Politics
Major US Pipeline Halts Operations After Ransomware Attack
Published
6 years agoon
WASHINGTON (AP) — The operator of a major pipeline system that transports fuel across the East Coast said Saturday it had been victimized by a ransomware attack and had halted all pipeline operations to deal with the threat. The attack is unlikely to affect gasoline supply and prices unless it leads to a prolonged shutdown of the pipeline, experts said.
Colonial Pipeline did not say what was demanded or who made the demand. Ransomware attacks are typically carried out by criminal hackers who seize data and demand a large payment in order to release it.
The attack on the company, which says it delivers roughly 45% of fuel consumed on the East Coast, underscores again the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to damaging cyberattacks that threaten to impede operations. It presents a new challenge for an administration still dealing with its response to major hacks from months ago, including a massive breach of government agencies and corporations for which the U.S. sanctioned Russia last month.
In this case, Colonial Pipeline said the ransomware attack Friday affected some of its information technology systems and that the company moved “proactively” to take certain systems offline, halting pipeline operations. In an earlier statement, it said it was “taking steps to understand and resolve this issue” with an eye toward returning to normal operations.
The Alpharetta, Georgia-based company transports gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and home heating oil from refineries located on the Gulf Coast through pipelines running from Texas to New Jersey. Its pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles, transporting more than 100 million gallon a day.
The company said it hired a cybersecurity firm to investigate the nature and scope of the attack and has also contacted law enforcement and federal agencies.
The White House said President Joe Biden was briefed Saturday morning and the federal government was working with the company to assess the implications of the attack, restore operations and avoid disruptions to the supply. The government is planning for various scenarios and working with state and local authorities on measures to mitigate any potential supply issues.
Oil analyst Andy Lipow said the impact of the attack on fuel supplies and prices depends on how long the pipeline is down. An outage of one day or two would be minimal, he said, but an outage of five or six days could cause shortages and price hikes, particularly in an area stretching from central Alabama to the Washington, D.C., region.
Lipow said a key concern about a lengthy delay would be the supply of jet fuel needed to keep major airports operating, like those in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.
A leading expert in industrial control systems, Dragos CEO Robert Lee, said systems such as those that directly manage the pipeline’s operation have been increasingly connected to computer networks in the past decade.
But critical infrastructure companies in the energy and electricity industries also tend to have invested more in cybersecurity than other sectors. If Colonial’s shutdown was mostly precautionary — and it detected the ransomware attack early and was well-prepared — the impact may not be great, Lee said.
While there have long been fears about U.S. adversaries disrupting American energy suppliers, ransomware attacks by criminal syndicates are much more common and have been soaring lately. The Justice Department has a new task force dedicated to countering ransomware attacks.
The attack “underscores the threat that ransomware poses to organizations regardless of size or sector,” said Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director of the cybersecurity division at the federal Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency.
“We encourage every organization to take action to strengthen their cybersecurity posture to reduce their exposure to these types of threats,” Goldstein said in a statement.
Ransomware scrambles a victim organization’s data with encryption. The criminals leave instructions on infected computers for how to negotiate ransom payments and, once paid, provide software decryption keys.
The attacks, mostly by criminal syndicates operating out of Russia and other safe havens, reached epidemic proportions last year, costing hospitals, medical researchers private businesses, state and local governments and schools tens of billions of dollars. Biden administration officials are warning of a national security threat, especially after criminals began stealing data before scrambling victim networks and saying they will expose it online unless a ransom is paid.
Average ransoms paid in the United States jumped nearly threefold to more than $310,000 last year. The average downtime for victims of ransomware attacks is 21 days, according to the firm Coveware, which helps victims respond.
U.S. law enforcement officials say some of these criminals have worked with Russia’s security services and that the Kremlin benefits by damaging adversaries’ economies. These operations also potentially provide cover for intelligence-gathering.
“Ransomware is the most common disruptive event that organizations are seeing right now that would cause them to shut down to prevent the spread,” said Dave White, president of cybersecurity firm Axio.
Mike Chapple, teaching professor of IT, analytics and operations at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and a former computer scientist with the National Security Agency, said systems that control pipelines should not be connected to the internet and vulnerable to cyber intrusions.
“The attacks were extremely sophisticated and they were able to defeat some pretty sophisticated security controls, or the right degree of security controls weren’t in place,” Chapple said.
