At Least Five Killed In Bank Hostage Situation (Sebring, FL) -- A former Department of Corrections officer is accused of killing five people inside a Highlands County bank. The identities of those killed at the SunTrust Bank in Sebring yesterday will be released this morning. Suspect Zephen Xaver [[ ZEF-en ZAY-ver ]] started work at the Avon Park Correctional Institution in November and resigned this month. There were no discipline issues involving the 21-year-old, who will make his first court appearance today.
Student Arrested For Threatening Mass Shooting (Lehigh Acres, FL) -- A student is accused of threatening a shooting at his school in Lee County. Thirteen-year-old Daniel Mangham was arrested this week after deputies say he made threats, online, about Varsity Lakes Middle School, in Lehigh Acres. Deputies say the threats were made in an Instagram chat with some classmates. Mangham is now in the Juvenile Assessment Center.
Judge Won't Hold Broward Sheriff's Office In Contempt (Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- A Judge is saying no to a request by lawyers of accused Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz. They wanted the Broward County Sheriff's Office to be held in contempt, because it improperly released Cruz' medical records to the state commission investigating the massacre. Judge Elizabeth Scherer says the BSO may not have known about restrictions she placed on the release of his records. In last year's Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 17 people were killed and 17 others were injured.
Orlando Metro Area Ranks As Most Dangerous For Pedestrians (Orlando, FL) -- It looks like Central Florida has a long way to go before it becomes safe for pedestrians. A study released yesterday ranks the most dangerous metro areas in the country for walking, and four of the five most dangerous are in our area. Smart Growth America ranks Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford as the most dangerous, followed by Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach. Number-three is Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, and the fifth most dangerous is the Lakeland-Winter Haven area.
UCF Board To Consider Discipline Against President (Orlando, FL) -- UCF might take action against its president for the school's illegal spending. The board of trustees will meet today to discuss withholding performance bonuses from President Dale Whittaker. State officials announced last year that the school broke the law by using millions in operational funding for building construction. If the board votes to suspend Whittaker's bonus pay, that would amount to over a hundred thousand dollars for this year and 2018 combined.
Brevard Names Teacher Of The Year (Titusville, FL) -- A Brevard County teacher is drawing praise for her work. The district yesterday named Eau Gallie High School's Shannon Kraeling as Teacher of the Year. She teaches ceramics at the Melbourne school, but she says what she really teaches is how to succeed through perseverance, reevaluation and even failure. The award comes with prizes that include free use of a car for a year, a laptop, free Domino's pizza for a year, tickets to Legoland and Universal Studios, and one-thousand dollars cash.
Online Game Simulator Predicts Rams 24, Patriots 21 (Los Angeles, CA) -- An online game simulator is predicting a Rams victory in Super Bowl 53. Tecmo Super Bowl played the contest in a virtual setting and had Los Angeles beating the New England Patriots by a score of 24 to 21. The game was reportedly highlighted by stunning last-second scores from both teams in both halves. Tecmo Super Bowl correctly predicted last year's outcome in which the Eagles knocked off the Patriots.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1999, the International Olympic Committee voted to expel six IOC members in the wake of charges that committee members had accepted money and other compensation from officials whose cities were bidding to host the Olympic games.
1989, serial killer Ted Bundy was put to death in Florida's electric chair.
1984, Apple Computer Incorporated unveiled its new Macintosh personal computer.
1964, CBS acquired the rights to broadcast National Football League games.
1922, the Eskimo Pie was patented.