Florida Residents Arrested On Petition Drive Fraud Charges
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Three paid petition-gatherers are facing charges following their arrests last week in separate petition fraud cases in Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says LaShaya Pierce of Tallahassee submitted petitions that had similar handwriting. Investigators say the petitions either did not have a valid signature, the same voter information appeared on multiple petitions or had no voter information on record for the person who signed the petition.According to the FDLE, Nelson Stone of Apopka and Arterria McCutcheon of Daytona Beach submitted petitions that had the names and signatures of dead people.
Orange County Police Warn About Jury Duty Scam
(Orlando, FL) -- Orange County police are warning about a jury duty scheme that's targeting residents.The sheriff's office says people are calling victims, claiming they are with law enforcement or the court system.The callers threaten to arrest the victims for missing jury duty. Deputies say this is a scam. Anyone who has been a victim of jury fraud is asked to contact the police.
Orange County Program To Reduce Gun Violence Could Expand
(Orlando, FL) -- An Orange County program aimed at reducing gun violence is hoping to expand its efforts. The Community Violence Intervention will learn later today whether it will receive an additional one-and-a-half-million dollars in grant funding. The program hires mentors to help reduce violent crime and promote public safety throughout Orlando. The money would allow the initiative to serve residents in the city's Signal Hill, Richmond Heights and Lake Mann neighborhoods.
Miami City Commission Candidate Arrested For Threatening Campaign Worker
(Miami, FL)-- A candidate for a Miami City Commission seat is facing charges for allegedly pulling a gun on a campaign worker of a political opponent. The Miami Herald says former cop Frank Pichel was taken into custody over the weekend on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. An arrest report shows Pichel threatened to shoot a campaign worker when he was confronted about pulling up election signs for Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who is running for reelection. Diaz de la Portilla was suspended last month following his arrest on public corruption charges.
Train Crashes Into Stolen Car Left On Pasco County Tracks
(Zephyrhills, FL) -- Florida troopers are looking into a train crash in Pasco County yest4erday.Officials say a CSX freight train hit a pickup truck that was reported stolen from the Mosaic fertilizer plant in Zephyrhills. It's believed the Chevy Silverado was abandoned on the tracks along State Road 39 before the incident took place just after 8 a.m. The crash happened about several hundred feet from the Mosaic facility.No one was hurt.
Preps Continue For Florida-Georgia
(Jacksonville, FL)-- Preparations continue for the annual Florida-Georgia football game in Jacksonville. On Saturday at Everbank Stadium, the 5-2 and unranked Florida Gators will face the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who are undefeated at 7-0. Florida has won 22 of the last 33 games going back to 1990, but Georgia has won five of the last six years. Fans hoping to catch the game will have to turn to the secondary market.
JetBlue Plane Tips Backwards As Passengers Get Off
(New York, NY)-- A JetBlue plane is being taken out of service for inspection after it tipped backward onto its tail as passengers were getting off. This happened at JFK Airport yesterday. The plane had just landed from Barbados when video shows the nose of the plane lifting up. JetBlue is investigating but says it appears to have been caused by a shift in weight as people were getting off and cargo was being unloaded.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1962, the United States' blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis began.
1945, the United Nations was formally established with the ratification of the United Nations Charter.
1940, the 40-hour work week went into effect under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.