Brian Bethune, a professor of applied economics at Boston College, also said the impact on consumer prices should be short-lived as long as the shutdown does not last for more than a week or two. “But it is an indication of how vulnerable our infrastructure is to these kinds of cyberattacks,” he said.
Bethune noted the shutdown is occurring at a time when energy prices have already been rising as the economy reopens further as pandemic restrictions are lifted. According to the AAA auto club, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by 4 cents since Monday to $2.94.
Anne Neuberger, the Biden administration’s deputy national security adviser for cybersecurity and emerging technology, said in an interview with The Associated Press in April that the government was undertaking a new effort to help electric utilities, water districts and other critical industries protect against potentially damaging cyberattacks. She said the goal was to ensure that control systems serving 50,000 or more Americans have the core technology to detect and block malicious cyber activity.
Since then, the White House has announced a 100-day initiative aimed at protecting the country’s electricity system from cyberattacks by encouraging owners and operators of power plants and electric utilities to improve their capabilities for identifying cyber threats to their networks. It includes concrete milestones for them to put technologies into use so they can spot and respond to intrusions in real time.
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Politics
Grenada PM Dickon Mitchell Wins Second Term as NDC Takes 14 of 15 Seats
Published
2 days agoon
November 11, 2026
The National Democratic Congress secures its first consecutive election victories, strengthening Mitchell’s mandate as he faces demands for jobs, better healthcare and economic growth.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has won a second consecutive term after his National Democratic Congress (NDC) captured 14 of the country’s 15 parliamentary seats in the Nov. 5 general election, according to reported preliminary results.
The opposition New National Party retained one seat, St. George North West, won by Adrian Joseph. The outcome marks the first time the NDC has won consecutive general elections since its founding in 1987. NOW Grenada
NDC expands its parliamentary majority
Mitchell first led the NDC to power in June 2022, winning nine seats against the NNP’s six and ending the administration of former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.
The latest result increases the governing party’s representation by five seats. The NNP contested the election under Emmalin Pierre, while Peter David led the Democratic People’s Movement, which won no constituencies. Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation
Jobs and healthcare among priorities
Mitchell has pledged to modernize Grenada’s economy, improve healthcare and reduce youth unemployment. He has also joined Caribbean leaders seeking an apology and reparations from Britain for slavery. apnews.com
His administration faces the broader challenge of sustaining development while continuing recovery from Hurricane Beryl, which struck in 2024. The International Monetary Fund has identified tourism, reconstruction and development investment as important supports for economic activity amid global uncertainty. imf.org
U.S. relations and international engagement
The United States established diplomatic relations with Grenada in 1974 following its independence from Britain. Cooperation has included counter-narcotics programs and humanitarian assistance, according to the U.S. State Department. United States Department of State
Those ties provide an existing foundation for engagement during Mitchell’s second term. Additional cooperation on investment, disaster preparedness and economic development would depend on decisions by both governments.
Tourism and investment opportunities
Tourism, agriculture and construction are central to Grenada’s economy. Their importance also leaves the country exposed to changes in international travel, global prices and extreme weather, according to the World Bank. World Bank Group
Hotels, visitor services, agricultural supply chains and infrastructure are areas to watch as the government pursues growth. A central question for the second term will be whether new development creates lasting employment and opportunities for local businesses.
The IMF reports that foreign investment continues to help finance the country’s substantial external financing needs, underscoring the importance of maintaining investor confidence. imf.org
What’s next for Prime Minister Mitchell?
With a larger parliamentary majority, attention turns to how Mitchell translates his election mandate into government action.
Based on his stated priorities, key developments to watch include healthcare proposals, youth employment initiatives and measures to modernize the economy. Budget allocations, implementation schedules and public reporting will provide practical ways to assess progress.
The expanded majority gives Mitchell stronger parliamentary backing. Delivering improvements in public services and household economic conditions will be the next test.
Independence and the 1983 intervention
Grenada gained independence in 1974 after periods of French and British colonial rule.
