Eta expected to be hurricane; hits Florida Keys Thai protesters defy police water cannons to deliver letters. Arkansas police chief resigns after threatening Democrats.

HAVANA » A strengthening Tropical Storm Eta made landfall on Florida’s Lower Matecumbe Key on Sunday night, days after leaving scores of dead and more than 100 missing in Mexico and Central America.

The U. S. National Hurricane Center in Miami declared hurricane and storm surge warnings for the Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay.

Florida officials closed beaches, ports and COVID testing sites, shut down public transportation and urged residents to stay off the street. Several shelters also opened in Miami and the Florida Keys for residents in mobile homes and low- lying areas. Broward County also shut down in- person schooling Monday and Miami seemed poised to do the same.

Eta had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph on Sunday night and was centered about 30 miles east- northeast of Marathon, Fla., and 70 miles east- northeast of Key West.

BANGKOK » Pro- democracy protesters in Thailand were confronted by riot police and sprayed by water cannons Sunday as they tried to approach Bangkok’s Grand Palace to deliver letters about their political grievances addressed to the country’s king.

The pro- democracy movement has been pushing a bold challenge to reform the country’s monarchy with almost daily demonstrations. Sunday marked the second time water cannons were used against the protesters during several months of demonstrations.

The melee was brief, and police later allowed the protesters to place four red mock mailboxes near the palace walls into which protesters could place their letters. People then went home, ending the protest.

The police had let loose with their water cannons when protesters pushed aside one of several buses serving as a barrier to marchers trying to approach the palace, which houses the royal offices but is only used by King Maha Vajiralongkorn on infrequent ceremonial occasions. The attempt to break through came after police had declared their march illegal and asked for protesters to send representatives to talk.

The protesters had met earlier at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument and marched as darkness fell, pushing past an initial thin line of police. Protesters threw objects at police during the melee, but both sides backed off after a few minutes and it appeared that no one suffered any serious injuries.

MARSHALL » The police chief of a small Arkansas city has resigned after posting online threats of violence that targeted Democrats.

Marshall Mayor Kevin Elliott said in a statement Saturday that Police Chief Lang Holland had resigned effective immediately.

Elliott said the city “strongly condemns” Holland’s posts. He said the community doesn’t “in any way support or condone bullying or threats of violence to anyone of any political persuasion.”

Holland made the comments on Parler, a right- wing site similar to Twitter, and they were no longer viewable as of Saturday, the Arkansas Democrat- Gazette reported.