Florida Girls Who Stole Father's Car To Meet Online Friend Turn Themselves In
(Lake Butler, FL)-- A 12-year-old Florida girl who stole her father's car to drive 400 miles with a friend to meet a person she met online turned herself in after seeing a missing child alert. Officials say the girl and her 14-year-old friend crossed state lines and were in Alabama when they saw their faces on TV. The Union County Sheriff's Office says they have information on the person they were driving to meet but it's unclear who it was or whether they were an adult. The chief deputy said there were some "suspicious circumstances" that raised "red flags" about the person and they turned over the matter to the FBI.
Bill To Create Year-Round School Plan Moves Forward
(Tallahassee, FL)-- A bill that would create a year-round school program is advancing in the Florida Legislature. The legislation unanimously passed a Senate committee yesterday. The measure would launch a pilot program for a period of four consecutive school years for certain districts. The Florida Education Commissioner would decide which schools would participate. If approved, the trial-run would kick off next year.
Tampa Bay Lawmaker's Bill Would Hide Names Of Some Visitors To Governor's Mansion
(Tallahassee, FL) --A Tampa Bay lawmaker is trying to keep secret the names of some visitors to the Governor's Mansion. Spring Hill State Rep. Jeff Holcomb is sponsoring HB 1495 that passed a House committee yesterday. He says the bill would create a public records exemption for some visitors for security reasons. The sponsor of a similar bill in the senate says it only applies to those visiting for reasons not related to government operations.
Auctioneer To Plead Guilty In Basquiat Fraud
(Orlando, FL) --A California man will plead guilty to his role in an Orlando art scandal. Federal prosecutors announced yesterday that North Hollywood auctioneer Michael Barzman has admitted to helping make fake works of art he claimed were made by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat. The artworks went on display at the Orlando Museum of Art last year before they were seized by the FBI. Museum CEO Aaron DeGroft lost his job over the scandal. Barzman is also accused of lying about finding the artwork in a storage unit, and he allegedly made fake documents to back up his claim. The 45-year-old could get five years in prison.
Leader Of Broward County School Pleads Guilty To Fake Diploma Scheme
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- The head of a nursing school in Broward County is facing up to 20 years in prison. Charles Etienne pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The 60-year-old was president of Sacred Heart International Institute in Fort Lauderdale, but prosecutors say the school was selling fake diplomas. They estimate the school sold about 600 fake degrees and transcripts for as much as 17-thousand dollars. Federal officials say the students won't face charges, but they could lose their nursing certificates. As part of his plea agreement, Etienne was ordered to pay the federal government about 200-thousand dollars.
Brevard School Board Approves Higher Pay For Transportation Employees
(Titusville, FL) --The Brevard County School Board is showing its appreciation to bus drivers. The board voted yesterday to increase compensation for drivers and other transportation employees. School Board Vice Chair Megan Wright told transportation employees this is a thank you for all that you do.
Man Arrested After Fleeing Crash
(Mulberry, FL) --A Polk County man is facing charges after he was seen running down the road in his underwear. The sheriff's office says Zachery Brooks was fleeing a crash Monday night in Mulberry on Highway 640. He was driving a Nissan that hit a semi-truck. Deputies say the 23-year-old got out of the car, and while running, was taking off his clothes until he was down to just his underwear. He was found by a deputy and his K9.Investigators say Brooks didn't have a valid license or insurance. He was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2009, high seas drama came to an end when U.S. Naval forces rescued the captain of a U.S. cargo ship who was held hostage for five days at sea by Somali pirates. The Navy confirmed that three of the four buccaneers who held Captain Richard Phillips were killed by naval forces. A fourth pirate was taken into custody.
1999, a federal judge in Little Rock, Ark., found President Clinton in contempt of court for lying during his sworn deposition in January 1998, when he had testified that he had not had sexual relations with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. He became the first sitting president ever to be held in contempt of court.
1981, the space shuttle Columbia, the first reusable spacecraft, blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on its first test flight.
1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin became the first person to orbit Earth.
1861, the Civil War began when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumpter in Charleston, South Carolina.