In October 1983, the United States invaded following the execution of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others during an internal power struggle. Grenada observes Oct. 25, the anniversary of the intervention, as Thanksgiving Day. apnews.com
Central Florida News
Darren Soto defeats Gov. Ron DeSantis’ gerrymandered map, narrowly wins reelection
Published
2 days agoon
November 10, 2026
The Central Florida Democrat edged Republican Dan Green in a congressional district that shifted toward the GOP under a map signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto narrowly won reelection in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, defeating Republican Dan Green in the first election under a new map that made the district more favorable to Republicans. The Associated Press called the race Tuesday, one week after Election Day. apnews.com
A race just outside the recount threshold
Soto led Green by 1,506 votes, or 0.53 percentage points, in unofficial returns submitted Saturday. The margin put the race just above Florida’s automatic recount threshold of 0.5 percentage points. State officials announced that the race would proceed without a recount. www.wusf.org
How the DeSantis map changed District 9
DeSantis called lawmakers into a special session on congressional redistricting and signed the new map into law May 4. Republicans redrew a district previously anchored in Osceola and southern Orange counties, adding territory in four counties. The new boundaries brought in parts of Okeechobee, Indian River and St. Lucie counties and gave Republicans a more favorable district heading into the November election. www.edr.state.fl.us
The larger district brought rural and coastal communities into the race. Soto, a former member of the House Agriculture Committee, called for rolling back tariffs and highlighted the cost of diesel and fertilizer during the campaign. Green, a military veteran, also addressed rising costs as the candidates laid out competing approaches to affordability. history.house.gov
Puerto Rican representation in Congress
Soto’s victory keeps a lawmaker of Puerto Rican descent in Florida’s congressional delegation. The Democrat served in both chambers of the Florida Legislature before entering Congress in 2017 and is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. history.house.gov
Soto said his priorities for the newly added communities include restoring the Indian River Lagoon and improving local infrastructure.
Central Florida News
Florida Puerto Rican Lawmakers’ First-Term Impact: FNN Audit Reviews Bills Becoming Law, 1999–2026
Published
6 days agoon
November 6, 2026
A review of 14 Florida House members of Puerto Rican descent examines sponsored bills that became law and policies reflected in other enacted legislation, documenting their early legislative results.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Voters across Florida cast ballots in the Nov. 3 general election to elect candidates of their choice. Against that backdrop, Florida National News examined the first-term legislative records of 14 Florida House lawmakers of Puerto Rican descent, reviewing legislative sessions from 1999 through 2026.
The audit focuses on bills they sponsored that became law and proposals whose policies were reflected in other enacted legislation, providing readers with a documented comparison of their early legislative results.
Former Republican Reps. Bob Cortes and David Santiago lead the reviewed group in combined legislative outcomes. Former Democratic Rep. Daisy Morales leads the Democratic members included in the report.
Cortes recorded six sponsored House bills that became law under their own numbers, the highest direct-enactment total in the reviewed group. He also had six additional proposals with policies reflected in other enacted legislation.
Santiago recorded five direct enactments and seven policy-overlap outcomes. Each Republican had 12 combined outcomes.
Morales recorded two direct enactments and three additional policy-overlap outcomes during the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, giving her five combined outcomes.
The FNN audit distinguishes those categories rather than treating every identified outcome as a separate law personally authored by a legislator.
Legislative Results With Statewide Reach
The measures examined extend beyond the lawmakers’ individual districts, addressing education, public safety, professional licensing, military families and other statewide issues.
Cortes’ direct enactments included HB 837 in 2016, jointly sponsored with Michael Bileca. The legislation addressed education programs for individuals with disabilities, including transition-to-work opportunities for qualifying students. It became Chapter 2016-137.
Susan Plasencia’s first-term record included HB 1275 in 2023, which authorized local law enforcement agencies to establish registries containing information about participating people with disabilities. The measure became Chapter 2023-312.
Morales’ direct enactments included HB 855 in 2021, addressing barber services, and HB 45 in 2022, providing tuition and fee assistance for qualifying disabled veterans.
HB 45, sponsored with Christopher Benjamin, passed the House 115-0 and the Senate 38-0. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it June 9, 2022, and it became Chapter 2022-187. The unanimous votes illustrate the bipartisan support secured for that measure.
The audit also identifies policies in Morales’ proposals concerning telephone solicitation restrictions, property tax exemptions and a Down Syndrome Awareness specialty license plate that were reflected in other enacted bills.
