Orlando Lawmaker Criticizes New Medical Marijuana Bill
(Tallahassee, FL) -- A new attempt to make smokable medical marijuana safer could have unintended consequences. That's what Orlando State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith said yesterday about a bill that limits the level of THC allowed in smokable medical marijuana. THC is what creates the high users can get, and supporters of the bill say too much THC is dangerous. The bill passed a House committee yesterday, but Smith says less THC means customers will have to buy more pot or just buy marijuana with higher THC levels on the black market.
Launch Could Take Place Tonight
(Cape Canaveral, FL) -- Tonight could be the night for a much-anticipated rocket launch. Kennedy Space Center hopes to launch a SpaceX Falcon Heavy between 6:36 and 8:35 tonight.Launch conditions are 80-percent Go. The Falcon Heavy is the world's most powerful rocket in operation.In a demonstration launch last year the rocket carried a Tesla roadster into space. Three sonic booms are expected after the three boosters separate and land at their intended targets.
Two Hurt In Police Chase
(Casselberry, FL) -- Two people are hurt after a crash involving a man fleeing police in Orange County. Winter Park Police tried to pull over an armed robbery suspect yesterday, but the suspect, in a stolen truck, refused to pull over. Instead, he apparently crashed into another car in Casselberry and hurt two people inside the car. There's no update on their conditions, and the suspect got away on foot.
Fake Cop Making The Rounds In Kissimmee
(Kissimmee, FL) -- A search is underway for three men who are apparently pretending to be police officers in Osceola County. Business owners in Kissimmee called police yesterday about three men who identified themselves as police officers and asked for a monthly donation. The real Kissimmee Police say it's a scam, and they posted photos of the men on the police Twitter page. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Parents Meet To Discuss School Threats
(Tampa, FL) -- Parents are worried a Hillsborough County charter school isn't doing enough to protect their children. A student at Sunlake Academy Math and Science threatened a shooting at the school last month, but school officials said it was all just a rumor. They later amended that statement, but parents are concerned about the initial reaction. At a meeting, last night, parents told ABC Action News the school has done nothing to prevent another Parkland or Sandy Hook attack.
Navy Discusses Water Testing Results
(Pensacola, FL) -- Those who live near NAS Pensacola are being told to be patient with efforts to improve the water quality. Navy officials met with residents, yesterday, to discuss plans to clean up the water, which was found to contain chemicals used in firefighting. Some water samples showed unsafe levels of the chemical, which some worry can cause cancer. Navy officials say it could take years before remediation is complete, though they're trying to expedite the process.
Worst Florida Cities For Drunk Driving
(Undated) -- Drunk driving is a big problem in certain Florida cities. According to a new study by LendingTree, Sarasota is the worst in the state for DUI deaths. Number two is Lakeland, and the third worst city is Jacksonville. The rankings were determined by looking at 2017 fatal crash records. More than 500 people died in Florida that year because of drinking and driving.
Florida Man Arrested For Turtle Army Threat
(Indialantic, FL) -- A local man is in custody after threatening to destroy a town with an army of turtles. Indialantic officials say 61-year-old Thomas Devaney Lane accosted several town businesses by yelling obscenities, calling himself a "saint" and promising to "destroy everyone" using his turtle army. After his arrest, Lane reportedly threw a violent tantrum before leaving the police station and being picked up again for harassing customers at a Seven-Eleven. He is now in Brevard County Jail on charges of disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and misusing 911.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1998, the anti-impotence drug Viagra began selling on the market.
1998, British and Irish negotiators reached a landmark settlement in the Northern Ireland peace talks to end 30 years of bitter rivalries and bloody attacks in the region.
1849, Walter Hunt of New York City patented the safety pin. He immediately sold the patent rights for 100-dollars.