Successful Rocket Launch At Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral, FL) -- The most recent rocket launch is expected to be a life-saver. That's what NOAA says about yesterday's launch of a weather satellite at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket took off at 5:02 from Launch Complex 41. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration tells "Florida Today" the weather satellite marks a quantum leap when it comes to predicting future storms and their severity.
Montford Supports Funding For More School Resource Officers (Tallahassee, FL) -- A Tallahassee Democrat is facing some tough questions over a bill he says is a matter of life and death. Bill Montford voted in committee for a school safety bill that includes a plan to arm teachers. That vote led to some criticism yesterday from Democrats who oppose the bill, but Montford tells the "Tallahassee Democrat" we can't go back to school this August with the way things are now. Discussion on the proposal will continue today and Montford will push for more funding for school resource officers as an alternative to arming teachers.
Four Students Charged For Making Threats In Volusia County (DeLand, FL) -- Four students are facing charges for threatening violence at their schools. Volusia County deputies yesterday charged a 14-year-old boy at Port Orange's Creekside Middle School, a 14-year-old girl at Deltona High School, a 15-year-old boy at Deltona High and a 17-year-old boy at New Smyrna Beach High School. Since the Broward County school shooting more than two weeks ago, the "Daytona Beach News-Journal:" reports 19 Volusia County students have been arrested for making threats against their schools.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Proposes Assault Weapons Ban (Tampa, FL) -- A Hillsborough County lawmaker isn't willing to wait for Washington or Tallahassee to do something about gun control. Commissioner Les Miller wants to pass an assault weapons ban at the county level. His proposal was put on the agenda yesterday for next week's commission meeting. State law threatens local lawmakers with fines and removal from office if they enact their own gun laws, but Miller tells the "Tampa Bay Times" he doesn't care so long as he can look in the mirror and know he did the right thing.
Drunk NJ Man Takes Multi-State $1600 Uber Ride (Gloucester County, NJ) -- A New Jersey man is paying big for a night he doesn't remember and a ride he would rather forget. Kenny Bachman says he was partying with friends at West Virginia University when he called for an Uber car to take him back to where he was staying, not far from campus. He passed out and then awoke several hours later, discovering the driver was taking him back to Gloucester County, over 300 miles away. Bachman was horrified to discover the ride would cost him over 16-hundred-dollars. After initially disputing the fare with Uber, the man has now reportedly agree to pay it. MY MOUNTAINEERS NEED TO BE WATCHFUL OF RECRUITS THEY BRING TO THE CAMPUS!
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2016, the Department of Justice banned e-cigarettes on commercial airplanes.
2004, officials from NASA announced significant findings on the planet Mars. Among them, the discovery that Mars was once drenched with water and that it provided a good habitable environment for living organisms. It was a significant development in the ongoing quest to determine whether there was ever life on Mars.
1991, Iraq released CBS newsman Bob Simon and his crew who were held captive for nearly six weeks.
1981, shock-jock Howard Stern began broadcasting on WWDC in Washington D.C.
1949, the first automatic street light was installed in New Milford, Connecticut.
1877, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, even though Tilden had won the popular vote.
1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico.