DeSantis Suspends James Taylor
(Tallahassee, FL) --Governor Ron DeSantis is suspending the Fort Pierce City Commissioner who's accused of child sex crimes. James A. Taylor was arrested this month on 24 counts of felony crimes involving child exploitation. Authorities say he had sexually explicit online conversations with a 12-year-old girl in Illinois and even sent her nude pictures. DeSantis issued an executive order on Monday, five days before Taylor's resignation was due to take effect.
Suspect Dead After Standoff Near UF
(Gainesville, FL)-- A man was shot and killed after an hours-long standoff near the University of Florida in Gainesville. The scene unfolded yesterday morning when Alachua County sheriff's deputies were attempting to serve a felony narcotics warrant at an apartment complex. The suspect allegedly fired toward deputies, and that's when SWAT was called. Officers returned fire after the suspect continued to shoot his weapon. No one else was injured. Authorities say the university was not connected to the incident.
Uthmeier Threatens Orange County Officials Over Immigration
(Orlando, FL) -- Orange County officials could face consequences for what Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier calls sanctuary policies. He sent a letter yesterday to Mayor Jerry Demings and members of the county commission in reference to the commission's vote two weeks ago to not transport immigrant detainees on behalf of ICE. The commission also voted to stop holding inmates unless they're facing something other than an immigration charge. Uthmeier says the county has adopted a sanctuary policy, and Demings and commissioners could be removed from office. Demings' spokesman says the issue will come up again at next week's commission meeting.
Man Arrested For Stabbing Postal Carrier In Miami-Dade County
(Biscayne Park, FL)-- A man is facing charges for attacking a mailman in Miami-Dade County. Valentino Jlil [[juh-LEEL]] was arrested Monday after last week's incident in Biscayne Park. Biscayne Park Police say Jlil was driving an e-scooter when a mail truck turned into his path. Jlil got in front of the truck, and when the driver got out, things got physical. Officers say Jlil initiated contact, the mailman wrestled him to the ground, and at one point, the mailman was stabbed in the chest. Charges against Jlil include aggravated battery with a deadly weapon against the elderly. The mailman is 60-years-old. There's no word on his condition.
PETA Accuses Maine Lobster Fest Of Torturing Lobsters
(Rockland, ME)-- PETA is accusing the Maine Lobster Festival of "torturing" lobsters. The animal rights group filed a lawsuit in Maine last week accusing the annual lobster festival of engaging in large-scale animal cruelty. The suit claims that 16-thousand lobsters are "boiled alive" each year at the festival, and is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the steaming of live lobsters on public land. Organizers of the lobster fest say that Maine's laws do not prohibit the traditional preparation of lobster, and that the state "has not recognized boiling or steaming lobsters as a violation of its animal welfare laws."
Today in History
2021, for the first time ever, Amazon released the number of employees it had. At the time, almost one million people worked for the billion-dollar company making it the U.S.' second largest employer. The first is Walmart. Now, Amazon has just over one-point-five million employees, still falling into second place behind Walmart's two-point-three million.
1999, Linda Tripp was charged with illegal wiretapping in Maryland for recording her phone conversations with former White House Intern Monica Lewinsky.
1976, Bruce Jenner became known as the "World's Greatest Athlete" after winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted 21-17 on the final of three charges of "high crimes and misdemeanors" to impeach President Richard Nixon. Nixon resigned before the issue could come to trial.