First-Term Outcomes Across the Reviewed Group
| Lawmaker | Party | Sessions reviewed | Direct enactments | Policy-overlap outcomes | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Cortes | R | 2015–2016 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| David Santiago | R | 2013–2014 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| Susan Plasencia | R | 2023–2024 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| John Quiñones | R | 2003–2004 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| René Plasencia | R | 2015–2016 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Yvette Benarroch | R | 2025–2026 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Daisy Morales | D | 2021–2022 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Robert Asencio | D | 2017–2018 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Amy Mercado | D | 2017–2018 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Anthony Suárez* | D | 1999–2000 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Johanna López | D | 2023–2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Victor Torres | D | 2013–2014 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| John Cortes | D | 2015–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Soto* | D | 2007–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: FNN audit. Soto and Suárez served partial initial terms. Zero means no qualifying outcome was identified under the audit’s method; it does not establish that a lawmaker made no legislative contribution.
Why the Audit Matters
The audit gives readers a way to examine legislative accomplishments beyond campaign descriptions and broad claims about bills “passed.”
It separates primary and joint sponsorship from ordinary co-sponsorship and distinguishes bills enacted under their own numbers from proposals whose policies appear in other laws.
Those distinctions matter because a House bill can die while some of its provisions survive in another legislative vehicle. Conversely, a related-bill listing does not establish that a proposal’s specific provisions became law.
The report also documents the scope of the identified outcomes. A narrow licensing change and a broad education measure each can count as one outcome, although their reach and consequences differ.
For readers examining Puerto Rican representation in Florida government, the findings provide a record of specific legislative activity. The measures’ beneficiaries extend across ethnic backgrounds and communities.
Why Focus on the First Term?
The first term provides a defined period for examining what lawmakers accomplished when they entered the House, before accumulating multiple terms of legislative experience.
Comparing initial terms also prevents a long-serving member’s career total from being measured directly against the record of someone who served only one term.
Some lawmakers lose reelection, retire, seek another office or pursue other careers. Their first term may therefore represent their entire House tenure. That makes early legislative results worth documenting.
The comparison still has limits. Members entering through special elections have less time than those beginning full two-year terms. Party control, committee assignments and legislative priorities also can affect opportunities to advance bills.
Soto’s Initial Service Is Counted Separately
Darren Soto won a special election April 24, 2007, and was sworn into office the following day. His initial House service belongs in the 2007–2008 window. His reelection in November 2008 began the full term covering the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions.
The audit identifies no qualifying direct enactment or policy-overlap outcome for his initial regular-session window. It lists four outcomes from 2009–2010 separately as later-term context.
That distinction preserves the report’s focus on initial service rather than later accomplishments.
Anthony Nieves and the 2027 Legislative Session
Anthony Nieves represents the next chapter of Puerto Rican representation examined in FNN’s coverage.
Nieves defeated Jorge Figueroa in the Aug. 18 Democratic primary for House District 47. He subsequently won the seat without appearing on the November ballot after the general election contest was canceled, according to Ballotpedia.
His first regular legislative session will be in 2027, when he will have the opportunity to sponsor legislation and establish a first-term record.
Nieves is discussed separately from the audit’s 14-member outcome comparison because the 2027 and 2028 regular sessions fall outside its 1999–2026 review period. His absence from the rankings is a timing distinction, not a finding of legislative failure.
A future comparison can evaluate his sponsored bills, direct enactments and policies reflected in other enacted legislation during those sessions. Assigning him a zero alongside lawmakers whose initial legislative sessions have concluded would misrepresent his opportunity to produce results.
What the Findings Establish
The audit compares 14 identified lawmakers. It is not an exhaustive ancestry census or a definitive ranking of every Puerto Rican lawmaker in Florida history.
Ordinary co-sponsorships, resolutions and appropriations requests are excluded. Combined outcomes count qualifying source proposals, not necessarily distinct laws. Jointly sponsored bills can appear in more than one member’s record.
The report measures identified legislative outcomes rather than overall effectiveness, constituent service or the relative public benefit of each measure.
FNN’s Corrections and Updates Policy
Florida National News welcomes factual information identifying a lawmaker incorrectly included in or excluded from the audit, an inaccurate service period, a sponsorship error or an overlooked legislative outcome.
Submissions should identify the lawmaker, legislative session, bill number, sponsorship role and official supporting records. For proposals reflected in another enacted bill, documentation should identify the resulting bill, chapter law and relevant provisions.
FNN will review the information and make necessary corrections to the roster, bill records, session dates, outcome counts and rankings when supported by the evidence. Corrections will be reflected in the audit’s revision history.
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