]},{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;syndications\/news&#8221;]}],&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:[{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]}],&#8221;linksData&#8221;:[],&#8221;lookup&#8221;:[&#8220;publish_origin:brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;id:\/6a32addbea0e6c34d46f92ad&#8221;,&#8221;slug:2026-06-17-trump-administration-begins-breaking-up-education-department&#8221;,&#8221;slug:2026-06-17-trump-administration-begins-breaking-up-education-department&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;,&#8221;author:user&#8221;]}},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a3298ead9486ed90625f0c0&#8243;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;PUBLISHING&#8221;,&#8221;record&#8221;:{&#8220;ref_id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a3298ead9486ed90625f0c0&#8243;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;content&#8221;,&#8221;payload&#8221;:{&#8220;amp_enabled&#8221;:true,&#8221;apple_news&#8221;:{&#8220;ref_id&#8221;:&#8221;4c64f618-a62d-4f74-8cb2-1c491246f4a3&#8243;,&#8221;revision_id&#8221;:&#8221;AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==&#8221;},&#8221;author&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;blocks&#8221;:[{&#8220;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;mimetype&#8221;:&#8221;image\/jpeg&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;image&#8221;},&#8221;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA &#8211; AUGUST 22: The first elevated Chik-Fil-A restaurant is seen on opening day on August 22, 2024 in McDonough, Georgia. The concept restaurant, the first of its kind for Chik-Fil-A, is drive-through only and has a kitchen above four drive-through lanes with orders being delivered to team members below via a proprietary elevator system. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage\/Getty Images)&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a3298e006d42df84d1518c1&#8243;,&#8221;new_tab&#8221;:false,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;source_credit&#8221;:&#8221;Elijah Nouvelage \/ Getty Images News \/ Getty Images&#8221;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Chick-Fil-A Opens Its First Elevated Drive-Thru Restaurant&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;asset&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;use_caption&#8221;:false},{&#8220;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cp>Jersey Mike&#8217;s has overtaken Chick-fil-A as America&#8217;s favorite fast-food chain, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) released on Tuesday (June 16). The sub sandwich chain scored 84 out of 100, edging out Chick-fil-A by one point and ending the chicken chain&#8217;s 11-year reign at the top.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The ACSI&#8217;s annual survey, which gathered responses from 16,464 participants via email between April 2025 and March 2026, highlighted Jersey Mike&#8217;s success in maintaining high customer satisfaction while rapidly expanding its footprint. The chain, known for its made-to-order subs and &quot;Mike&#8217;s Way&quot; sandwiches, added 238 new locations in 2025 and cleared $4.2 billion in sales.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>Chick-fil-A, despite falling to second place, remains the top-rated chicken-focused chain. Following closely were Jimmy John&#8217;s and Panda Express, both tying for third place with scores of 81. Other notable mentions include KFC, Papa Johns, and Pizza Hut, each scoring 80, while Domino&#8217;s, Raising Cane&#8217;s, Starbucks, and Subway earned 79.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The ACSI report attributed Jersey Mike&#8217;s rise to its focus on consistency, reliability, and perceived value, which resonated with customers amid challenging market conditions. The report also noted improvements in mobile app and website satisfaction, reflecting a broader industry push to enhance digital ordering experiences.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>Jersey Mike&#8217;s, founded in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, in 1956, now boasts over 4,000 locations across the United States and Canada. The chain&#8217;s narrow menu and franchisee-friendly model have contributed to its success, positioning it as a new leader among quick-service restaurants.\\u003c\/p>\\n&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;html&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;6043&#8243;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;station&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;catalog&#8221;}],&#8221;canonical_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-jersey-mikes-tops-chick-fil-a-in-customer-satisfaction\/&#8221;,&#8221;cuser&#8221;:&#8221;user\/ldap\/1113395&#8243;,&#8221;enable_featured_widget&#8221;:true,&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]},&#8221;external_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;fb_allow_comments&#8221;:true,&#8221;featured_widget&#8221;:{&#8220;country&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;},&#8221;feed_content_id&#8221;:&#8221;23292a26d2896725c467761dcc19aa0053e2b07cca748a0a36f03324631dd3a5&#8243;,&#8221;feed_partner_content&#8221;:false,&#8221;feed_permalink&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_type&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_vendor&#8221;:&#8221;iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;include_recommendations&#8221;:true,&#8221;include_video_monetization&#8221;:true,&#8221;is_sponsored&#8221;:false,&#8221;keywords&#8221;:[&#8220;keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Jersey Mike&#8217;s&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Chick-fil-A&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/fast food&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/customer