Florida House, Senate To Hold Committee Meetings
(Tallahassee, FL) --State lawmakers are preparing to go back to Tallahassee this week for interim committee meetings. The meetings were to begin last month, but were delayed by a Special Session on the property insurance crisis. The meetings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday and are for committee members to get up to speed on goals for the upcoming March legislative session. Today is inauguration day for Governor Ron DeSantis.
Man Arrested For Blinding Helicopter Pilot With Laser Pointer In Brevard County
(Titusville, FL) --A recent arrest should serve as a warning to those that do dumb and dangerous stuff in Brevard County. That's what Sheriff Wayne Ivey said yesterday after a man was arrested for allegedly blinding a helicopter pilot with a laser pointer. Ivey says the sheriff's office helicopter was helping Palm Bay Police find a stabbing suspect when Dean Beolet shined the laser at the aircraft multiple times. Ivey says the pilot was temporarily blinded and had to relinquish the controls to another member of the flight crew. Ivey writes on Facebook the 33-year-old Beolet will be charged with felony misuse of a laser light and 'one count of being a moron.' Meanwhile, Ivey says the pilot was checked out and cleared to resume flying.
Suspect Arrested In Brevard County Stabbing
(Palm Bay, FL) --A man is in custody after he allegedly stabbed his roommate in Brevard County. Palm Bay Police arrested Jared Dryer on Sunday. The victim is in stable condition. There's no word on a motive.
Holmes County Woman Charged In Shooting
(DeFuniak Springs, FL) -- A woman is facing charges for a shooting in Holmes County. The Walton County Sheriff's Office announced yesterday that Ponce de Leon's Ciara Croteau was arrested for the New Year's Day incident on Reddick Road. The 32-year-old Croteau allegedly tried to run a truck off the road and fired a shot, which hit someone in the arm. Deputies say when they caught up to Croteau, she had her four children in the car. She's facing charges that include aggravated battery and child neglect. There's no word on a motive.
Florida Gas Prices Jump
(Heathrow, FL) --Drivers in Florida are seeing a big spike in gas prices. Triple-A reports the average for a gallon of regular has risen nearly 30 cents in the last week, to three-dollars-26 cents. Last Monday, the Florida average was two-99. The national average is up twelve cents from last week, to three-22 per gallon.
FSU Professor Previews DeSantis Inauguration Speech
(Tallahassee, FL) --When Governor Ron DeSantis gives his inaugural address today, he may be speaking to more than just Florida residents. FSU political analyst Hans Hassell says Republican Party leaders will be closely watching to see what kind of presidential candidate DeSantis might be if he decides to run. Hassell says party elites begin shaping the race a long time before voters start voting, and DeSantis' actions can go a long way to show he's the type of candidate they can trust. Hassell also tells the Times/Herald DeSantis' speech can affect the willingness of party elites to provide the resources that are crucial for a successful White House run.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office Responds To 'Spike' In Refugee Arrivals
(Key West, FL) --The number of migrants arriving in the Keys is a humanitarian crisis. That's what Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said yesterday after about 500 migrants recently came ashore in the Middle and Upper Keys and Dry Tortugas. Ramsay also says the problem is made worse by a slow response from US Border Patrol, which says federal resources could be delayed until the following day. Ramsay writes on Facebook this is a federal failure, and it shows a lack of a working plan by the federal government to deal with a mass migration issue that was foreseeable.
New Study Suggests Adults Who Aren't Sufficiently Hydrated Age Faster
(Washington, DC) --A new study suggests that adults who aren't sufficiently hydrated age faster. The study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, looked at eleven-thousand Americans over a period of 25 years. It found that those who weren't drinking enough fluids, as determined by the amount of sodium in their blood, were at higher risk for age-related conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, stroke and even premature death. The study's authors believe that consistent good hydration could slow the aging process.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1987, Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1973, CBS sold the New York Yankees baseball club to a 12-member group headed by George Steinbrenner. The team sold for ten-million dollars.
1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the Union.
1872, the first patent list was issued by the U.S. Patent Office.