Three Florida Counties Added To State Of Emergency Ahead Of Idalia
(Tallahassee, FL) -- There are 49 Florida counties now under a state of emergency as Hurricane Idalia [[ ee-DAL-ya]] continues to gain strength. Governor Ron DeSantis added three more counties to the executive order yesterday, including Orange and Osceola. This will provide more state and federal response before, during and after the storm.The governor says officials are working with power companies to make sure there are a total of up to 40-thousand line workers in the state.
DeSantis Gives Storm Update In Sumter County
(Wildwood, FL) --You can donate to help those hit hardest by Idalia. Governor Ron DeSantis was in Sumter County yesterday to give an update on the storm.He said the Florida Disaster Fund was being activated to support communities impacted by the hurricane.You can donate at VolunteerFlorida.org.DeSantis also says the State Emergency Response Team has Meals Ready to Eat, or MREs, bottled water and tarps to hand out to those in need. Also, the National Guard has been fully activated, and the FWC has all storm response resources ready.
Man Sentenced To Life For Volusia County Murder
(Daytona Beach, FL) -- A Volusia County man will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Daytona Beach's Damon Kemp was sentenced yesterday to three life terms for the shooting deaths of two men five years ago. The victims were roommates, and Kemp sometimes stayed with them. Kemp was found guilty three months ago on charges that include second-degree murder.
Man Arrested For Girlfriend's Murder In Seminole County
(Sanford, FL) --A man is accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend in Seminole County. Sanford Police announced this week that Donovan Faison was arrested for killing 18-year-old Kaylin Fiengo and her unborn child last year.Investigators believe the 21-year-old Faison was upset Fiengo would not get an abortion. Sanford's police chief says he hopes the arrest brings the slightest amount of peace to Kaylin's family.
Suarez Suspends Presidential Campaign
(Miami, FL) --Miami's mayor is no longer running for president. Francis Suarez suspended his 2024 White House campaign yesterday. He wasn't registering in recent polls, and he failed to qualify for last week's GOP debate. Suarez says running for president has been the greatest honor of his life, and he says he'll continue to amplify the voices of the Hispanic community.
Former Police Officer Convicted Of Armed Kidnapping
(Hialeah, FL) --A former police officer is guilty of armed kidnapping in Miami-Dade County. Former Hialeah Police Officer Rafael Otano was convicted yesterday for an incident last year involving a homeless man. The 28-year-old Otano and another officer allegedly beat the 51-year-old and left him behind a dumpster. The jury cleared Otano of battery. His lawyer says he'll appeal the armed kidnapping verdict. The other officer has yet to go on trial.
Study: More Dog Owners Hesitant About Vaccines, Including Rabies
(Washington, DC) --A new study says the majority of dog owners are skeptical of vaccines, including the rabies shot. Published in the medical journal Vaccine, it finds that 53-percent of dog owners have concerns about the safety or necessity of vaccines for their four-legged friends. More than a third also believed vaccines could cause "cognitive issues" in dogs leading to autism-a theory that has no scientific evidence. The study says hesitancy to vaccinate dogs is an issue because without them, disease could spread through both canine and human population.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1983, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Guion Bluford became the first African-American in space when he blasted off aboard space shuttle Challenger.
1967, the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Thurgood Marshall as the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1965, Casey Stengel announced his retirement after 55 years in baseball.