DOUBLE JEOPARDY = Florida News Investigation / Public & Government Accountability Reporting

Move over, Godzilla—there’s a new radioactive critter in town.  On July 3, diligent workers at South Carolina’s Savannah River Site (SRS)—once the proud factory for plutonium pits in U.S. nukes—detected something decidedly smaller yet far more annoying: a wasp nest with radiation levels 10 times the federal limit.  Thankfully, no mutant hornets, just a nest that could light up a runway. Wasps Meet Waste Tanks The nest was perched on a post near the liquid nuclear waste tanks , part of the 165 million gallons originally generated by SRS.  Over decades, evaporation has shrunk that to about 34 million gallons swirling underground in 43 active tanks (and eight “retired” ones, no longer stirring up trouble). “We routinely check radiation levels,” said a DOE spokesperson, “but this wasp nest was a first. We sprayed it with insect killer, bagged it, and sent it off as radioactive waste. No wasps were harmed in the drill.” Mystery solved! Nest neutralized!  Workers g...

Move over, Ricky Ricardo—there’s a new intergalactic hero on deck, and she wears polka dots instead of a Starfleet uniform.  In 1964, while most major studios were busy shooting their mouths off about laugh tracks and candy dishes, Lucille Ball quietly became the “unsung hero” of science fiction history by championing a little show called Star Trek . Desilu’s Bold Mission When Gene Roddenberry pitched his ambitious pilot—a live‑action voyage to the final frontier— NBC passed.  Too “intellectual,” too “risky,” and likely too short on pratfalls. Roddenberry’s creation, filled with moral quandaries, alien diplomacy, and a Vulcan depression hotline, didn’t fit the studio’s sit‑com mold.  Enter Desilu Studios , helmed by the indomitable Lucille Ball and her savvy husband, Desi Arnaz. While Desi was perfecting the baffling art of conga lines on I Love Lucy, Lucille was busy spot‑checking scripts and sniffing out diamonds in the rough.  When she heard about “this spa...

NEUCHÂTEL, Switzerland — Imagine your morning train commute powered by the sun’s rays—right from the tracks beneath your wheels.  That’s no f antasy for Swiss start-up Sun‑Ways , who have started to roll out solar panels “like carpet” on active railway lines, starting with a three‑year pilot on a 100‑metre stretch in Neuchâtel that started  spring 2025 . This innovative project aims to generate clean energy by utilizing existing railway infrastructure.  The panels, pre-assembled and mounted on a specialized train, are rolled out like a carpet between the tracks.  This system allows for easy removal for track maintenance.   The Solar-Fluffin’ Train Sun‑Ways and EPFL (the Swiss federal technology institute) patented a removable solar array to handle inevitable track maintenance.  Here’s how it works:  A specially designed Scheuchzer rail train—think “Roomba for railroads”—uses a piston mechanism to unfurl one‑metre‑wide photovoltaic panels assem...

When life gives you hurricanes and floods, you get debris—lots and lots of debris. After the County and State debris haulers are gone....you still have trash that needs to be removed. Que the private trash haulers! Most are hard-working and honest businesses that are a great help in clearing a path out of the chasos of disaster.  But there a few haulers that practice the art of "FLY-TIPPING"  Fly‑tipping , aka illegal dumping is turning America’s landscapes into a dumping ground faster than a category 5 gust.  But it's not just haulers dumping roadside or on vacant lots...private parties like residents and visitors make up a big part of the problem as well. What Is Fly‑Tipping, Anyway? If you’ve ever stumbled upon a sofa, tire stacks, or construction rubble dumped in the woods or on the roadside, congrats—you’re a witness to fly‑tipping! The term comes from “tipping” trash on the fly —no permits, no disposal fees, just pure spontaneity (and illegality).  It’s the s...

