Former Palm Bay Official Withdraws Settlement Offer (Palm Bay, FL) -- A former Palm Bay official may be taking the city to court. Former city attorney Andrew Lannon recently withdrew a settlement offer he made to the city over accrued sick and vacation time. Lannon resigned last month when he was passed over for the job of Brevard County attorney. "Florida Today" reports the city council will discuss today if Lannon's resignation could be considered abandonment, which could get them off the hook for any money they owe. MORE ON THIS STORY DURING TODAY’S Bill Mick LIVE.
Indictment Unsealed Against Former Hospital CEO (Blountstown, FL) -- A former CEO is accused of stealing more than a million dollars from the hospital he once ran. Former Calhoun Liberty Hospital CEO Philip Hill was arraigned yesterday in Bay County. He's accused of running a shell company that he paid with hospital money for medical supplies the fake company supposedly sold to the hospital. Prosecutors say the scam went on for five years before Hill resigned as hospital CEO in 2015.
Student Arrested For Online Threat Against Classmate (Clearwater, FL) -- A Facebook Live video has a Pinellas County student in trouble. A student at Clearwater's Bayside High School was arrested yesterday for making a video this week in which she threatens to shoot a classmate. Deputies say the 17-year-old St. Petersburg resident can also be seen in the video holding what appears to be an AR-15 rifle. Deputies also say the girl did not have access to guns in her home, and they don't know where she got the gun.
Hillsborough County Approves Longer Wait Time For Gun Buys (Tampa, FL) -- The Hillsborough County commission voted yesterday to extend the waiting period for gun buys from three days to five. Commissioner Les Miller hopes this will give gun buyers who are thinking of doing something crazy more time to change their minds. Opponents are skeptical, though, and a firearms instructor tells 'Bay News 9' this is just a feel-good effort that won't work. AND DON’T THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE WAITING PERIOD UNDER CURRENT LAW?
Sesame Street Theme Park Coming To SeaWorld (Orlando, FL) -- A Sesame Street themed park is coming to SeaWorld Orlando in the spring of 2019. The park made the announcement today that there will be interactive experiences, wet and dry play areas, and a daily parade featuring Elmo and other characters from the legendary TV show. There will also be Mr. Hooper's store and Big Bird's nest for visitors to enjoy.
Play-Doh Fingerprint Helps Finger Shoplifting Suspect (Leicester, MA) -- A suspected shoplifter is under arrest after Massachusetts police used a fingerprint in Play-Doh to help identify the man. Leicester police said a shoplifter covered anti-theft devices at a Walmart with Play-Doh on December 11th. The alarms still sounded, and the suspect ran, but employees later found the devices covered in the compound behind the store. A piece of Play-Doh contained a fingerprint and police shared a photo of the print on March 29th. This week, police said the Connecticut Forensics Laboratory contacted them last month and said the print matched that of 55-year-old Dennis Jackson, who has warrants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was arrested and is being held without bond.
Father, Son Charged In Counterfeiting Scheme (Ravenna, OH) -- Portage County, Ohio authorities say father and son team Curtis and Justin Smith were busted the other day when officers located thousands-of-dollars in counterfeit money in their home. The younger Smith used some of the bills recently and that eventually led to the bust. Both dad and son already spent time behind bars after evidence of a meth lab was found in their home. Officials say the pair also had a stash of marijuana and meth in the home during this most recent arrest.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1979, British Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister in Great Brittain.
1963, more than one-thousand blacks, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, marched through the city of Birmingham, Alabama, in a peaceful protest against segregation in local stores and restaurants. The group was met with violence from Birmingham police. The violent response was captured on national television, which sparked a huge push in the civil rights movement.
1952, an airplane landed at the North Pole for the first time.
1945, an estimated five-thousand people were killed when British aircraft sunk the German passenger ship Cap Arcona. Most of the dead were former concentration camp prisoners on their way to freedom.
1936, Joe DiMaggio played his first major league baseball game for the New York Yankees.