Police Chief Critical Of Residents (Daytona Beach, FL) -- Daytona Beach Police Chief Crag Capri says the bodies of two 19-year-olds from Palm Beach County were found Friday, a day after they were apparently shot by a 19-year-old from Georgia. Capri says neighbors told investigators they heard gunshots Thursday night at the Jade Park Apartments, but no one called 911, and Capri says those neighbors failed in their responsibility.
A young adult is now facing charges for those murders. Georgia 19-year-old Damon Kemp was in court yesterday charged with second-degree murder.
Mexico Beach Marks Two Months Since Michael (Mexico Beach, FL) -- Ground Zero for Hurricane Michael in Florida is bouncing back strong from the storm. Mayor Al Cathey marked the two-month anniversary of the day Michael made landfall in Mexico Beach as a Category Four storm. Cathey says the city's heart is beating strong as businesses have reopened and essential utilities have been restored to all buildings able to receive them. Struggles remain, though, as before the storm, the city had more than 25-hundred dwelling units, but now, just 500 of those are habitable.
FIU Student Uses Exoskeleton To Receive Diploma (Sweetwater, FL) -- Graduating college is an accomplishment in and of itself, but for one FIU student, just walking across the stage was an achievement. Aldo Amenta graduated from FIU yesterday, three years after he was paralyzed diving into a pool. Yesterday, though, he was able to walk across the stage to receive his diploma thanks to an exoskeleton, and he tells Local 10 News it was a meaningful milestone. He might not be done with milestones, either, as he plans to pursue a Master's degree in electrical engineering.
Disney Ride Closed After Mishap (Lake Buena Vista, FL) -- A man's injury is responsible for closing a ride at Disney. The Miss Adventure Falls ride at Typhoon Lagoon was closed yesterday after an incident the day before. A man's arm was caught in the ride's conveyor belt Saturday afternoon, and he had to be airlifted to the hospital. He's expected to survive, and there's no word on when the ride will reopen.
Man Arrested For Theft At Job Interview (Hernando County, FL) -- A Florida man is in trouble with the law for allegedly stealing items during a job interview. Sheriff's deputies in Hernando County say Dominick Breedlove went to a Kohl's store last week to apply for a position but ended up leaving in handcuffs when he was caught shoplifting shoes. He's accused of taking a pair of Nike's and another pair of shows worth a total of about 150-dollars. Not surprisingly, he did not get the job.
Principal Placed On Leave Over Strict Ban On Christmas (Elkhorn, NE) -- An elementary school in Nebraska is dealing with a real life grinch. Manchester Elementary principal Jennifer Sinclair was placed on administrative leave last week after sending out a strict list banning certain Christmas items. On the list was Santa Claus, Christmas trees, red and green items and candy canes. According to the memo sent to teachers, candy canes were banned because "historically the J shape is for Jesus. The list included items that are appropriate which included polar bears, penguins, gingerbread people and snowmen. The school district put Sinclair on leave and reversed the ban after a free speech advocacy group posted the memo online saying it "violates the U.S. Constitution by showing hostility toward Christianity."
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2009, President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.
1996, South African President Nelson Mandela signed a law ending apartheid.
1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
1953, Hugh Hefner published the first "Playboy" magazine. The magazine featured a nude calendar photo of actress Marilyn Monroe.
1946, the Toys for Tots campaign was organized.
1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
1896, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel died. He founded the Nobel Prizes.
1817, Mississippi became the 20th state in the Union.