Proposed Bill Would Protect Florida Farmers From Foreign Competitors
(Tampa, FL)-- Florida Agricultural Commissioner-elect Wilton Simpson is proposing a bill that would block foreign nations considered enemies of the U.S. from buying agricultural land or land near military bases. The former State Senate President said on Friday that foreign nations own one-point-three million acres of farm land in Florida. Simpson's proposed legislation would keep some of those countries from owning that land. Simpson said when the legislature convenes, "We will sort out who is going to be on the foreign enemy list."
Special Session To Focus On Property Insurance Reform
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Some Central Florida lawmakers are at odds over how to reform the property insurance industry. State lawmakers will meet in a special session today in Tallahassee. One proposal that will be discussed calls for Citizens Insurance customers to buy flood insurance. The plan also requires insurance companies to approve or deny a claim within 60 days, and it also includes a change involving lawsuits homeowners file against insurance companies. If the homeowner wins, the insurance company would no longer be required to pay the customer's legal bills. Orlando Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani says this proposal tends to lean in the direction of the industry instead of the consumer. Palm Bay Republican Randy Fine, though, tells Spectrum News 13 if we can't improve the industry, there will be no insurance companies for people to buy from.
Student, 12, Busted In School With Loaded Glock Last Week In Seminole County
(Seminole County, FL)-- Probably not the best choice for show-and-tell. Authorities in Seminole County say a local deputy was prompted to confiscate a loaded handgun from a 12-year-old girl who brought the firearm to school on Friday. Officials at Greenwood Lakes Middle School say a faculty member met the deputy outside of the school after classes were dismissed with the unidentified child at his side and her backpack in his possession. Reaching into her backpack, the deputy reportedly retrieved a loaded Glock 48 with a chambered round. Authorities reportedly are recommending that the child face appropriate charges.
Calhoun County Student Arrested For Bomb Threat
(Blountstown, FL)-- A student is accused of threatening to blow up a school in Calhoun County. Sheriff Glenn Kimbrell recently announced the arrest of a student who's enrolled in an alternative school. The student allegedly threatened to blow up Blountstown High School on Friday.
Four Hurt In Boat Explosion
(Miami, FL)-- Four people are hurt after a boat exploded in Miami-Dade County. It happened yesterday morning in North Bay Village at Pelican Harbor Marina on Northeast 79th Street. The Coast Guard says a 35-foot boat caught fire with six people onboard. The four who were injured were taken to the hospital. There's no word on what caused the explosion.
49ers Beat Buccaneers, 35-7
(San Francisco, CA)-- Tom Brady's return home couldn't have gone much worse. Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy made his first career start and led the 49ers to a 35-7 win over the Buccaneers in San Francisco yesterday. Brady struggled in front of friends and family members. He threw a season-high two interceptions against the NFL's top-ranked defense. With the loss, the Bucs are now 6-and-7, but they're still in first place in the NFC South. They'll host nine-and-four Cincinnati next Sunday.
NASA Discovers 'Hell Planet' With Lava Oceans
(Washington, DC)-- NASA is making startling new discoveries about the place they've dubbed the "hell planet." Scientists revealed the planet, formally named Janssen, is so hot that it has an ocean of molten lava with a surface temperature of nearly four-thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Janssen orbits so close to its host star Copernicus that an entire year there only lasts about 17-and-a-half hours on Earth. The 'hell planet' is massive, roughly eight times the size of Earth and twice as wide. It's also located 40 light years away.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2000, a divided U.S. Supreme Court reversed a state court decision for recounts in Florida's contested presidential election. The decision effectively transformed George W. Bush into the president-elect.
1975, Sara Jane Moore pled guilty to charges of trying kill President Gerald Ford in San Francisco. She was sentenced to life in prison but released on parole in 2007 after serving 32 years of her life sentence.