Orlando City Commissioner Arrested
(Orlando, FL) -- An Orlando official is facing criminal charges. The FDLE yesterday announced the arrest of District Five City Commissioner Regina Hill. The 58-year-old Democrat is facing seven felony counts and could get a life sentence. The charges include exploitation of the elderly, fraudulent use of personal identification and mortgage fraud. She allegedly took advantage of a 96-year-old constituent living in deplorable conditions. The FDLE says Hill helped clean up the woman's home on Mahalia Court and connected her with resources, but in just over a month, Hill assumed power of attorney and financially exploited the woman for three years. According to investigators, Hill bought a home on Domino Drive with the victim as co-signor without her knowledge and moved into another home the victim owned on Lewis Court. Hill allegedly used over 15-thousand dollars of the victim's money to renovate the home Hill moved into. She's also accused of spending over 100-thousand dollars of the victim's money on personal expenses. Hill entered a not guilty plea.
Hill’s criminal history dates back to 2000 when she was convicted of disorderly intoxication. Five years later, she was arrested for marijuana possession and given six months probation. News 6 reports the 58-year-old Democrat has multiple arrests for illegal substance possession, but many of those charges were dropped.
Alleged Rapist Accused Of Trying To Intimidate Witness
(Orlando, FL) -- An Orlando man facing attempted murder and rape charges is now in more trouble. Bruce Whitehead was charged last week with witness tampering. The witness is the alleged victim from a 2022 case. The 55-year-old Whitehead is accused of raping, robbing and trying to kill the woman in Oak Ridge. Now, he's accused of trying to stop her from testifying against him. Prosecutors say Whitehead recently passed a note to an inmate asking him to 'take care of her.' His trial is set for May.
Pasco County Resident Wanted For Petition Fraud
(Tallahassee, FL)-- A Pasco County resident is wanted for fraud on the abortion initiative. The FDLE announced yesterday an arrest warrant remains active for Dade City's Jamie Johnson. The 47-year-old is facing ten felony counts. The charges include criminal use of personal identification information. Johnson allegedly committed fraud while collecting signatures for the Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion. The FDLE says two others have already been arrested.
FL Board Of Education Met To Discuss Teacher Salary Increases
(Orlando, FL) -- A plan is underway to give Florida teachers higher salaries. The state Board of Education met to discuss how to distribute funding set aside for educators during last year's legislative session. The money would help raise the minimum pay for educators to 47-thousand-five-hundred dollars statewide. The Orange County school district is the only one in the state that has yet to figure out an agreement with its local teachers' union, impacting their portion of the funding. This all comes after another two-hundred-million dollars for educators' salaries was approved by Florida lawmakers as part of the latest budget. The governor is still waiting to sign off on it.
9-Year-Old Boy Crashes Into CHP Patrol Car
(Oroville, CA)-- Nobody is injured after a nine-year-old boy crashed a car into a California Highway Patrol officer's patrol car in Oroville. The boy was trying to drive himself to school in his mother's car on Wednesday morning, without telling her. The CHP says an officer spotted a sedan stopped oddly in the middle of an intersection and told the driver to move. But, the driver suddenly took off, leading the officer on a short and erratic chase that came to an end in a dirt parking lot near Plumas Avenue Elementary School. After stopping, the boy threw the car in reverse, backing directly into the officer's patrol car, causing minor damage to both cars. He was later sent to school.
Today in History
1971, a jury in Los Angeles, California, recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders. The four later had their sentences commuted.
1848, Niagara Falls stopped flowing for the first time ever. An ice jam in the Niagara River forced the water to stop.