Florida Wants Law Targeting Drag Shows To Take Effect
(Tallahassee, FL) -- The state of Florida is asking a federal appeals court to allow a law targeting drag shows to take effect.Lawyers for Governor Ron DeSantis filed the request late last week asking the court to overturn a ruling this summer that blocked the legislation statewide. The measure prevents children from attending, what the state calls, adult live performances and would prevent drag shows from taking place in public spaces.Hamburger Mary's in Orlando filed a lawsuit against the law earlier this year saying it has run family-friendly performances for 15 years. There is no timeline on when a final decision will be made.
Tampa Murder Suspect Arrested In Maryland
(Tampa, FL) --A man wanted for murder in Tampa is now in custody. The police department announced yesterday that Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar was arrested in Maryland. The 25-year-old was wanted for a double homicide Sunday morning in an apartment on Riveredge Drive. Police say a 14-year-old girl and a 35-year-old woman were stabbed to death after Salazar got into an argument with the woman. Neighbors tell News Channel 8 the two are mother and daughter. Salazar is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He's behind bars in Maryland and is awaiting transport to Tampa.
Miami Woman Hits Son With Car While Trying To Hit Another Child
(Miami, FL) --A boy is hurt, and his mother could face charges after an incident at a school in Miami. Police say it all started when a 12-year-old boy got home from Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School recently but didn't have his bookbag. He went back to the school on Northwest 77th Street to look for it, and the boy wound up getting into a fight with another child. Police say he told his mom, and she drove to the school where she tried to hit the other child with her SUV. She wound up hitting her own child, though, and he was taken to the hospital with a leg injury. The mother of the other child drove her child back home, but police say the mother of the injured boy followed them. The woman being followed called police, and they took the mother of the injured boy into custody and had her SUV towed. 7News reports no charges have been announced.
Lake County Deputies Using K9 To Detect Vapes In Schools
(Tavares, FL) --The Lake County Sheriff's Office has a new tool to help combat what it calls the vaping epidemic in schools. Deputies announced yesterday they recently received a dog that can detect vapes, nicotine and narcotics. The yellow one-year-old Lab named Samba was donated by the Lake County Sheriff's Charities, Inc. via Central Florida K9.The sheriff's office says vape use is on the rise, and it saw a need for a new approach in detection and deterring students. Samba will be assigned to the School Resource Unit once it completes 160 hours of training.
Merriam-Webster Announces 2023 Word Of The Year
(Springfield, MA) --Merriam-Webster's 2023 word of the year is "authentic." The online dictionary said this year saw a "substantial increase" in searches for the word. It attributes that to more "stories and conversations about AI, celebrity culture, identity, and social media." The announcement on Merriam-Webster's website says "authentic" has several meanings, including "not false or imitation" and "true to one's own personality, spirit, or character."It noted the term has been used to describe celebrities like Taylor Swift and Sam Smith, who made headlines in 2023 for their authenticity.
Disneyland Guest Arrested After Stripping Naked On Ride
(Anaheim, CA) --A Disneyland guest is facing charges after stripping naked on the It's A Small World attraction. Local authorities escorted the guest off the Anaheim, California property Sunday afternoon. Disneyland Resort officials told Deadline the guest got off the ride while it was in motion and park operators stopped it when they found out about the situation. Videos and photos on social media show the guest without clothes on walking through the sets. Anaheim police charged the man with indecent exposure and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
TODAY IN HISTORY
2008, the Black Friday sales rush turned tragic in New York where a seasonal employee was trampled to death by eager shoppers at a Wal-Mart store. The stampede left four others injured, including a pregnant woman. In an incident in Southern California, a shooting at a toy store in Palm Desert, left two people dead.
1995, Former President Clinton signed a six-billion dollar road bill that ended the federal 55-mile-per-hour speed limit.
1925, the "WSM Barn Dance" made its radio debut on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee. The program later became known as "The Grand Ole Opry."