Local Law Enforcement Responds To Gilchrist County Tragedy (Orlando, FL) -- Condolences are being sent from deputies and police officers in Central Florida to colleagues dealing with a tragedy. Two deputies in Gilchrist County were shot and killed yesterday at a restaurant in Trenton before the gunman killed himself. According to Florida Today the gunman walked up outside the restaurant and shot the two deputies through the window. There is no known motive for the killing.
Jacobs Wants Orange County To Require Waiting Periods And Background Checks (Orlando, FL) -- Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs wants the county commission to require waiting periods and background checks for private gun sales. The county had those requirements in place in the 1990s but dropped them in 2011 when the state threatened local governments that imposed their own gun laws. Jacobs recently told Channel 9 she's confident the state will not challenge the county's constitutional rights. COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS…WHY DO WE ELECT PEOPLE TO OFFICE WHO ARE CONFUSED?
Wakulla, Hamilton Counties Lose Legal Challenge To HB 7069 (Tallahassee, FL) -- A couple Northwest Florida counties are dealing with a setback in their challenge to a controversial education law. A Leon County Circuit Court judge this week ruled against Wakulla, Hamilton and other school districts suing over HB 7069. The plaintiffs claim the law that passed last year unfairly promotes charter schools at the expense of traditional public schools. The judge rejected arguments that questioned the way the state was funding charter schools.
MSD Students Taking Part In National School Walkout Day (Parkland, FL) -- Today is National School Walkout Day to call for reforms to prevent more mass shootings. Students and teachers at Stoneman Douglas High School will be part of the walkout taking place on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting. One MSD teacher tells 'CBS4' these public events are needed to make sure calls for gun reform don't get ignored. INTERESTING THEY ARE NOT TALKING ACTUAL SCHOOL SAFETY.
Memorial Unveiled For Fallen Thunderbird Pilot (Melbourne, FL) -- A man who had a brief but memorable impression on the area is now memorialized at Melbourne International Airport. An artist yesterday unveiled a tribute he painted for US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Major Stephen Del Bagno. He died in a training run in Nevada not long after he debuted with the Thunderbirds at the Melbourne Air and Space Show last month. Air show organizer Bryan Lilley tells "Florida Today" he thought it was important to honor a man who touched so many people in just one show.
Operator In 911 Hang-Ups Sentenced (Houston, TX) -- A 911 operator in Texas will spend ten days behind bars for hanging up on emergency callers. Prosecutors in Houston say Crenshanda Williams intentionally disconnected hundreds of callers during her year-and-a-half on the job and was convicted this week of misdemeanor interference with emergency telephone calls. They say she had thousands of "short-calls" during her time and even told one caller "Ain't nobody got time for this." Her trial lasted three days and ended with an order for her to serve ten days in jail and 18 months on probation.
Lawmaker Helps Police Catch Shoplifter (Lexington, SC) -- A soon to be South Carolina lawmaker is making headlines for stopping a lawbreaker. Chris Wooten of Lexington, who is set to take over the House District 69 seat in a few weeks, tackled a thief who was trying to get away from cops. They say the bad guy robbed a Kohl's store earlier this week but picked the wrong area to run to. Wooten is a former Marine, football player and state trooper and brought the suspect down relatively quickly. Officers made the arrest and Wooten is set to be sworn in to the state Legislature soon.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2016, ESPN fired former MLB All-Star Curt Schilling after sharing an offensive post on Facebook over the North Carolina "bathroom law."
1999, two teenage gunmen opened fire on students and teachers at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado killing 13 people before turning their guns on themselves.
1961, the Federal Communications Commission approved F-M Stereo broadcasting. It now accounts for more than 80-percent of all radio listening around the country.
1853, Harriet Tubman started her Underground Railroad, helping slaves to freedom.
1832, an act of Congress established Hot Springs National Park as the first national park in the United States.