USA TODAY

A year ago today, gunman Omar Mateen entered Pulse Nightclub and killed 49 people. 

Today, we remember the victims’ names.

Python hunter captures massive snake in Florida

A python hunter captured a massive 16-foot, 10-inch python in the Florida Everglades as part of the South Florida Water Management District's python elimination program this week, according to local reports.

Dusty “The Wildman” Crum, an orchid grower and spare-time python catcher, caught the snake, which didn't go down without a fight, WFOR-TV in Miami reported.

"It is like Andre the Giant versus Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania," he told the news station.

Officials extracted 78 eggs out of the python, which means dozens of pythons will never see the light of day, according to the news station.

Meanwhile, in Florida...

Voters on Tuesday legalized medical marijuana, making theirs the 26th state to permit cannabis use for certain medical conditions, including cancer and HIV. 

Hurricane Matthew storm surge a threat as it moves up coast

Matthew is heading northwest from a position off Cape Canaveral, which is feeling the effects of being raked by the western edge of the storm's eyewall. In its 8 a.m. ET advisory, the National Hurricane Center said a wind gust of up to 97 mph was recorded in Cape Canaveral. Daytona Beach reported a wind gust of 67 mph. It is expected to continue moving northwest Friday and, by Friday night, turn north. Right now, it's moving parallel to the coast. At a mid-morning press conference, Florida's governor, Rick Scott, said the "worst effects are still likely to come," referring to a possible turn toward the coast and a likely storm surge in the Jacksonville area, particularly up the St. John's River, which runs through the city.

Hurricane Matthew barrels toward Florida

Hurricane Matthew strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane Thursday as it barreled toward a midnight landfall on the Florida coast, bringing the threat of deadly winds and storm surges along a 550-mile stretch from Miami to South Carolina.

With Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina under states of emergency, Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a blunt warning to his 1.5 million coastal residents: "This storm will kill you."

Real epidemic or a sick joke?

Reports of clowns haunting more than 10 states have people on edge. Yes, 10. And, the reports keep coming.

So, is the creepy clown epidemic serious or just a sick joke? Police are investigating a host of reports from South Carolina to Georgia, but haven't arrested any criminals — yet.

Ernie Cruz took these photos of a tornado touching down Tuesday afternoon in south Brevard, Florida.

Hermine weakens from hurricane to tropical storm

Hurricane Hermine weakens to a tropical storm as it moves farther inland after making landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast. It was the first hurricane to strike the state in 11 years, leaving rising flood waters and damage in its wake.

Charles Kinsey, a behavioral therapist, who says his hands were up when police shot him. 

Comfort dogs are bringing smiles and hugs to the people of Orlando.

Today’s front page.

”We have liftoff.” 35 years ago NASA’s space shuttle era took flight, with Columbia’s blastoff from Kennedy Space Center. It was one of the space program’s most daring test flights.

It's Manatee Appreciation Day! Stop what you're doing and chill with these gentle giants.

Surf’s pup! Hang 10 with some amazing K-9 athletes at the Florida International Dog Surfing Championships in Fernandina Beach

Daytona Bike Week is turning 75! Take a ride down the famous Main Street.

Severe weather wreaked havoc on the East Coast on Wednesday, killing at least three people in Virginia and raising the two-day death toll to six after the same storm system pounded the Deep South a day earlier.

Our friends at @yourtake have a beautiful cure for your winter blues. 

From Florida to Maryland to Colorado, a roundup of the week’s best photos from Your Take.