Comment on Joplin, Mo., tornado is deadliest since 1953; toll at 117

With just hours left before Florida implements its strict new law banning almost all abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, Democrats are working overtime to make sure voters know who they should hold responsible: Republicans. “Wednesday is going to mark the start of a dark, life-threatening chapter for women in Florida and across the South,” U.

UCF men’s basketball secured another transfer piece after La Salle center/forward Rokas Jocius announced his commitment to the Knights on Monday. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Jocius becomes the fourth player to commit to the Knights from the transfer portal this offseason, joining forwards Benny Williams (Syracuse) and Keyshawn Hall (George Mason) and guard Mikey Williams (Memphis). The junior played two seasons for the Explorers, averaging 6.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 61 games.

Federal authorities will now helm the investigation of the April 11 killing of Katherine Guerrero De Aguasvivas, the Homestead woman carjacked in Winter Springs and found dead in Osceola County, as it appears connected to a larger drug trafficking operation spanning several Florida counties. The decision was announced Monday by Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, 18 days after Guerrero De Aguasvivas was kidnapped at gunpoint in broad daylight.

Paul Goldstein is a second generation survivor and the youngest of two sons born to Polish Holocaust survivors, Samuel and Sabina Goldstein after World War II. Last week, Paul was the keynote speaker during the University of New Haven’s 20th annual Holocaust Remembrance ceremony. His speech revolved around one central theme: ‘This is what hate does’.

A teenager who was stabbed at a nature preserve in Coconut Creek has died from his injuries, police confirmed Monday. The child, Iury Daniel De Sena, 15, was identified by friends and family members who started a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral and health care costs. John J. Sullivan, spokesman for the Broward school district, confirmed Monday that De Sena was a student at Lyons Middle School in Coconut Creek and that grief counselors are at the school to assist students and faculty traumatized by the loss. Coconut Creek Police said De Sena died Friday, but police did not provide additional details about the crime or their investigation. The stabbing took place April 20 on a walking trail at the Winston Park Nature Preserve near the 4900 block of Hilton Road, according to Coconut Creek Police spokesman Scotty Leamon.

By STEPHEN GROVES (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress gave one of its highest final tributes on Monday — a lying in honor ceremony at the Capitol — to Ralph Puckett Jr., who led an outnumbered company in battle during the Korean War and was the last surviving veteran of that war to receive the Medal of Honor. Puckett, who retired as an Army colonel, died earlier this month at the age of 97 at his home in Columbus, Georgia.