Carjacking Suspect Arrested In Volusia County
(Port Orange, FL) --OnStar is credited with helping deputies arrest a carjacking suspect in Volusia County. The sheriff's office released details yesterday of Tuesday's arrest of Robert Tokarz after he allegedly carjacked a woman in Port Orange.While deputies and Port Orange Police were chasing him, the sheriff's office learned OnStar was monitoring the car, and the company offered to slow the car down. The sheriff's office gave OnStar permission to do that, and the car slowed to a stop. Tokarz was removed by force and taken into custody. Besides carjacking, he's also charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing at high speed and driving with a revoked license.
Man Arrested For Hit & Run Involving Police Cruiser In Miami-Dade County
(Miami Beach, FL) -- A Georgia man is in custody after a hit-and-run involving a police cruiser in Miami-Dade County. Anthony Banks is due in court today after his arrest Tuesday in Miami. Miami Beach Police say an officer stopped him on 9th Street for a noise violation, and at one point, he allegedly backed his car into the cruiser and took off. Banks was later found at a car wash in Miami where police say he was trying to wash away evidence of the collision.
Bell Meets UF Faculty, Students & Staff
(Gainesville, FL) -- The man who wants to be the University of Florida's next president wants Gator Nation to know what his values are. Stuart Bell addressed students, faculty and staff yesterday. He says he believes in merit, excellence, opportunity, intellectual diversity and a free exchange of ideas. Bell said he won't bring DEI or any form of "woke" back. Instead, he's going to build on Florida's commitment to merit through excellence, to academic achievement, to equal opportunity and the hard work of the students. The 69-year-old was president at the University of Alabama for 10 years. The UF Board of Trustees will vote next Thursday on his nomination.
Polk County Man Withdraws Application To Build Wedding Venue
(Bartow, FL) -- A fight over a wedding venue in Polk County is over. Ben Badcock withdrew his application yesterday to build a barn on his property near Bartow at Reynolds and Weita roads. He wanted to rent out the barn for weddings, but neighbors went before the planning commission to stop him. They said it would disrupt their peace and quiet. Before the commission could vote, Badcock decided to pull the plug on the project. His rep tells News Channel 8 that Badcock wanted to be a good fit, and once it became clear people were not comfortable with the barn, he calmly withdrew.
Uber Ranks Most Forgetful Cities
(San Francisco, CA) -- Thousands of items get left behind by passengers in Ubers every year. Now the rideshare company is out with a list, the "Lost and Found Index," ranking the most forgetful cities along with some of the more unusual items left behind. New York City tops the list with most items left behind in Ubers, followed by Miami, Chicago and San Francisco. The most common items left behind include phones, wallets, luggage, keys, and headphones. Some of the more unusual items on the list include dentures, breast milk, an ankle monitor, and a child's prosthetic eye.
Today in History
2007, Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was indicted on 16 counts related to bribery, fraud and conspiracy.Prosecutors say Jefferson used his position and influence to promote the sale of telecommunications equipment to a Nigerian company in return for stock and cash payments.
1990, Doctor Jack Kevorkian helped an Oregon woman commit suicide, starting the debate over a patient's right to die.
1919, Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
1896, Henry Ford took a test drive in his "Quadricycle," his first automobile design.