Broward County Police Sergeant Arrested At Miami Airport
(Miami, FL) -- A Broward County police sergeant is accused of trying to bring drugs through Miami International Airport. 35-year-old Bryan Lorenzo was reportedly caught by Customs and Border Protection officials with MDMA Tuesday. Authorities say the drugs were found in his luggage inside a pair of ski pants. Lorenzo was placed on administrative leave without pay after he was charged with importation of a controlled substance into Florida. He has served more than a decade with the sheriff's office.
Student Arrested At Orlando School
(Orlando, FL) -- A student is accused of attacking a school resource officer in Orlando. The SRO arrested a 12-year-old at Lake Nona Middle School yesterday. Orlando Police say the child became verbally aggressive and physically violent with school staff and the SRO. The officer tried to de-escalate the situation and pepper-sprayed the student. The OPD says the student was taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution, but no one was hurt. The child is facing charges that include battery on a school employee, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with violence.
Volusia County Man Accused Of Threatening Student Driver
(Deltona, FL) -- A Volusia County man is facing charges after apparently losing his temper with a student driver. Deltona's Mark Vierra was arrested yesterday on charges that include aggravated assault with a firearm. The sheriff's office says an 18-year-old girl on a learner's permit was driving with her father Tuesday night when she cut off Vierra's SUV on Doyle Road. The girl's father told deputies Vierra yelled at them, blocked their car with his SUV and threatened to shoot them with a gun he had in its holster. Vierra has since been released on bond.
Winter Park May Put Leaf Blower Debate On Ballot
(Winter Park, FL)-- It could be up to the voters to settle a noisy debate in Orange County. The Winter Park City Commission held a workshop yesterday to discuss a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. The law passed two years ago, but the commission decided two weeks ago to hold off on issuing fines to violators. Commissioners will meet in a couple weeks to discuss putting the ban up for a vote in 2025. The idea for a ballot measure came after City Manager Randy Knight met with Lake Mary Republican State Senator Jason Brodeur, who threatened to make such a ban illegal statewide. Knight says he agreed to put the issue up for a vote next year if Brodeur agreed to drop his threat. Mayor Phil Anderson tells the Orlando Sentinel, maybe this is one of those things where the people should have a direct say.
Lawsuit Claims Match Group's Dating Apps Encourage Compulsive News
(Undated) -- Match Group is facing a lawsuit that claims its dating apps Tinder, Hinge and The League are designed to addict users. The six plaintiffs claim Match's business model is "predatory" and entices those looking for love to spend hundreds of dollars a year on subscriptions. The lawsuit alleges that Match uses features that "gamify the platforms" and turn users into "gamblers locked in a search for psychological rewards."
Top Five "Love" Songs
(Undated) -- Following Valentine's Day, Billboard has ranked the top 50 songs with the word "love" in the title. The top five are 1976's "Silly Love Songs" by Wings, 2011's "We Found Love" by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris, 1977's "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee Gees, 1994's "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men and at number one, 1981's "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie.
Today in History
1965, Canada displayed its new red and white Maple Leaf flag. It replaced the old Union Jack.
1898, 260 crew members were killed when the United States battleship Maine exploded in a harbor in Havana, Cuba. The unexplained blast increased tensions between the U.S. and Spain and eventually led to the Spanish-American War. The event spawned the cry "Remember The Maine."