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Breaking News in South Florida, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Treasure Coast ▫️ Follow the @WPTV team:

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Democrat Scott Colom is projected to defeat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race, according to the Associated Press, pulling off a major upset in a state that has long favored Republicans.

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Flying JetBlue? You may want to check the baggage fees before you pack. Our interactive story breaks down what you could pay to check a bag and how the cost can vary.

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Thomas Markle was arrested and appeared in federal court in Tampa, Florida, after authorities learned he had cut off the device at 1:45 a.m., First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. Full article in our bio.

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The 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, cut an electronic monitoring device off his ankle, just days after his arrest for keeping child sexual abuse material in storage units in California, authorities said Tuesday. Link in bio.

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House Republicans have a new leader. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio defeated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana in a secret-ballot vote Tuesday, 106-73, to become minority leader following the GOP’s steep 2026 midterm losses. Link in bio.

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☘️🏳️‍🌈 Delray Beach city says it will not host its St. Patrick’s Day Parade or Pride event in 2027 after determining that a new Florida law prevents it from organizing, funding or promoting the events.

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💰 Federal tax brackets are changing. The IRS has announced new income thresholds for 2027, along with a higher standard deduction and a $100 increase in the child tax credit.

See what’s changing and how it could affect your taxes.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted all 548 death sentences in the state.

Newsom announced the decision Thursday in an open letter to Californians, arguing that the death penalty is incompatible with the state's values and justice system.

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⚠️ FLOODING ALERT: Port St. Lucie police are urging drivers to avoid portions of St. Lucie West as significant water accumulation creates hazardous conditions. Officers are responding to stranded vehicles. If you encounter standing water, turn around and find another route.

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Learjet that departed from Texas headed to Bahamas crashes in Palm Beach County with 9 people on board

https://t.co/SQZRrN8Ox0

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Pope Leo XIV is making U.S. election history. 🇺🇸

The Chicago-born pontiff cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with the Vatican pointing to his long-standing belief in civic participation.

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DoorDash + Instacart? 🛒🚗 DoorDash is buying the grocery delivery company in a roughly $17 billion deal.

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Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor known for his roles in “Top Gun,” “Alien,” “Steel Magnolias” and the TV series “Picket Fences,” has died at 93. His family said he died Wednesday of natural causes.

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Pope Leo XIV will not need additional treatment for lung cancer, the Vatican says, after follow-up tests confirmed the cancer was localized and had not spread.

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New Mexico’s attorney general is suing two advisers to Jeffrey Epstein, accusing them of helping conceal his sex trafficking operation and seeking to prevent them from benefiting from his estate.

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🏊 Indian River State College could eliminate its men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs beginning with the 2027-28 academic year.

The proposal is part of a broader athletics restructuring plan that trustees are expected to consider Oct. 27.

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BREAKING: Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

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More than 40 years after Indian River County Deputy Richard Raczkowski was killed, the man convicted of his murder has been executed.

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More than 15 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, scientists say parts of the Gulf are still showing the effects.

A new study found populations of fish, crustaceans and other marine animals plunged by about 60%.

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Protesters gathered in Palm Beach County as part of a nationwide “No Kings” day of action, with local organizers putting a focus on encouraging people to vote early ahead of the November midterm elections. Full article in our bio.