Lawyers Accuse Osceola County Sheriff's Office Of 'Reckless' Behavior
(Kissimmee, FL)-- Osceola County deputies are responsible for a man, in the words of his lawyer, being cooked alive. That's what lawyers for Jean Barreto said yesterday about an incident at an Orange County gas station three months ago. They say the 26-year-old suffered third-degree burns after a Taser used by deputies sparked a fire at one of the pumps. They also say Barreto will be placed in a medically-induced coma before a skin-grafting procedure. The deputies are accused of behaving in a way that was reckless, foolish and unnecessary.
Man Arrested For Punching Child In Columbia County
(Lake City, FL)-- Witnesses are credited with helping a child who was apparently being abused in Columbia County. Lake City Police were called to a Cracker Barrel on Southwest Commerce Drive Sunday after someone reported a man beating a one-year-old boy. Brandon Hampson was arrested on charges that include cruelty to a child. One woman told police she saw the 27-year-old hit the child at least ten times. Police say the boy had bruises on his head and inside his ear and scratches on his face.
Former Congresswoman Apparently Taking Plea Deal
(Jacksonville, FL)-- Former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown appears to be taking a plea deal to avoid another fraud trial. Brown is scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing this morning in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville. Brown was convicted in 2017 of using charitable donations for personal use, but that conviction was tossed a year ago. She served less than half of her five-year sentence before an appeals court overturned her conviction after the trial judge replaced a juror who said the "Holy Spirit" told him that Brown was not guilty.
Regulators Consider Insurance Rate Hike Requests
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Florida customers of three insurance companies could see major increases in the cost of their homeowners' policies. The state's Office of Insurance Regulation held hearings yesterday on rate hike proposals from Florida Farm Bureau Insurance, First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance, and Kin Insurance Network. The companies are seeking hikes in their homeowners' policies of 49-percent, 23-percent and 25-percent, respectively. The hearings are happening less than week before Florida lawmakers meet in special session to consider reforms to the property insurance market.
Brevard County Officials Hope To Bring Brightline Stop To Space Coast
(Titusville, FL)-- Brightline's plans to build a stop in Brevard County has local officials excited. Reps from Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral and Port Canaveral rode a train on Monday in South Florida to get a first-hand look at what kind of service Brightline will bring to the area. Cocoa Beach's mayor says he was shocked at how nice the train was and surprised at how pleasant the ride was. A Cocoa official tells Florida Today they hope the station will be multi-modal with restaurants, retail and residences, like the Brightline stations in South Florida.Brightline has not announced where or when the Brevard station will be built.
Broward School Board Approves Budget Cuts
(Fort Lauderdale, FL)-- Dozens of jobs in Broward County schools are being eliminated. The school board yesterday approved the cuts as part of a plan to save almost two-and-a-half million dollars.Superintendent Vicki Cartwright doesn't expect any layoffs, though, because many of the positions were already vacant, and some employees will be moved to different positions. The plans also include spending almost 200-thousand dollars on public relations. Cartwright says that's needed because the district can't continue to be the best kept little secret.
Special Forces Simulation To Be Held At Tampa Convention Center
(Tampa, FL)-- You can get an up close look today at just what it is that Special Forces soldiers do. Over 170 Special Forces personnel from 11 countries will hold a demonstration this afternoon at the Tampa Convention Center from 1:30 to 2:30. It's part of the Special Operations Forces Industry Conferences that's taking place this week at the center. Officials tell News Channel 8 that if you go, be sure to bring ear protection.
Baby Born On Flight To Orlando
(Orlando, FL)-- A flight attendant is credited with helping a passenger give birth before landing in Pensacola. In a Facebook post yesterday, Frontier Airlines says the passenger went into labor on a flight from Denver to Orlando. The flight attendant took the woman to the back lavatory and helped deliver the baby while the plane was diverted to Pensacola where paramedics were waiting. The pilotsays the whole crew really did a great job. Frontier says the mom gave her newborn daughter the middle name Sky.
Well-Placed Bullet Leads To Leaking Johnny Cash
(Kingsland, AR)-- A well-placed bullet hole is causing a leak in Kingsland, in more ways the one. The small southern Arkansas town is the birthplace of the legendary Johnny Cash, whose silhouette is painted on the 50-thousand gallon water tower. Someone recently fired a shot at it, hitting the image of the Man in Black in what Mayor Luke Neal calls "a very sensitive area," making it appear that Johnny is urinating off the side. While the stunt is attracting attention, it's also costing the city 200-dollars a day until the hole can be repaired, a job that will cost around five-thousand dollars. The vandal could face felony charges if caught.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2012, the Facebook social networking website made its debut as a publicly traded company.
1980, Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state erupted after lying dormant for more than 100 years. The explosion killed more than 55 people and destroyed 160-thousand acres of forest. Geologists say the eruption was 500 times as powerful as the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War Two.
1896, the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed racial separation with its ruling in the Plessy versus Ferguson case. The decision sanctioned separate but equal public facilities for blacks and whites. The ruling was overturned 58 years later with the historic Brown vs. Board of Education ruling.
1652, Rhode Island enacted the first law declaring slavery illegal.