Mick's Morning News with Jorge Medina

UCF President Offers To Resign Over Misspent Money 

(Orlando, FL) -- UCF's president could be the latest casualty of the school's spending problems. President Dale Whittaker offered his resignation yesterday after less than a year on the job. As provost five years ago, Whittaker approved improperly using operational funding for school construction costs. Other school officials have already resigned, and the Board of Trustees will meet at an unknown date to discuss whether to accept Whittaker's resignation.  

Lawmaker Blames 'Overzealous Republicans' For Whittaker Resignation 

(Orlando, FL) -- An Orlando lawmaker, who's also a UCF alum, believes the GOP is playing politics with the school's spending scandal. Democratic State Rep Carlos Guillermo-Smith yesterday blamed overzealous Republicans for using the spending issue as a way to punish public universities. The District 49 lawmaker says the school has made changes to avoid misspending public funds in the future, but his colleagues remain obsessed with the school. Democratic State Rep Anna Eskamani is also a UCF alum, and she called for lawmakers to stop attacking UCF and apply similar scrutiny to private corporations.  

Student Files Federal Complaint After Pledge Arrest 

(Lakeland, FL) -- An arrest at a Polk County school that made headlines around the country will be the subject of a civil rights complaint. A lawyer for a sixth-grader at Lakeland's Lawton Chiles Middle Academy announced this week the complaint will be filed with the US Department of Education. The eleven-year-old is accused of making threats after a teacher asked him to leave the classroom when he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance two weeks ago. The boy's lawyer tells The Ledger his client was denied his constitutional right to free speech.  

Expanded Use Of Drones Proposed For Law Enforcement Agencies 

(Tallahassee, FL) -- The Florida House is considering a proposal to use drones more often to help Florida law enforcement agencies fight crime. Today in Tallahassee, legislators are considering HB-75, which would expand the circumstances in which deputies and police officers could use aerial surveillance. They are currently limited by privacy laws. 

First Of Kind Self Driving Shuttle System Coming To Orlando 

(Orlando, FL) -- A system of self-driving shuttles is coming to the Lake Nona community of Orlando. The 15-person buses will be the first of a kind in Florida, and one of the first in the country. There will be someone on board to monitor the vehicle's functions, but otherwise they will operate on their own. 

Razor Blades Found Under Handles Of Walmart Shopping Carts In NC 

(Siler City, NC) -- Police in North Carolina are searching for two men who left razor blades under shopping cart handles at a Walmart. The blades were left under several cart handles at a Walmart store in Siler City on Sunday. A customer and an employee were both cut, but no one else was severely injured. 

Prosthetic Leg Stolen In San Francisco Car Burglary 

(San Francisco, CA) -- San Francisco Police are looking for a prosthetic leg stolen in a car burglary. The leg was swiped from a 41-year-old man's car parked an alley called Cleveland Street near the Hall of Justice about 6:00 Saturday evening. Police say brazen smash-and-grab car break-ins are still a huge problem even though overall auto burglaries have dropped off recently. They fell 17-percent last year and have steadily declined since peaking at more than 31-thousand in 2017.  

TODAY IN HISTORY:

2013, former Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. pled guilty to campaign finance fraud. He was accused of improperly using 750-thousand dollars in campaign funds to live a lavish lifestyle.

1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.

1944, the "Batman and Robin" comic strip appeared in newspapers for the first time. 

1872, The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City.

1792, President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act.


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