Hurricane Idalia wrecked much of Cedar Key but people here will brave destruction to live in paradise
You can see why people would want to live in Florida’s Cedar Key. And you can see why they wouldn’t.
This idyllic coastline on the Gulf of Mexico is paradise-found for a beach community lounging in life’s low gear… on any other day.
Cedar Key wasn’t in the eye of the hurricane but it suffered from the storm surge.
A walk along the shoreline speaks to its power.
The Faraway Inn is a resort with holiday cottages in a line extending up from the water’s edge.
Cottages number two and three are structurally intact – just.
Cottage number one, however – closest to the water – has been flattened to a pile of rubble.
It is an arresting image of destruction, unsurprising in the wake of a hurricane.
But what’s also striking in Cedar Key is that more properties didn’t suffer the same fate.
It comes down to experience.
They’ve known severe weather events here and the infrastructure has been built on the lessons of the past.
Homes constructed more recently stand propped on stilts 10 metres high or more, with space beneath the living area to allow wind and water to blow and flow through.
Chuck Adams gave us a tour of his property on the front.
It didn’t have the stilts and it had suffered considerable damage – the whole ground floor was wrecked – but it remained standing.
Features of the building that worked in its favour were the collapsible “hurricane walls” that gave way to the impact of the elements and so didn’t harness any pull on the property’s structure.
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Chuck Adams’ house was badly damaged
People still come to Cedar Key, to live and buy here, sold on architectural answers and with an acceptance of risk.
There’s no doubting the positive spirit of the population.
Amid the buzz and grind of a clean-up operation that began instantly, all the talk among those we spoke to was of moving forward and building back – there was no thought of permanent departure.
They live with the prospect of hurricane damage and prepare accordingly.
It comes down to degrees of catastrophe and what they can live with.
Clearly, there’s a limit that lies beyond Hurricane Idalia.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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