Gyms Can Reopen Today
(Orlando, FL) -- Today marks another step in Florida's return to normal. Gyms can reopen at 50 percent capacity, and restaurants can now seat customers at up to 50-percent capacity.
Brevard County Churches Welcome Worshipers
(Titusville, FL) -- Churches are open again in Brevard County, but it appears not everyone is ready to go back. After holding recent services online, some churches held in-person services yesterday for the first time in weeks. At a Palm Bay church parishioners had their temperatures taken, staffers wore masks and gloves and social distancing was enforced. The pastor says attendance was only half of what he normally sees, but he's OK with that.He tells Florida Today he doesn't want people to come back until they feel safe.
Pence Announces Trip To Orlando
(Orlando, FL) -- The vice president is coming to Orlando, and he's not coming empty-handed. Vice President Mike Pence announced this weekend he'll visit Orlando on Wednesday. He'll visit a nursing home, and he'll be bringing PPE with him. Afterwards, he'll meet with tourism officials to discuss their plans for reopening, and he'll also meet with Governor Ron DeSantis.
Two Arrested For Inciting A Riot In Volusia County
(DeLand, FL) -- At least six people are facing charges after some block parties turned into what Volusia County deputies call a riot. Deputies say three thousand people attended parties Saturday afternoon in DeLand.Apparently things started getting out of hand as night fell. Deputies say someone pointed a gun at a deputy, another man threw a cup of alcohol at two other deputies, one man punched a deputy, a deputy and DeLand police officer were hit with a bar stool and a mason jar, and bottles were thrown at cruisers. Early yesterday morning, a Daytona Beach man and a DeLand man were arrested for inciting a riot.Four others were arrested on other charges.
Miami-Dade Joins Phase One Of Reopening Plan
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Miami-Dade is taking a big step today toward returning to normal. The county can enter Phase One of the state's reopening plan, but some cities are holding off. Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens and Hialeah will delay their reopenings until Wednesday, and some restaurants will remain closed until the following week. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he wants to move slowly because his city has the most COVID-19 cases in the state.
Fort Lauderdale Gyms Reopening Against Orders
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- Fort Lauderdale and Broward County are at odds over reopening. Florida's governor said last week that gyms could reopen today, but Broward County is not allowing gyms to do so. Fort Lauderdale, though, is allowing commercial gyms to reopen today at 50-percent capacity. Broward's vice mayor tells the Sun Sentinel the dispute could lead to a court fight.
Arrested NFL Players Appear In Court
(Miramar, FL) -- The lawyers for two NFL players arrested in Broward County claim their clients are innocent. The Seahawks' Quinton Dunbar and the Giants' Deandre Baker were in court yesterday following their arrests last week in Miramar. The two Miami natives are accused of armed robbery. The lawyers for both men say witnesses have changed their stories, and Baker's lawyer asks people not to rush to judgment.
Therapy Dog To Receive Honorary College Degree
(Blacksburg, VA) -- A therapy dog from a Virginia counseling center is going to receive an honorary college degree. Moose has worked with thousands of students at Virginia Tech. The eight year old yellow lab has participated in over 75-hundred counseling sessions according to his owner Trent Davis who is a licensed counselor and animal therapy specialist. Virginia Tech's dean told Davis Moose will receive an honorary doctor of veterinary medicine degree during the 2020 virtual commencement. Davis says he thinks Moose would make a pretty good vet.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2012, the Facebook social networking website made its debut as a publicly traded company. The company began trading at 38-dollars a share on Nasdaq. The initial public offering made founder Mark Zuckerberg the 29th richest person in the world.
1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier flying her plane over Rogers Dry Lake, California.
1914, "The Mariner" became the first steamboat with cargo to pass through the Panama Canal.
1896, the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed racial separation with its ruling in the Plessy versus Ferguson case. The decision sanctioned separate but equal public facilities for blacks and whites. The ruling was overturned 58 years later with the historic Brown vs. Board of Education ruling.
1652, Rhode Island enacted the first law declaring slavery illegal.