Brevard Schools Take Alternative to STOMP Safety Plan
(Viera, FL) – The Brevard School Board voted last night to implement a school safety plan that does not include the STOMP program suggested by Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Florida Today reports that the board indefinitely delayed consideration of arming school personnel after voting to hire armed security that would be employees of the district. This will allow each school to have at least one armed person, either a School Resource Officer or a Security Officer, in each of the county’s schools. BOARD VICE CHAIR TINA DESCOVICH WILL BE WITH US IN TODAY’S 8AM HOUR OF BML.
Former Cop Takes Plea For Shooting Unarmed Teen (Viera, FL) -- A former police officer won't serve jail time for shooting an unarmed teenager. "Florida Today" reports former Rockledge Officer Nicholas Galluzzi agreed to a plea deal yesterday that comes with one year of probation. He was originally charged with attempted manslaughter for shooting a 17-year-old burglary suspect in the chest in 2016. In body camera footage, Galluzzi says he shot the teenager because the boy kept moving his hands after being told not to move.
Police Officer Charged With Assault (Miami, FL) -- A Miami Police officer is facing charges for trying to kick a suspect in the head. Mario Figueroa was charged yesterday with assault for the incident last week that was caught on video. He's also facing termination. While another officer was holding the suspect down on the ground, Figueroa is seen on video trying to kick the man in the head. A state prosecutor says there's no excuse for Figueroa's actions.
Seven Arrested For Stealing Homes From Deceased Owners (Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- Seven people are facing charges for stealing the homes of dead people. Broward County deputies announced the arrests last night in what is being called Operation Tomb Raider. The seven are accused of illegally taking ownership of more than 40 homes, including 18 owned by the deceased. Deputies say the suspects would use power of attorney to access the bank accounts of the dead victims, and they forged documents to make the process look legitimate.
JSO Officer Charged With Beating Handcuffed Teenager (Jacksonville, FL) -- A Jacksonville police officer is accused of beating a teenage suspect while the boy was in handcuffs. State prosecutors yesterday released video and pictures of the incident from over a year ago involving Officer Tim James. Video appears to show James slamming 17-year-old Elias Campos to the ground while the boy's hands were cuffed behind his back. Photos show Campos with blood on his face and a cut near his eye. WAS HE STILL RESISTING EVEN TOUGH HANDCUFFED?
Phone Company Blames Church For Allowing Phones To Be Hacked (Tarpon Springs, FL) -- A phone company refuses to let a church off the hook for fraudulent charges. Tarpon Springs' St. Timothy Lutheran Church recently had its phone system hacked, and the church wound up with a bill of almost three thousand dollars. Frontier Communications refused to waive the charges and blamed the church for allowing the hack to happen. The church tells 'News Channel 8' it will have to cut back on some things, like meals for the homeless, to pay the bill.
Deodorant Challenge Leaves Kids With Burns, Scars (South Gloucestershire, UK) -- Officials in the UK are warning parents about the "deodorant challenge," where kids spray aerosol deodorant on their skin for as long as possible. That can cause frostbite symptoms and burns, as happened recently to a 15-year-old -girl who now may need a skin graft. The girl says her injuries are extremely painful and her friends also have scars from the challenge. The girl's parents are warning others to talk to their children about how dangerous and stupid this challenge is. HAVE YOU SEEN THE TV GAME SHOW IDIOT TEST? IT HAAS NOTING ON THE INTERNET, TIDE POD ANYONE?
Google Mimics Natural Human Voice (Mountain View, CA) -- Google is showing off a new A-I voice assistant that sounds nearly indistinguishable from a human. CEO Sundar Pichai [[ SOON-dar PIH-chye ]] unveiled Google Duplex at a developers conference Tuesday. It speaks with a voice that uses natural-sounding rhythm and tone, complete with "ums" and "ahs." In two demonstrations, the voice assistance was able to adjust on the fly, handling questions and unclear answers while making reservations at a restaurant and hair salon. It's going to be released as a test version in the coming weeks. I KIND OF LIKE THE AUTOMATED SOUNDING VOICES…
"Bill And Ted's" Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter To Reunite For Third Film (Los Angeles, CA) -- The Bill and Ted movies are on their way to becoming a trilogy. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are set to reprise their roles as the iconic time-traveling metalheads for a third time in "Bill and Ted: Face the Music." The film is currently in pre-production and will feature the duo as middle-aged and bogged down by family responsibilities. It's been nearly 30 years since the pair's first adventure.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2016, the bison was named the national mammal of the United States. Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act on this day.
1997, former Florida Representative Douglas "Pete" Peterson became the first ambassador to communist Vietnam since American troops pulled out of the country in 1975.
1990, Irish singer Sinead O'Connor refused to perform on "Saturday Night Live" after it was announced that controversial comedian Andrew Dice Clay would be a last-minute replacement host. Cast member Nora Dunn also backed out of the show.
1960, the public sale of the birth control pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This made the United States the first country to use "the pill" legally.
1914, the first Mother's Day was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson.