Florida Recovers Millions Lost to Cyber Scams
(Ocala, FL) -- Florida's attorney general says investigators have recovered millions of dollars lost in online scams targeting seniors. During a news conference in Ocala, AG James Uthmeier says the state's Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit tracked down more than five-million dollars in cryptocurrency tied to a romance-turned-investment scheme affecting victims in Florida and Massachusetts. Officials say the scams often begin on online dating sites and can drain life savings within weeks. In one case, a man believed he had lost 450-thousand dollars in a scam until Marion County deputies notified him that it had been recovered. Law enforcement is urging victims or their families to report suspected fraud right away, saying help is available.
Feds Want Teen Murder Suspect Back In Custody
(Orlando, FL) -- An effort is underway to get a teen murder suspect from Brevard County back behind bars.The 16-year-old Titusville boy identified as T.H. is accused of killing his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, on a cruise ship in November. T.H. was released from jail, but he was indicted Monday as an adult, so federal prosecutors want him back in custody. As an adult, he could get life in prison, but as a minor, he could have been released at 21.
Former Miami-Dade School Board Member Pleads Guilty In Theft Case
(Miami, FL) -- A former member of the Miami-Dade School Board is now in prison. Former Vice Chair Lubby Navarro pled guilty yesterday to third-degree grand theft as part of a plea deal. The charge dates back to two years ago when she was accused of using a district credit card to buy 100-thousand dollars worth of personal items.After the plea, Navarro was taken into custody to begin serving her 14-month sentence. She was also ordered to pay over 100-thousand dollars in restitution.
Details Released On Rays Stadium Funding
(Tampa, FL) -- Details are out on how Hillsborough County and Tampa could help pay for a new baseball stadium. Documents released yesterday show the how the county and city plan to contribute over 900 million dollars for the future home of the Tampa Bay Rays at Hillsborough College.The county can pay over 700 million while the city can come up with over 220 million. Both plan to use revenue from a half-cent sales tax. Other funding sources include the county's Tourist Development Tax, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency and county budget reserves. The Tampa Bay Times reports the county commission will discuss the project at a workshop tomorrow.
DeSantis Signs Bill Honoring Bowden
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Bobby Bowden's name will live on forever in Tallahassee. Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill yesterday that renames the airport as Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport.DeSantis says he can think of no better person from the community that people looked up to for decades to name the airport after. Bowden was Florida State University's head football coach for over 30 years until his retirement in 2009. He passed away five years ago at the age of 91. Bowden won 12 ACC titles and 2 national titles, but Tallahassee State Senator and former Seminole Corey Simon says Bowden was like a father to him and a lot of other players.
New Shark Alert System At AL Beaches
(Undated) -- There is a new shark alert system along the Alabama coast, the first of its kind anywhere in the country. It went into effect Monday in Baldwin and Mobile counties according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It's modeled after emergency alert systems like Amber Alerts. A text will be sent to cell phones in coastal areas if there is a confirmed unprovoked shark attack.
Today in History
2013, two bomb blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon resulted in three deaths and multiple injuries. The bombs exploded about 12 seconds apart. The FBI later identified two Chechen brothers as the primary suspects in the blasts. One was killed in a shootout with police days after the bombings. The second was taken into custody.
1947, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers broke the baseball color line when the team started him at first base.
1923, Insulin became available for general use in treating diabetes.
1865, President Abraham Lincoln died hours after being shot by John Wilkes Booth at Washington's Ford Theatre. He was 56-years-old. Andrew Johnson was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States.