Drought Conditions Worsen In Florida
(Undated-- Drought conditions are worsening in Florida, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map. Extreme drought now affects portions of Lake, Sumter, Marion, Volusia, Palm Beach, Hendry, Collier and Broward counties. Parts of the Tampa Bay area and Central and South Florida are experiencing severe drought. Daytona Beach, Melbourne, and surrounding areas are seeing one of their driest Aprils on record, ranking in the top ten.
Crackdown On Illegal Immigration Underway
(Tallahassee, FL)-- A new effort is underway to detains hundreds of illegal immigrants in the state. Operation Tidal Wave started Monday with the goal to find and detain about 800 illegal immigrants across the state. Homeland Security is leading the operation. The Miami Herald reports the aim is to find those with criminal records or deportation orders.
No Budget Deal Expected In Tallahassee
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Lawmakers in Tallahassee seem to be having trouble putting together a state budget. Leaders in the Senate and House told their members yesterday they're four billion dollars apart. The legislative session is set to end a week from today. To meet that deadline, a budget would have to be submitted by Tuesday before the 72-hour cooling off period starts. A budget must be passed by July First.
Broward County Lawmaker Leaving Democratic Party
(Tallahassee, FL)-- A Democratic lawmaker from Broward County is leaving the party. Hollywood State Senator Jason Pizzo announced yesterday he's switching to No Party Affiliation. The Senate Democratic Leader says the Democratic Party in Florida is dead. Pizzo adds running as an NPA candidate allows him to be free and clear, clean and transparent and help more people. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried says she won't miss him, and the party will be more united without him. Boca Raton's Lori Berman was elected to replace Pizzo as the Democratic party's new leader in the senate.
Seminole County Woman Finds Gator At Door
(Lake Mary, FL)-- It's a good thing a Seminole County woman checked her doorbell camera before opening her door. Lake Mary's Nathalie Gaines was home recently when she heard a knock on her door. Instead of opening it, she looked at her doorbell camera and saw what she calls a full-blown alligator on her doorstep. Gaines estimates it was seven or eight-feet long. She left it alone, and it eventually wandered off. Gaines tells Fox 35 she always sees wildlife, but not this up close, knocking on the door.
First It Was The Gulf of America
(Austin, TX) -- Texas lawmakers are serious about changing the name of the New York Strip steak. A hearing was held this week on legislation that seeks to turn it into the Texas Strip steak. State Senator Kevin Sparks says that Texas is tops in the nation when it comes to beef production, with more than four-million heads of cattle. The bill encourages restaurants and grocery stores to adopt the "Texas Strip Steak" name and calls on the Agriculture Department to adjust their marketing materials to highlight the change.
Today in History
2022, Twitter announced a deal to sell to Elon Musk for 44-billion dollars.
1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed from the space shuttle Discovery.
1962, the Marvel comic book, "The Incredible Hulk," debuted on newsstands.
1928, Buddy, the first seeing eye dog, made his debut.