Group Announces Effort To Pay Off Fines Of Ex-Felons
(Orlando, FL) -- There's a new effort to help ex-felons get their voting rights restored. The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition will announce today the launch of the Fines and Fees Fund, which will raise money to help ex-felons pay their remaining fines. Amendment Four gave ex-felons the right to vote, but they must pay off their fines before they can cast a ballot. Executive Director Desmond Meade tells the Orlando Sentinel the goal is to raise enough money to allow more than half a million ex-felons to vote.
Israel Files Election Paperwork
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- The former Broward County sheriff wants his job back, but he might have to go through the current sheriff to get it. Scott Israel filed papers yesterday seeking reelection as sheriff. He was in his second term when he was suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis in January. DeSantis appointed Gregory Tony as sheriff, and if Tony runs for election, which he has said he will, he and Israel would face off in a Democratic primary.
BSO Has Accreditation Revoked
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation voted last week to pull the Broward Sheriff’s Office's accreditation. The board cited the agency's response to the Parkland school shooting and the shooting two years ago at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Those incidents happened under the watch of Scott Israel, and new Sheriff Greg Tony said yesterday he's working on repairing the effects of Israel's bad leadership and negligence.
Gaetz Gets Apology From Buttigieg Staffer
(Washington, DC) -- A beef between Matt Gaetz and a presidential candidate appears to be over. The Republican congressman announced yesterday that he has received an apology from a woman involved with Democrat Pete Buttigieg's [[ boot-a-judge ]] campaign. After someone threw a drink at Gaetz in Pensacola last month, the staffer wrote on Facebook that next time she hopes someone throws urine at Gaetz. Gaetz says the staffer apologized in a very nice phone call, and for him, the issue is settled.
Merger Of Space Coast Companies Complete
(Melbourne, FL) -- Brevard County is now home to the state's largest aerospace and defense company. The merger between L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation was finalized yesterday. The merged company is known as L3Harris Technologies, Inc, and it's based in Melbourne. It is now the country's sixth-largest defense company and the state's eighth-largest company of any kind.
Woman Files Police Complaint Over Uber Ride
(Sarasota, FL) -- A Sarasota woman wants police to look into what she calls a terrifying Uber ride. Jennifer Peterson was in an Uber this weekend when she says the driver pulled into a parking lot off her route and refused to let her out. She describes being in a panic before the driver eventually unlocked the doors. She filed a police report, but she tells ABC 7 Sarasota police told her it was a civil matter they have no jurisdiction over.
Woman Arrested For Throwing Coffee At Restaurant Employee
(Seminole, FL) -- A teenager is facing charges for an incident at a Burger King that left an employee hurt in Pinellas County. Eighteen-year-old Anastasia Lantier allegedly threw a cup of hot coffee on a female employee this weekend at the Seminole Boulevard location. The alleged victim suffered second-degree burns, and Lantier is charged with aggravated battery. Deputies believe Lantier was upset over an incident at the drive-through, but no details were released.
New Hampshire Man Allegedly Bites K-9 Deputy
(Manchester, NH) -- A New Hampshire man is in custody after he allegedly bit a police K-9. Manchester police say they encountered 35-year-old Matthew Williams because he was reported to be "behaving erratically" in a hotel room. Williams was reportedly yelling, throwing items and being aggressive, which is when a K-9 team was called in. Upon entering, police say the dog was grabbed by Williams, who then started to growl and bit the dog on top of his head. The dog was not injured. Williams now faces charges of resisting arrest, simple assault, and willful interference with police dogs.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2007, President Bush commuted the prison sentence of former White House aid Lewis "Scooter" Libby. He was convicted of lying to investigators over who leaked the name of a CIA analyst. Libby was the former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney.
1985, General Motors announced the installation of electronic road maps in some of their higher priced cars.
1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The new law made it illegal to discriminate against people based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.