Trial Of Man Indicted For Inciting Violence At State Capitol Begins
(Tallahassee, FL) -- The trial of the man indicted for inciting violence at the Florida State Capitol in January ahead of President Biden's inauguration has begun. Jury selection in the case of Daniel Baker took more than three hours yesterday morning. Both sides in the case gave their opening arguments in the afternoon. The prosecution said it will explain its case through social media posts and a flyer made by Baker for a Call to Arms at the Capitol before the inauguration. The defense said it will show the threat by Baker was not real and was the product of heated political dialogue. The trial enters its second day today.
Central Florida School Districts Keep Mask Policies In Place Despite Governor's Announcement
(Undated) -- Several Central Florida school districts are keeping mask requirements in place, despite Governor DeSantis suspending local emergency orders pertaining to COVID-19. The Florida Department of Education says the governor's announcement does not impact school district policies for this school year. Districts in Orange, Volusia, and Seminole counties let parents know their mask policies are not changing. This comes despite a small group of parents who gathered at the Seminole County School District Administration Building yesterday, asking school officials to drop the mask requirement.
Publix Will Continue Face Mask Requirement
(Lakeland, FL) -- Officials with Publix say the supermarket chain will continue its face mask requirement in its stores, despite Governor Ron DeSantis' suspension of COVID-19 emergency orders. Public instituted the face mask requirement last July. Publix officials say the changes they've implemented in their stores are designed to protect the well-being of the communities they serve.
Congressman Crist Makes It Official, Running For Governor Again
(St. Petersburg, FL) -- Democratic Congressman and former Governor Charlie Crist has formally announced his plan to run for governor again. Crist, who held the governor's office from 2007 to 2011, made his announcement yesterday in St. Petersburg. He's the first Democrat to announce a bid for the governor's office. Democratic Congresswoman Val Demings yesterday also hinted on Twitter that she's about to make an announcement about her future political plans.
Two Cops Buy Homeless Man Socks Rather Than Arrest For Shoplifting
(Mount Vernon, NY) -- Two New York cops are being praised for their compassion after buying socks for a would-be shoplifter. It happened at a discount store in Mount Vernon, when the two officers were called to respond by a manager. Officers Chris Cartwright and Jason Velez say the man admitted what he was doing right away, and said he just needed some socks. No charges were filed, as the officers bought the socks with their own money, after the man vowed he wouldn't shoplift going forward.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1994, American teenager Michael Fay was caned in Singapore for vandalism. Fay's controversial sentence was reduced from six lashes to four after U.S pleas.
1987, the Iran-Contra hearings began.
1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard became America's first space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard the Freedom Seven capsule.
1925, John T. Scopes, a teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was arrested in Tennessee for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in violation of state statute.