In a plot twist that no children’s party could dream up, Chuck E. Cheese went from birthday mascot to bonafide bandit this week in Tallahassee.  Police say a costumed employee, sporting the iconic gray‑fur mask with those over‑sized ears and that permanently cheesy grin, was arrested for using a stolen child‑support Visa debit card—proving once and for all that crime does pay…just not with Monopoly money. The “Cheesiest” Crime Spree It all began when a vigilant Florida mother noticed suspicious charges popping up on her child‑support Visa. She hadn’t seen the card since her last visit to Chuck E. Cheese in late June, yet there it was, being swiped at a smoke shop, a grocery store, and even a Whataburger.  Three stops for stolen cheese, perhaps? Tracking down her card’s odyssey, she headed to the grocery store, reviewed surveillance footage—and holy pepperoni , there was the suspect: the person who performed as “Chuck E.” from her visit back in June. “Chuck E, come with ...

Just three years ago, Slide Insurance burst onto Florida’s storm-ravaged property market, buoyed by a bold purchase of policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation , the state’s insurer of last resort.  Fast forward to 2024, and Slide reported a tidy $200 million in profits—while its top brass, CEO Bruce Lucas and COO Alissa Lucas , pocketed a combined $50 million in compensation.  Homeowners hit by 20%+ premium hikes aren’t exactly impressed. “The greed! The rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” laments Cape Coral resident Mary Bousquet . “The whole thing is out of control—someone has to do something.” Premiums Soar, Coverage Evaporates Across Florida, extreme weather—stronger hurricanes, heavier flooding—has insurers fleeing high-risk zones or tightening policies. With fewer carriers remaining, families scramble for coverage at ever-higher rates. Meanwhile, Slide’s profits—and the Lucases’ paychecks—keep climbing like Category 5 eye walls. “They’re n...

Forget Dogecoin—Florida just minted its very own Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) , and it’s not bark‑ing up the wrong tree.  Announced by Governor Ron DeSantis in February 2025, the Florida State DOGE Task Force aims to snuffle out waste, wag its tail at bloat, and fetch big savings for taxpayers. At least that's the plan... “Florida has set the standard for fiscally conservative governance, and our new Florida DOGE task force will do even more to serve the people of Florida,” DeSantis barked proudly at the unveiling. “It will eliminate redundant boards and commissions, review state university and college operations and spending, utilize artificial intelligence to further examine state agencies to uncover hidden waste, and even audit the spending habits of local entities to shine the light on waste and bloat.” What’s with the DOGE Name? No, it’s not a coin—this DOGE’s mission is serious: Efficiency. Think of it as a high‑tech bloodhound, sniffing out government ...

When “South Park” co‑creator Trey Parker offered his heartfelt apology for the season 27 premiere—depicting a nude President Trump in bed with Satan—he managed to pack all the contrition of a soggy tortilla. “We’re terribly sorry,” Parker quipped at Comic‑Con International in San Diego, pausing to deliver a masterclass in deadpan before returning to his seat. Hot Takes from the White House The White House, unwilling to be lampooned—much less in the buff—responded with a statement from spokesperson Taylor Rogers : “This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,” she declared, touting Trump’s “hot streak” of fulfilled promises. Comic‑Con Drama Parker’s “apology” came during Comedy Central’s animation panel alongside partner Matt Stone , “Beavis and Butt‑Head” creator Mike Judge , and actor Andy Samberg . The assembled cartoon cabal seemed unfazed by presidential displeasure. When pr...

Picture this: you swagger into your neighborhood café, pockets jangling with crisp twenties and shiny quarters, only to be met with a cheerful “Sorry, we’re cards only now!”  Your jaw drops. You’re holding money—legal tender, no less—but your wallet’s about as useful as a toothpick in a sword fight!  Welcome to modern Florida commerce, where your cash can leave you high and dry. The Great Cash Conundrum Despite old‑school advice that “cash is king,” most Florida businesses aren’t required to accept it. Here’s the breakdown: Federal Law: The Federal Reserve assures us that “U.S. coins and currency are legal tender for all debts,” but also clarifies that private businesses get to set their own payment policies. Florida State Law: No statewide mandate forces merchants to handle cash. Cards, apps, IOUs—your choice! Miami‑Dade County Exception: The lone holdout: the Cashless Retail Prohibition Ordinance demands that in‑store sellers accept cash for purchases up...

