NAACP Advances Efforts To Initiate Travel Advisory For Florida
(Tallahassee, FL) -- The Florida State Chapter of the NAACP is moving forward with its plans to issue a travel advisory to anyone planning to visit the state. The chapter unanimously voted over the weekend to ask the NAACP National Board to put the order in place. The advisory would deter people, especially those of color, from traveling or moving to the sunshine state. It's in response to recent legislation related to race and gender identity. The national board will meet in May.
Prosecutor Apologizes For Criticizing Orlando Police
(Orlando, FL)-- A Central Florida prosecutor regrets criticizing how Orlando Police handled a homicide investigation. Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell announced this week she won't file a second-degree murder charge against a 17-year-old suspect in a deadly shooting outside Jones High School last year. She said the case was weak and full of holes. Yesterday, though, Worrell said she regrets the harshness of her criticism. She says her criticism stands only to further divide us rather than providing solutions.
Pinellas County Deputy Justified In Deadly Shooting
(Clearwater, FL)-- A Pinellas County deputy won't have to face charges for a deadly on-duty shooting. Sergeant Jacob Viano shot Zion Bostick to death this month in St. Petersburg. Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett investigated and informed Sheriff Bob Gualtieri yesterday that the shooting was justified. Bartlett found that Bostick shot Deputy Matthew Aitken, his K9 and at Viano before Viano shot the 23-year-old three times. Bartlett says Bostick's death was a justifiable homicide.
Miami Police Prep For Busy Weekend
(Miami, FL)-- If you're out in Miami this weekend, you'll likely see the full might of Miami Police. That's what Police Chief Manuel Morales said yesterday as officers prepare for a busy few days. Besides spring break, the Ultra Music Festival starts tomorrow, and the Miami Heat have a home game Saturday. Morales says you'll see the MPD's full contingent, including mounted patrols and SWAT teams out there. He tells 7News there were 15 arrests and no injuries at last year's festival, and he's looking to top that this year.
Senate Committee Passes Bill Blocking Release Of DeSantis' Travel Schedule
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Lawmakers are trying to make it harder to keep track of the governor's travels. A state senate committee yesterday unanimously passed a bill that protects the FDLE from releasing the governor's travel records. SB 1616 would also apply to the governor's immediate family, some other lawmakers and the Supreme Court's chief justice. Fort Myers Republican Senator Jonathan Martin is the bill's sponsor.He says the FDLE asked for the bill because of all the requests they're getting for the governor's travel records. Martin tells the Times/Herald the FDLE is worried fulfilling all those requests would lead to security vulnerabilities.
Miami-Dade HOA Board Member Arrested
(Miami, FL)-- A Miami-Dade County man is accused of stealing from the HOA he helped run. Miami-Dade Police arrested Gerald Deangelo yesterday for second-degree grand theft. The 56-year-old was on the HOA board at Marquis Villas for 15 years before he was accused in 2019 of stealing about 19-thousand dollars. Police say his actions left many housing units without proper care and maintenance.
Volusia County Hosting National Pickleball Tournament
(Holly Hill, FL)-- Some of the country's best pickleball players are coming to Volusia County. Major League Pickleball will hold a tournament today through Sunday at Pictona Holly Hill on Ridgewood Ave. One of the 24 teams in the tournament is the Orlando Squeeze. Co-owner Ryan DeVos says pickleball's appeal is that it's easy to learn. He tells News 6 instead of training for years like in tennis, you can jump in and play pickleball in less than an hour.
World War Two Vet to Celebrate Turning 98 With a Jump
(Palatka, FL) -- A World War Two veteran turns 98 this week, and he'll celebrate Saturday with a tandem skydive out of a plane that flew in the same war. Vince Speranza's jump from a vintage C-47 is part of a rehearsal. A re-enactors group plans to jump in France this coming June to commemorate the Normandy invasion with round parachutes that resemble the ones used by paratroopers in 1944. As many as a hundred skydivers are practicing in Palatka this week.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2021, the massive cargo ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It would block the vital trade route for almost a week before it was freed.
2004, an independent commission investigating the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States opened a hearing in Washington DC featuring testimony from key figures from the White House administrations under President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton.
1983, President Ronald Reagan first proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative. This technology to intercept enemy missiles became known as "Star Wars."
1929, the first telephone was installed in the White House.