satisfaction&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/ACSI&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/quick-service restaurants&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/survey results&#8221;],&#8221;primary_image&#8221;:{&#8220;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a3298e006d42df84d1518c1&#8243;},&#8221;primary_target&#8221;:{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[&#8220;genres\/News &#038; Talk&#8221;]},&#8221;publish_date&#8221;:1781700540000,&#8221;publish_end_date&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;publish_origin&#8221;:&#8221;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;seo_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;show_updated_timestamp&#8221;:false,&#8221;simplereach_enabled&#8221;:false,&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-jersey-mikes-tops-chick-fil-a-in-customer-satisfaction&#8221;,&#8221;social_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:&#8221;Jersey Mike&#8217;s has dethroned Chick-fil-A as America&#8217;s favorite fast-food chain, scoring 84 in the ACSI survey. The sub chain&#8217;s growth and customer satisfaction edged Chick-fil-A&#8217;s 83, ending its 11-year top spot run. 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The sub chain&#8217;s growth and customer satisfaction edged Chick-fil-A&#8217;s 83, ending its 11-year top spot run. The survey included 16,464 responses, highlighting Jersey Mike&#8217;s focus on valu&#8230;&#8221;,&#8221;author&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;},&#8221;pub_start&#8221;:1781700540000,&#8221;pub_until&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;pub_changed&#8221;:1781700888139,&#8221;subscription&#8221;:[{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;,&#8221;genres\/News &#038; Talk&#8221;]},{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;syndications\/apple-news&#8221;]},{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[&#8220;syndications\/news&#8221;]}],&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:[{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]}],&#8221;linksData&#8221;:[],&#8221;lookup&#8221;:[&#8220;publish_origin:brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;id:\/6a3298ead9486ed90625f0c0&#8243;,&#8221;slug:2026-06-17-jersey-mikes-tops-chick-fil-a-in-customer-satisfaction&#8221;,&#8221;slug:2026-06-17-jersey-mikes-tops-chick-fil-a-in-customer-satisfaction&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/Jersey Mike&#8217;s&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/Chick-fil-A&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/fast food&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/customer satisfaction&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/ACSI&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/quick-service restaurants&#8221;,&#8221;keyword:keywords\/survey results&#8221;]}},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a328a2d67c509db831da339&#8243;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;PUBLISHING&#8221;,&#8221;record&#8221;:{&#8220;ref_id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a328a2d67c509db831da339&#8243;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;content&#8221;,&#8221;payload&#8221;:{&#8220;amp_enabled&#8221;:true,&#8221;apple_news&#8221;:{&#8220;ref_id&#8221;:&#8221;7b0f993c-a539-45b1-a6d2-a5de0e372368&#8243;,&#8221;revision_id&#8221;:&#8221;AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==&#8221;},&#8221;author&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;blocks&#8221;:[{&#8220;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;mimetype&#8221;:&#8221;image\/jpeg&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;image&#8221;},&#8221;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;OCHOPEE, FLORIDA &#8211; JUNE 01:  A Florida High Patrol Trooper pulls out from the front entrance of the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, known as \u201cAlligator Alcatraz,\u201d on June 01, 2026 in Ochopee, Florida. Reports indicate that the facility will be closed, possibly as early as this month. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has not officially confirmed that the closure is taking place. (Photo by Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a328a21fe27ec9149050456&#8243;,&#8221;new_tab&#8221;:false,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;source_credit&#8221;:&#8221;Joe Raedle \/ Getty Images News \/ Getty Images&#8221;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;\\&#8221;Alligator Alcatraz\\&#8221; Immigrant Detention To Close&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;asset&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;use_caption&#8221;:false},{&#8220;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cp>Florida has transferred all detainees from the controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center in the Everglades, citing safety concerns as hurricane season approaches. On Tuesday (June 16), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the move but did not disclose the number of detainees relocated or their new locations.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The facility, opened last July by Florida Governor \\u003cstrong>Ron DeSantis\\u003c\/strong> to support President \\u003cstrong>Donald Trump\\u003c\/strong>&#8217;s immigration policies, was never intended to be permanent. Governor DeSantis stated at a news conference, &quot;The state doesn\u2019t direct people there. It\u2019s DHS that directs them there. And so if DHS stops directing them there, then we obviously are not just going to. It was never meant to be permanent.&quot; The facility&#8217;s closure was anticipated due to ongoing lawsuits and allegations of inhumane conditions, including poor food and nonfunctional toilets, as reported by \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/alligator-alcatraz-detainees-daca\/\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>CBS News\\u003c\/a>.