Florida Adds Extra Days Off For July 4th
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Governor DeSantis is giving Florida state employees extra time off for Independence Day.State offices will be closed July 2nd and July 6th, in addition to the regular July 3rd holiday, creating a five-day weekend. The move comes as the state marks the nation's 250th anniversary, with the governor saying it gives state workers more time to celebrate and take part in America 250 events. Nearly 100-thousand state employees will benefit from this extended break.
Four Shot In Jacksonville
(Jacksonville, FL)-- A Jacksonville teenager's instincts may have saved her life. Four people were shot Saturday night at a block party in Sherwood Forest on Norfolk Boulevard. Mikayla Hooper says she was invited to the party, but she didn't go because she feared it wouldn't be safe. She says her first thought was there was going to be a shooting, and it's sad you can't even just go and have some fun without possibly losing your life.Hooper tells First Coast News the violence is just really getting out of hand. Meanwhile, no arrest has been announced, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says the four victims are expected to survive.
St. Petersburg Police Expanding Drone Program
(St. Petersburg, FL)-- St. Petersburg Police are putting more eyes in the sky to catch the bad guys. The police department is expanding its drone program by training more officers in how to operate them. Sergeant Robert Long helps with the training, and he says they're getting three times as many applicants as they can handle. Another training session is set for next month. Long tells Bay News 9 the goal is to eventually have the ability to have drone coverage 24/7.
Mural Unveiled For World Cup
(Miami, FL) -- There's another sign Miami is catching World Cup fever. A mural was unveiled yesterday off Southwest 2nd Ave. The One Game, One Youth mural shows a diverse group of young soccer players. A rep for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee tells 7News it celebrates futbol, community and youth. Meanwhile, Uruguay plays Saudi Arabia at 6:00 tonight at Hard Rock Stadium.
Summer BBQ Food Report Shows 14-Percent 'Burger Tax'
(San Francisco, CA)-- The cost of hosting a summer barbecue has jumped. According to the newly released Wells Fargo summer BBQ food report, grilling for ten people will set you back an average of 161 dollars or about 16 dollars per person. The price of beef has soared by 14-percent this year. Chicken and pork products rose three-percent, while hot dogs are up five-percent. The report says ready-made sides are up three-percent because of higher manufacturing wages being passed on to consumers.
Brain Chemical May Be Responsible For Teen Risk-Taking
(Pittsburgh, PA)-- A new study suggests a brain chemical deficiency may be why some teens are inclined to do dumb things. Researchers reported in the journal Nature Communications that risk-taking teens might be compensating for low levels of dopamine in their brains. The study's lead author from the University of Pittsburgh says the results show that for some teens, risk-taking may act as a way "to get the system going" when dopamine is low. The study found that teens who had lower levels of dopamine were most likely to try substances like marijuana or alcohol. As the teens in the study got older their dopamine systems matured and substance use tended to decrease.
Today in History
2007, CBS aired Bob Barker's final appearance on the long running game show "The Price Is Right" twice --once in daytime and once in prime time.Months earlier, the 83-year-old Barker announced he was retiring from the show he launched back in 1972.
1995, O.J. Simpson struggled to fit into a pair of leather gloves that prosecutors at the trial said were used in the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
1917, the Espionage Act passed, making it illegal to spy against the United States.
1775, George Washington became Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.