Brush Fire In Palm Bay (Palm Bay, FL) -- There could be some tired firefighters this morning after a busy night in Brevard County. Crews overnight were monitoring a brush fire that spread to over 500 acres in Palm Bay near the Micco Preserve. At last report the fire was 50-percent contained, but no homes were in danger. "Florida Today" reports 23 crews from Palm Bay Fire, Brevard County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service were working on the fire and looking for a cause.
Police Shooting In Seminole County (Casselberry, FL) -- A police-involved shooting is responsible for turning a street in Seminole County into what one witness calls a battlefield. Casselberry Police say during an argument, Joseph Hoffman shot Jonathan Lewis and also fired at two officers but missed. Hoffman was hit when officers returned fire, and he is now in stable but critical condition, while Lewis is in stable condition. A neighbor tells Fox 35 the shooting is another sign of how violent the Orlando area is becoming.
Murals Sprouting Up Around Orlando (Orlando, FL) -- The sides of buildings have been popular canvases in Orlando, and now the fronts of buildings are starting to be, too. Three years ago, the city started a pilot program that allowed artists to paint murals on the sides and backs of buildings, but a new policy allows the fronts of buildings to be used as well. College Park is one neighborhood where you can already see artists taking advantage of the new policy. One business owner tells the "Orlando Sentinel" the murals have already improved the neighborhood, and they're also giving local artists a chance to showcase their talents. LET’S HOPE THE CITY OF MELBOURNE IS NOT THE ARBITER OF ART FOR ORLANDO, TOO!
April Gas Prices Hit 4-Year High (Tampa, FL) -- Today is the final day of the most expensive April at the pump in four years. Triple-A reports that gas prices in Florida averaged $2.67/gallon this month, up 25 cents from April of last year. For the week, the average for a gallon of regular remained steady at $2.74. The most expensive gas price average is in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area at $2.86 a gallon; the least expensive is in the Tampa Bay and Orlando areas at $2.67.
Gun Emoji Switched For Water Pistol (Undated) -- Microsoft, Google and Facebook are joining other platforms in changing the gun emoji to a water pistol. Samsung and Twitter have also changed the image. Apple was the first to make the switch back in 2016. Microsoft said it was changing the emoji to reflect the company's values and after looking at the feedback it had received. The changes come after mass demonstrations for gun control in the wake of the Parkland, Florida high school massacre in February.
Mother Gets Probation For Reckless Endangerment Of Child (Ozaukee County, WI) -- A Wisconsin woman is going to spend two years on probation after driving around with her son on the roof of her car. Amber Schmunk of Grafton, Wisconsin admitted to putting her nine-year-old son on the roof of her minivan to hold down a plastic pool last September. The child wasn't hurt but the 29-year-old Schmunk entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of second-degree reckless endangering. The judge had some tough words for Schmunk during her sentencing last week and also ordered her to take parenting classes.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2001, the first "space tourist," California businessman Dennis Tito arrived at the international space station aboard a Russian spacecraft.
1993, number one-ranked tennis star Monica Seles was stabbed in the back during a match in Hamburg, Germany. The man who stabbed her described himself as a fan of second-ranked player Steffi Graf.
1992, more than 44-million viewers tuned in to see the finale of the popular NBC sitcom, "The Cosby Show." LITTLE DID THEY KNOW, THE REAL FINALE WAS JUST LAST WEEK!
1964, the FCC ruled all television receivers should be equipped for VHF and the new UHF.
1945, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide along with his wife Eva Braun as Russian troops closed in on his hiding place in Berlin. Hitler was 56.
1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt became first chief executive to appear on TV. Roosevelt spoke at the opening ceremonies of the World's Fair in Flushing, New York.
1798, the U.S. Department of the Navy was established.
1789, George Washington took office as the first president of the United States.