State Rep. Defends Blackface Photo
(Tallahassee, FL) -- A state rep from Central Florida is defending a photo that shows him in blackface. The photo shows District 32 Republican Anthony Sabatini in blackface while a student at Eustis High School. State Democratic Party Chair Terry Rizzo, yesterday, called for Sabbatini to resign, but Sabatini said the photo was just a joke between him and a black classmate who decided to dress like each other. That classmate tells the Orlando Sentinel the photo is not racist, and there's no need for Sabatini to step down.
Palm Beach County To Purchase New Voting Equipment For 15-Million
(Palm Beach County, FL) -- Palm Beach County Commissioners are planning to spend 15-million dollars for new voting equipment. The plan was approved yesterday after officials blamed the old equipment for missing a recount deadline during the controversial November election. The vote comes weeks after former Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher [[Booker]] formally resigned.
Girl Uses Forum To Address Bullying In Brevard County School
(Viera, FL) -- A nine-year-old Brevard County girl wants to turn bullying into a learning experience. Viera Charter School fourth-grader Jenna Gathercole held an assembly yesterday to teach her classmates about her autoimmune disease. Jenna has alopecia [[AL-oe-pea-shuh]], which causes her hair to fall out and leave her head with patchy bald spots. In a Powerpoint presentation, she said the genetic disorder could leave her completely bald one day, but she told her classmates, who took an anti-bullying pledge, she'll still be the same person she has always been.
Witnesses Pull Car Off Woman After Crash
(Spring Hill, FL) -- A husband is grateful to the Good Samaritans who may have saved his wife's life. Richard Nelson's wife, Nancy, was inside the Spring Hill Beef O'Brady's yesterday when a car crashed through and trapped her underneath. Witnesses ran to lift the car off of her. The 68-year-old is now in the ICU and facing the loss of an eye, but her husband tells 10News he's glad there are still good people in the world.
FSU Receives Record Number Of Applications
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Another record number of applications are being sent in for students wanting to attend Florida State University in 2019. So far, FSU has received more than 57-thousand first year requests for admission, which is an almost 12-percent increase over last year's record number of applications. The deadline to apply for admission this year is Thursday.
English Schools Add Mindfulness Classes
(London, England) -- Hundreds of schools in England will introduce a new class in mindfulness. According to the British government, the program, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is part of a trial initiative to improve youth mental health. In a statement, British education secretary Damian Hinds says, "As a society, we are much more open about our mental health than ever before, but the modern world has brought new pressures for children." Through this program, he says, children will start to be introduced gradually to issues around mental health, well-being and happiness right from the start of primary school.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2016 , Brett Favre was inducted into the pro Football hall of Fame. Favre was joined by wide receiver Marvin Harrison, linebacker Kevin Greene, tackle Orlando Pace, and head coach Tony Dungy in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2016.
2014 , Jay Leno hosted his final episode of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," ending 22 years as host of the late night talk show.
2007 , astronaut Lisa Nowak was charged with battery and attempted murder after she allegedly tried to kidnap a woman she considered a romantic rival.
1911 , the first old-age home for pioneers opened in Prescott, Arizona.
1865 , General Robert E. Lee was appointed General-in-Chief of the Confederate States Army.