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>Located on an unused airstrip in Big Cypress National Preserve, Alligator Alcatraz has faced criticism from immigration advocates, environmental groups, and local Native American tribes. Allegations of human rights abuses have surfaced, including claims of detainees being shackled in cages and denied basic necessities. \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/04\/alligator-alcatraz-human-right-violations-amnesty-report\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>Amnesty International\\u003c\/a> reported instances of detainees being punished with arbitrary confinement.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>Despite the controversies, the facility was promoted as a cost-effective model for housing individuals accused of being in the U.S. illegally. However, the cost of operating the center is estimated at $1.2 million per day, according to \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/mar\/02\/ron-desantis-12-million-on-alligator-alcatraz\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>The Guardian\\u003c\/a>.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>With the detainees now relocated, the future of Alligator Alcatraz remains uncertain. Governor DeSantis emphasized that the state is being reimbursed by the federal government for over $600 million for the facility, which was always meant to be temporary.\\u003c\/p>\\n&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;html&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;6043&#8243;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;station&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;catalog&#8221;}],&#8221;canonical_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-alligator-alcatraz-emptied-amid-hurricane-season\/&#8221;,&#8221;cuser&#8221;:&#8221;user\/ldap\/1113395&#8243;,&#8221;enable_featured_widget&#8221;:true,&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]},&#8221;external_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;fb_allow_comments&#8221;:true,&#8221;featured_widget&#8221;:{&#8220;country&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;},&#8221;feed_content_id&#8221;:&#8221;91f5465779b693f1e63f683fa7915e9609cf2f929b8fcccbeba27bd7ce436810&#8243;,&#8221;feed_partner_content&#8221;:false,&#8221;feed_permalink&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_type&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_vendor&#8221;:&#8221;iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;include_recommendations&#8221;:true,&#8221;include_video_monetization&#8221;:true,&#8221;is_sponsored&#8221;:false,&#8221;keywords&#8221;:[&#8220;keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Alligator Alcatraz&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Florida&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/immigration&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/detention center&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/hurricane season&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Ron DeSantis&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Donald Trump&#8221;],&#8221;primary_image&#8221;:{&#8220;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a328a21fe27ec9149050456&#8243;},&#8221;primary_target&#8221;:{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[&#8220;genres\/News &#038; Talk&#8221;]},&#8221;publish_date&#8221;:1781696760000,&#8221;publish_end_date&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;publish_origin&#8221;:&#8221;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;seo_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;show_updated_timestamp&#8221;:false,&#8221;simplereach_enabled&#8221;:false,&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-alligator-alcatraz-emptied-amid-hurricane-season&#8221;,&#8221;social_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:&#8221;Florida has transferred all detainees from Alligator Alcatraz due to hurricane season concerns. 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Beryl weakened to a tropical storm on July 5 after hitting Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane, with fierce winds causing material damage but no injuries along the touristic Yucatan Peninsula. Now headed for the Gulf of Mexico, Beryl is expected to intensify as it moves toward northeastern Mexico and the US state of Texas by the end of the weekend, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Mark Felix \/ AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX\/AFP via Getty Images)&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a327e566dcf7baf1b394947&#8243;,&#8221;new_tab&#8221;:false,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;source_credit&#8221;:&#8221;MARK FELIX \/ AFP \/ Getty Images&#8221;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;TOPSHOT-US-ENVIRONMENT-TEXAS-WEATHER-HURRICANE-BERYL&#8221;,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;asset&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;use_caption&#8221;:false},{&#8220;html&#8221;:&#8221;\\u003cp>A potential tropical storm, currently named Potential Tropical Cyclone One, is expected to bring heavy rain and dangerous flooding to parts of Louisiana and Texas today (Wednesday, June 17). The storm, which may soon be named Tropical Storm Arthur, is located about 250 miles southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and is moving northeast at 6 mph.