DeSantis To Pick Senator Rubio's Replacement by January
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Governor Ron DeSantis is planning to pick a replacement for Senator Marco Rubio by the new year. The governor posted on X saying Rubio is planning to resign from his position on January 20th in order to serve as the secretary of state in the Trump Administration. There has been strong interest from several potential candidates with more interviews scheduled to take place over the next few weeks. DeSantis says Florida deserves a senator who will help President-elect Donald Trump deliver on his election mandate and has a proven record of results. Whoever is selected will serve as senator until an election is held in 2026.
Two Women Allege Gaetz Paid Them for Sex
(Washington, DC) --Two women say former Panhandle Congressman Matt Gaetz paid them for sex. Attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News yesterday he's representing the two women making the claim. He also says they shared their accusations about Gaetz with the House Ethics Committee. Lopez also says one of his clients saw Gaetz having sex with a girl who was 17 at the time. Gaetz resigned his District One seat after Donald Trump nominated him to be attorney general. A spokesman for the Trump transition team says the allegations are baseless. He tells ABC News the Biden Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years and cleared him of wrongdoing.
Artiles Sentenced in Ghost Candidate Scheme
(Miami, FL) --A former state senator will no longer be allowed to participate in politics. That's part of the ruling a judge handed down yesterday to former District 40 state senator Frank Artiles [[ ar-TEE-lase ]]. The 51-year-old Republican was sentenced after he was convicted last month for his role in a ghost candidate scheme. The judge sentenced Artiles to 60 days, five years probation and 500 hours of community service. Artiles is also banned from working in politics, including fundraising and consulting, but he can still vote. The judge agreed to stay the sentence until after Artiles appeals his conviction. The charges date back to 2020 when Artiles agreed to pay a salesman 50-thousand dollars to run as a third party candidate in the District 37 senate race in Miami-Dade County. He had the same last name as the Democratic candidate who was running against Republican Ileana Garcia. The salesman wound up getting six thousand votes in a race Garcia won by just 32 votes.
Gilzean Responds to Demings' Criticism
(Orlando, FL) --Orange County's elections supervisor is defending himself after he was criticized for how he spent millions of dollars. Glen Gilzean responded yesterday to recent criticism from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. Demings is upset that Gilzean used about five million dollars from his budget to fund college scholarships and job training instead of returning the money to the county. Demings is considering suing to get the money back. Gilzean says the money went to students in need, and residents should be offended that Demings wants to waste tax dollars on legal fees to deny low-income students the opportunity to improve their lives. The county commission will meet today to discuss the issue.
Osceola County Deputy On Trial After Taser Incident
(Orlando, FL) --An Osceola County deputy is on trial for an arrest that left a man with burn injuries. Deputy David Crawford went on trial yesterday for culpable negligence with personal injury. The charge dates back to two years ago when Crawford stopped Jean [[ jee-ON ]] Barreto-Baerga at a gas station in Orange County. When Crawford deployed his Taser near a gas pump, Barreto-Baerga caught fire. He was burned on 75 percent of his body. Prosecutors say Crawford's actions were reckless. Crawford's lawyers say he was doing his job trying to apprehend the suspect.
Pig Attempts To Elude Police
(Tacoma, WA) --A loose pig tried to elude police in Tacoma, WA. Officers responded to reports of a pig running free through a neighborhood. Officers ran after the pig, trying to corner it in a yard, but it kept scooting under fences. Officers were finally able to grab the small pig and hold it until they got it collared. They say "Notorious P.I.G." was safely captured.
Today in History
2021, a U.S. jury cleared Kyle Rittenhouse of murder after fatally shooting two people and injuring another during racial justice protests in Wisconsin.
2015, Subway Pitchman Jared Fogle was sentenced to 15-years behind bars after pleading guilty to sex crimes and child porn charges.
1965, Kellogg's Pop Tarts were created.
1953, baseball is ruled a sport not a business by the Supreme Court of the United States with a seven to two vote.
1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address as he dedicated a national cemetery at the Civil War battlefield.