Members Of Parkland Shooter Jury Speak Out After Verdict
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- Members of the jury are speaking out after confessed Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz was sentenced to life in prison. Jury foreperson Benjamin Thomas told CBS4 there was one person in the panel who said they opposed the death sentence. He went on to say he feels bad about the verdict, but it represented the majority opinion. Cruz pleaded guilty to all charges connected to the 2018 shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The judge will formally issue the life sentences on November First.
DeSantis Issues $2M To Help First Responders
(Punta Gorda, FL) -- The state of Florida is setting aside two-million dollars to help first responders impacted by Hurricane Ian. Governor Ron DeSantis says the money will be available through the Florida Disaster Fund to help officials get back on their feet. The governor says more assistance is on the way. So far, more than 45-million dollars have been raised for the disaster fund to help the state with recovery efforts.
Tolls In Central Florida To Resume Tomorrow
(Tallahassee, FL)-- The free ride is over on Central Florida's highways. FDOT announced yesterday that tolls will be collected again starting tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. Tolls had been suspended about two weeks ago before Hurricane Ian hit. The Central Florida Expressway Authority estimates it has lost over one-and-a-half million dollars a day since then. In total, the CFEA says it has lost over 20 million dollars in revenue.
Shooting In Brevard County
(Cocoa, FL) -- A man is hurt after a police-involved shooting in Brevard County. It happened yesterday afternoon in Cocoa outside the Allen Condos on Dixon Boulevard. Cocoa Police say a man pointed a gun at a security guard, a tow truck driver and a police officer as the man's car was being towed. The security guard and the police officer fired their weapons, and the man was hit, but it's not clear who shot him. Police say the man was flown to a Melbourne hospital with critical injuries.
Polk County Deputy Shot While On Duty
(Davenport, FL)-- The Polk County sheriff credits a bulletproof vest and divine intervention for saving a deputy's life. Sheriff Grady Judd said yesterday Deputy Tony Nunez was shot Wednesday night in Davenport in the Tanglewood Preserve subdivision. Nunez and another deputy were responding to a call about a family disturbance when Gabriel Batista allegedly shot Nunez in the chest. Judd says the bullet hit a St. Michael's medallion Nunez was wearing and Nunez' bulletproof vest. Nunez left the hospital yesterday morning. Judd says Nunez' bulletproof vest unequivocally saved his life, and the good Lord had a lot to do with it, too. The 41-year-old Batista surrendered, and he's charged with attempted first-degree murder.
Plane Crashes In Volusia County
(New Smyrna Beach, FL)-- Engine failure is believed to be the cause of a plane crash in Volusia County. Edgewater Fire Rescue says the plane went down around 5:00 p.m. yesterday in New Smyrna Beach at Massey Ranch Airport. Two people were inside the plane, but they were able to exit safely. The FAA is investigating.
Jacksonville Law Expert Discusses Trump Subpoena
(Jacksonville, FL)-- A Jacksonville law expert believes time may be running out for the January 6th committee to get the answers it wants from Donald Trump. The committee voted yesterday to subpoena the former president to testify and hand over documents related to the violence that took place that day. Nick Allard is the founding dean at the Jacksonville University College of Law.He expects Trump will refuse to comply with the subpoena because, for one reason, the committee may not be around much longer. Allard tells First Coast News if Republicans take control of the House after next month's midterms, they'll likely dissolve the committee.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty In Romantic Rival Bomb Case
(Baltimore, MD)-- An Ohio man is admitting to making a bomb and delivering it in a gift box to a romantic rival. Clayton McCoy pleaded guilty in Baltimore federal court this week. Prosecutors say he drove seven hours to deliver the bomb to the boyfriend of a woman who he'd developed feelings for online. The victim survived shrapnel injuries, but the blast caused nearly 47-thousand-dollars in damage to his home.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2012, Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner became the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound during a skydiver. Baumgartner reached speeds in excess of 800 miles per hour as he leapt from 128-thousand feet in the air, landing safely in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico.
1998, Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with the bombing of the 1996 summer Olympics. He was connected to several bombing incidents protesting that legalization of abortions in the United States.
1968, Apollo Seven became the first manned space mission to broadcast live television signals from space.
1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier. Yeager accomplished the feat in a Bell X-One rocket plane in the sky above Edwards Air Force Base.
1926, A-A Milne's classic book, "Winnie-the-Pooh" makes its debut.