Former Levy County State Rep. Harding Sentenced For Wire Fraud
(Gainesville, FL) --A former elected official from Levy County is now serving time in federal prison. The US Justice Department announced yesterday that former State Rep. Joe Harding was sentenced to four months. The 36-year-old Williston resident was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements in connection with COVID-relief fraud. He fraudulently obtained a 150-thousand dollar COVID-related loan from the Small Business Administration for a dormant business. Prosecutors say stealing taxpayer funds is inexcusable, but diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale.
Florida Approves Plan To Recruit More Teachers
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Florida leaders are expanding their efforts to recruit more educators. The state's Department of Education approved a new plan for a teacher apprenticeship program yesterday after it was signed into law by the governor earlier this year. The initiative is designed to provide salaries to people while they complete the required training and education for a professional educator certificate. It also pairs them with an experienced teacher until they complete the necessary courses. The plan is possible due to a nine-million-dollar investment from the state.
Fraudulent Contractor Arrested In Volusia County
(Port Orange, FL) --A Volusia County man is accused of posing as a contractor and ripping off an elderly homeowner. Port Orange Police announced yesterday that Daytona Beach's Steven Parker was arrested on charges that include impersonating a contractor during a State of Emergency. Investigators say the 52-year-old took almost 70-thousand dollars from a woman to do repair work on her home. Parker, though, never pulled a permit for the work, and he was using a contractor's license for another man with the same name in Lee County. Parker writes on Facebook he's innocent, and this is an accusation made by one person that took it to the extreme when she was not happy with the work he did.
Daytona Beach To Change What Events Can Take Place On City Property
(Daytona Beach, FL) -- Some Daytona Beach officials are trying to distance the city from controversial events.City commissioners on Wednesday asked the city attorney to come up with criteria to use when deciding what events can take place on city property. This comes after commissioners found out 25-hundred dollars in tax revenue was being used to host a banned book event two weeks ago. It was advertised as a child literacy event. City Attorney Ben Cross will present a list of rules to the commission to vote on. Cross tells Channel 9 this will show in writing that the city isn't doing anything that would cause undue controversy.
FBI Called In After Flight Is Diverted To JIA
(Jacksonville, FL) --An unruly passenger is blamed for disrupting a flight. A Jet Blue flight from Orlando to New York was diverted to Jacksonville International Airport yesterday after a passenger caused a disturbance. JIA officials say law enforcement officers were called to remove the passenger. The FBI was also called to the scene, but no charges were announced against the passenger, and the plane continued to New York.
Tampa School Bus Driver Arrested
(Tampa, FL) --A Tampa school bus driver could be facing charges. Police yesterday arrested Alpheria Wright at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School.Police say she dropped off students at the school but wouldn't let a student back on the bus to find his phone.News Channel 8 reports when she apparently ignored an officer's orders, she was arrested. The TPD has not announced what charges Wright is facing.
Work From Home Rates Lowest Since Pandemic
(Undated) --More American workers are back in the office. U.S. work-from-home rates have dropped to the lowest since the pandemic. According to the latest Census data, fewer than 26-percent of households still have someone working remotely at least one day a week, a sharp decrease from the early 2021 peak of 37-percent. Data also shows only seven states and Washington D.C. have a remote-work rate above 33-percent. All 50 states have seen work-from-home rates fall from their pandemic highs.
City Orders Removal Of Raunchy Halloween Display In Grantsville
(Grantsville, UT) --A city in Utah is ordering the removal of a raunchy Halloween decoration display. Located at a residential street corner in Grantsville, west of Salt Lake City, the display consisted of a life-sized skeleton hanging upside-down from a street sign, like a stripper on a pole. City officials said the display violated a city code that bans residents from attaching anything to street signs. In response, the resident removed the skeleton from the street sign and attached it to a pole in the front yard of a home.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1962, Bobby "Boris" Picket and the Crypt Kickers hit the top of the charts with "The Monster Mash."
1957, Walter Cronkite began hosting his weekly documentary titled "The 20th Century." The show focused on major events that helped shape the world.
1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee opened hearings into alleged Communist influence and infiltration within the American motion picture industry.