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch along the Gulf Coast, with a warning in effect from Sabine Pass, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Forecasters predict that the storm could bring up to a foot of rain, posing a severe flood risk. The system&#8217;s sustained winds are currently at 30 mph, but it is expected to strengthen as it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The U.S. Coast Guard and local officials are urging residents in areas like Galveston to prepare for heavy rain, strong winds, and potential flooding. According to \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/live-news\/live-updates-first-atlantic-tropical-storm-could-form-near-texas-dumping-feet-of-rain-on-the-south\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>FOX Weather\\u003c\/a>, Hurricane Hunter aircraft are investigating the storm to gather critical data.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>Flash Flood Warnings are in place for several areas, including the New Orleans metro area, where over 400,000 people are in the threat zone. The \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.khou.com\/article\/weather\/gulf-disturbance-tropical-storm-arthur\/285-e912dfa2-a7b6-495b-a7ae-6586893935a4\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>National Weather Service\\u003c\/a> advises residents to move to higher ground and avoid driving through floodwaters.\\u003c\/p>\\n\\n\\u003cp>The storm is expected to make landfall along the Louisiana-Texas border by Wednesday evening, with conditions expected to improve by Thursday as the system weakens over land. \\u003ca href=\\&#8221;https:\/\/www.wdsu.com\/article\/louisiana-flood-potential-tropical-cyclone-one-tropics-mississippi-gulf-tropical-storm-arthur\/71602607\\&#8221; target=\\&#8221;_blank\\&#8221;>WDSU\\u003c\/a> reports that areas like Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge could see up to 10 inches of rain over the next few days.\\u003c\/p>\\n&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;html&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;6043&#8243;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;station&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;schedule&#8221;:{},&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;catalog&#8221;}],&#8221;canonical_url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-tropical-storm-arthur-threatens-louisiana-and-texas\/&#8221;,&#8221;cuser&#8221;:&#8221;user\/ldap\/cctphx1axc&#8221;,&#8221;enable_featured_widget&#8221;:true,&#8221;exclusion&#8221;:{&#8220;tags&#8221;:[]},&#8221;external_url&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;fb_allow_comments&#8221;:true,&#8221;featured_widget&#8221;:{&#8220;country&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;kind&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;related_id&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;},&#8221;feed_content_id&#8221;:&#8221;f950df3d2dc075c98588e1bde15c4beaae1e999a93464e82b6de4f7f495a4486&#8243;,&#8221;feed_partner_content&#8221;:false,&#8221;feed_permalink&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_type&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;feed_vendor&#8221;:&#8221;iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;include_recommendations&#8221;:true,&#8221;include_video_monetization&#8221;:true,&#8221;is_sponsored&#8221;:false,&#8221;keywords&#8221;:[&#8220;keywords\/ai-assisted&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Tropical Storm Arthur&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Louisiana&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Texas&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/Gulf Coast&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/flooding&#8221;,&#8221;keywords\/weather alert&#8221;],&#8221;primary_image&#8221;:{&#8220;bucket&#8221;:&#8221;assets.getty&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;%2F6a327e566dcf7baf1b394947&#8243;},&#8221;primary_target&#8221;:{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;categories\/national-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[&#8220;genres\/News &#038; Talk&#8221;]},&#8221;publish_date&#8221;:1781693880000,&#8221;publish_end_date&#8221;:4115978604802,&#8221;publish_origin&#8221;:&#8221;brands\/iHeartRadio&#8221;,&#8221;seo_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;show_updated_timestamp&#8221;:false,&#8221;simplereach_enabled&#8221;:false,&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-tropical-storm-arthur-threatens-louisiana-and-texas&#8221;,&#8221;social_title&#8221;:&#8221;&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:&#8221;Potential Tropical Cyclone One, soon to be Tropical Storm Arthur, threatens Louisiana and Texas with heavy rain and flooding. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect, with up to a foot of rain expected. Residents are urged to prepare for severe weather as the storm approaches the Gulf Coast.&#8221;,&#8221;targets&#8221;:[{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;syndications\/apple-news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[]},{&#8220;categories&#8221;:[&#8220;syndications\/news&#8221;],&#8221;distribution&#8221;:[]}],&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Tropical Storm Arthur Threatens Louisiana and Texas&#8221;,&#8221;permalink&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/wflaorlando.iheart.com\/content\/2026-06-17-tropical-storm-arthur-threatens-louisiana-and-texas\/&#8221;},&#8221;slug&#8221;:&#8221;2026-06-17-tropical-storm-arthur-threatens-louisiana-and-texas&#8221;,&#8221;summary&#8221;:{&#8220;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.iheart.com\/v3\/re\/assets.getty\/6a327e566dcf7baf1b394947&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Tropical Storm Arthur Threatens Louisiana and Texas&#8221;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;Potential Tropical Cyclone One, soon to be Tropical Storm Arthur, threatens Louisiana and Texas with heavy rain and flooding. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect, with up to a foot of rain expected. 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