Brush Fire Spreads In Brevard County
(Port St. John, FL) -- A brush fire is responsible for evacuating homes and shutting down roads here in Brevard. The Horse Stable Fire started yesterday afternoon in Port St. John off Golfview Avenue and grew to 300 acres before firefighters started to get the upper hand. The smoke caused FHP to shut down part of SR 407. Some residents were evacuated to Space Coast Junior-Senior High School, but no casualties were reported.
Bill Arming Teachers Moves Through State Senate
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Florida could be a step closer to having armed teachers in classrooms. State senators yesterday moved forward with a bill that allows teachers to be armed if their district joins the school guardian program. Less than half the school districts in Florida have joined the program, and Seminole County Senator David Simmons tells Channel 9 that decision is solely up to the district. The bill is likely to go before the full Senate next week.
FSU Student Addresses Lawmakers On Immigration Bill
(Tallahassee, FL) -- A Florida State student believes lawmakers are putting some of her classmates in danger. Student Senator Amy Morales addressed state senators yesterday as they discussed a bill that would ban sanctuary cities in Florida. The bill's sponsor says it's about respecting the law, but Morales, whose father was deported when she was a child, says it will make all undocumented FSU students feel unsafe. The bill passed a Senate committee and now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
Israel's Lawyers Claim Suspension By Governor Is 'Power Grab'
(Tallahassee, FL) -- A suspended sheriff is fighting back against what he calls a power grab by the governor. Lawyers for Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel filed a motion yesterday with the state Supreme Court over the suspension imposed by Governor Ron DeSantis. They claim DeSantis' suspension is unconstitutional because the actions for which he is suspended happened before DeSantis became governor. They also say since Israel is an elected official, it should be up to the voters to decide his fate.
USF Tampa Ranked As Least Safe College Campus In State
(Tampa, FL) -- Some USF-Tampa students don't agree with the recent findings of a campus safety study. Alarms.org ranks USF's Tampa campus as the least safe among all Florida colleges, but USF Police Chief Chris Daniel tells the Tampa Bay Times crime has been dropping in recent years. Students tell News Channel 8 the area around the school has some problems, but they feel safe on campus. USF's St. Petersburg campus, by the way, ranks as Florida's third safest, while Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers is considered the safest.
Man Killed, Woman Injured By Pet Deer
(Australia) -- An Australian man is dead and his wife is critically injured after being attacked by their pet deer. Police in Victoria say 46-year-old Paul McDonald went to feed his pet deer, who was kept by the family for six years, when it attacked him. His wife went to help him but was then attacked herself, though the couple's teenage son saved her by hitting the deer with a piece of wood. The man died after being gored by the deer's antlers. Police shot and killed the deer when they arrived on the family's property. Some are blaming the incident on the unpredictable behavior of deer in general.
Rob Gronkowski Dents Lombardi Trophy
(Boston, MA) -- Now retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had an accident with the Lombardi Trophy at the Opening Day for the Boston Red Sox. Gronkowski used the trophy the Patriots won for defeating the Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl 53 as a baseball bat. The ball ended up leaving a dent in the trophy. The Patriots might opt to fix the trophy in the future but for now are leaving it.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1999, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky retired from the National Hockey League. He set more than 60 league records during his 20-year career, including most points, most goals and most assists. He also won four Stanley Cups.
1995, quarterback Joe Montana retired from the National Football League with four Super Bowl rings.
1984, Michael Jackson underwent scalp surgery to repair damage done when his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
1910, Walter Brookins made the first airplane flight at night.
1775, Paul Revere made his famous ride from Boston to Concord, Massachusetts to warn citizens of the approaching British army.