Florida Legislature Pass Property Insurance Laws
(Tallahassee, FL) --A Florida property insurance reform bill is now heading to the desk of Governor Ron DeSantis. The State House passed the legislation yesterday during the third day of the legislature's special session. It's designed to stabilize the property insurance market, while offering a one-billion-dollar aid program for struggling insurers. It does not guarantee lower rates for homeowners.
Officer Shoots Man While He Was Stabbing A Victim
(Winter Haven, FL) -- Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Polk County. Authorities were called out to a domestic disturbance at a Winter Haven home earlier today. When officers walked inside they found 35-year-old Nathan Armstrong stabbing a woman with a knife. Armstrong continued to strike the woman and refused to drop his weapon. An officer fired his gun in response, hitting the suspect in the leg. Both Armstrong and the victim are expected to make a full recovery.
Orange County Deputies Seek 'Brutal Rapist'
(Orlando, FL) --A search is underway to find a man described as a brutal rapist. That's what the Orange County Sheriff's Office said yesterday about Bruce Whitehead.The 54-year-old allegedly raped and tried to kill a woman Saturday near Pine Hills Road and North Lane. Deputies say the woman was able to escape during the attack and run for help. Whitehead spent 20 years in prison for rape and attempted murder in the 1980s. He's described as armed and dangerous. A photo is available on the sheriff's office Facebook and Twitter pages.
Teen Murder Suspect Arrested In Polk County
(Bartow, FL) --A teenager wanted for murder in Pennsylvania is in custody in Polk County. Seventeen-year-old Henry Madera, Jr. was arrested Tuesday at Mulberry High School where he has been a student for two months. He was wanted for a shooting in Pennsylvania that left one person dead. Madera is facing charges that include third-degree murder, and he's awaiting extradition.
Video Shows Palm Bay Police Officer Punching Suspect
(Palm Bay, FL) --A police chief in Brevard County is defending the actions of two officers during a violent arrest. Video recorded Sunday shows the Palm Bay police officers punching Jacob Mitchell during an arrest at the Palm Bay Club Condominiums. Police say they tried Tasing the 22-year-old, but the Taser was ineffective, so the officers had to get physical. Police Chief Mario Aguello says Mitchell was actively resisting arrest and failing to comply to the officers' directions. Aguello also tells News 6 an administrative review found the officers' actions were in accordance with department policy.
Orlando Ministry Leaders Arrested For COVID Fraud
(Orlando, FL) --Two Volusia County men are accused of scamming the government out of millions in COVID relief funds. New Smyrna Beach's Evan Edwards and son Joshua were arrested yesterday. They are the heads of ASLAN International Ministry in Orlando. They allegedly obtained almost eight-and-a-half million dollars in PPP funding by inflating the size of their staff and payroll. Federal investigators say the two used some of the money to try to buy a three-and-a-half million dollar home in Golden Oaks near Disney World.
Miami-Dade County School Board Votes On Flag Policy
(Miami, FL) --The Miami-Dade County School Board is drawing praise for a recent vote. The board voted yesterday to allow federally protected flags to be visible throughout the school year in classrooms and district buildings. Board member Roberto Alonso proposed allowing only the American and state flags to fly unless another flag was part of the curriculum.Another member, though, proposed an amendment to allow federally protected flags that may represent race, religion or sex. With that amendment, the proposal passed unanimously. Alonso says the vote shows the board can be united, and teachers union president Karla Hernandez-Mats says this shows the board wants to do the right thing. The president of the LGBTQ rights group, PRISM, tells the Miami Herald the measure represents the diversity in Miami-Dade.
Boca Raton Rejects Plans For A Chick-Fil-A
(Boca Raton, FL) --Chick-fil-A may be too popular for Boca Raton. The city council voted Tuesday to stop the company from opening a new location on Federal Highway. Neighbors in Harbor East complained the restaurant would bring heavy traffic. One resident said the amount of traffic that Chick-fil-A generates is unlike any other fast food drive-thru. City Council member Andrea O'Rourke agreed that the restaurant would bring an enormous amount of cars.
Twitter Suspends UCF Student's Account
(Orlando, FL) --A UCF student's Twitter account is suspended. Twitter yesterday suspended the account of Lake County resident Jack Sweeney. The 20-year-old from Clermont created the @ElonJet account two years ago to follow Elon Musk's private jet. After buying Twitter, Musk said last month he wouldn't suspend the account even though it puts his personal safety at risk. Musk hasn't said why he changed his mind. Sweeney tells the Tampa Bay Times Musk is slipping backwards on what he said, but he still thinks Musk is doing good stuff.
Hackers Disrupt Trial With Inappropriate Photos
(Houston, TX) -- It was a shocker for a Houston judge and everyone in his courtroom. Someone hacked the Zoom streams in Harris County, and used pornography to interrupt the daily docket. The lewd photos popped up on screens all over the courtroom. The so-called Zoom Bomb is now under investigation by the sheriff's Judicial Threat Unit.
NASA Rover Records Sound Of Martian Dust Devil
(Washington, DC) --NASA's Perseverance rover has captured the first sound of a Martian dust devil. Scientists released audio Tuesday of a dust devil passing directly over the Mars rover. Their new study says a whirlwind about 400 feet high and spinning at about 25 miles-per-hour passed over the NASA rover back in September of 2021. The co-author of the study says the microphone on the Mars rover is turned on for less than three minutes each day, so it was "definitely luck" that they were able to capture the audio. The recording will help scientists to understand atmospheric turbulence on Mars.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2013, China landed a rover on the moon.
1965, the two U.S. spacecraft Gemini Six and Seven achieved the first space rendezvous, flying side by side for two orbits.
1792, the first life insurance policy was issued in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1791, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, went into effect.