In March 2025, a coalition of law enforcement officers, military veterans and civilians filed 22 civil lawsuits against Newington, New Hampshire‑based Sig Sauer, alleging that the company’s flagship P320 pistol can fire “suddenly and unexpectedly” without an intentional pull of the trigger.  Within weeks, those legal challenges were eclipsed by a far more sobering development: the suspension of the military’s M18 variant of the P320 across the Air Force Global Strike Command, after a Wyoming airman was fatally shot last weekend on F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Civil Claims Mount Against the P320 The 22 new lawsuits, brought in various federal courts, echo dozens of earlier complaints claiming the P320 has a design or manufacturing flaw making it prone to unintentional discharges.  “User‑victims are being shot by P320s when their hands aren’t even on the gun,” said attorney Robert Zimmerman, who has led multiple cases against Sig Sauer.  Victims describe life‑altering inju...

Move over, Florida Man—there’s a new headline grabber in town: the South Florida housing market , drowning not in sunshine but in “For Sale” signs and condo conundrums.  Chen Zhao , Redfin’s head of economics research, didn’t mince words: South Florida is the “epicenter of housing market weakness” in America. -Bloomberg- “The question for the rest of the country is, will this spread? Florida is uniquely bad right now,” Zhao warned. From Pandemic Paradise to For-Sale Fiasco During COVID‑19, remote workers flocked to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach like snowbirds to a margarita buffet—drawn by warm weather, lower taxes, and fantasies of working poolside.  Homes sold for well above list price, pending sales soared, and Every. Single. Neighbor. bragged about their investment property. Fast forward five years later to 2025, and the party’s over. Pending home sales plunged : Miami: down 23% , the steepest drop among the 50 largest U.S. metros. -Redfin- F...

Five years ago, Ohioans got the shocking news that the world’s most expensive under-the‑table barbecue—er, bribery scheme—had sizzled up a $1 billion nuclear bailout , plus extra coal-plant subsidies, courtesy of FirstEnergy Corp.’s clandestine $60 million slush fund.  Today, the votes have been counted, the lobbyists have lobbied, and the only thing that’s really changed is our electric bills aren’t getting any cheaper. Meet the Racketeers On July 21, 2020 , Congress and the courthouse collectively face‑palmed as ex-House Speaker Larry Householder and four cohorts were arrested in the biggest infrastructure scandal in U.S. history.  Householder is now doing 20 years in federal prison—plenty of time to ponder the irony of an electricity honcho living behind bars.  Two cronies pleaded guilty, one unsuccessfully appealed, and sadly, one associate died by suicide. If only they’d wired up an ethics alarm instead of a back‑door payout. Dark Money: Still Pitch Black Promi...

Last week’s Coldplay concert delivered more than chart‑topping hits—it delivered a master class in unintended fame.  The KissCam , that cheery stadium staple, zeroed in on a couple ducking the spotlight faster than you can say “Viva la Vida.”  Their stunned faces flashed from jumbotron to smartphone screens worldwide, unspooling a saga of social media sleuths, AI identification, and career‑ending headshots. From Lip Lock to Linked Out Within hours, the viral clip was everywhere.  Meme factories cranked out parody videos—some featuring penguins, others featuring constipated emojis.  Astronomer , the software firm where the duo worked, went full CSI: they used facial‑recognition tech to confirm that its CEO and Chief People Officer were the flustered lovers in question.  By weekend’s close, the CEO tendered his resignation, proving that in 2025, a public peck can outperform your résumé on LinkedIn…into the nearest exit. “It’s not just the camera,” says Mary ...