$30K reward offered for information in murder of 3 fishing buddies in Florida
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with several agencies to offer a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who killed three men fishing in Frostproof, Florida Friday evening, July 17.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with several agencies to offer a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who killed three men fishing in Frostproof, Florida Friday evening, July 17.
Disney World bans guests from eating and drinking while walking
ORLANDO -- Eating and drinking while walking around Walt Disney World is no longer permitted in the age of the novel coronavirus.The theme park is prohibiting visitors from consuming food and beverages while roaming around its Florida location in an effort to ensure masks are worn at all times.Under the new rule, guests are still allowed to remove their masks while eating or drinking, but cannot be on the move and must socially distance from others, according to the park's website, which was first reported by Disney blogs like Mickey Blog and Walt Disney News Today.“Face coverings are required for all guests (ages 2 and up) and cast members.
ORLANDO -- Eating and drinking while walking around Walt Disney World is no longer permitted in the age of the novel coronavirus.The theme park is prohibiting visitors from consuming food and beverages while roaming around its Florida location in an effort to ensure masks are worn at all times.Under the new rule, guests are still allowed to remove their masks while eating or drinking, but cannot be on the move and must socially distance from others, according to the park's website, which was first reported by Disney blogs like Mickey Blog and Walt Disney News Today.“Face coverings are required for all guests (ages 2 and up) and cast members.
Family rescues sea turtle tangled in crab trap rope in Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. -- Lindsey Fish was fishing with her husband and son on the Tampa side of the Tampa Bay fishing channel on Friday when they saw a sea turtle struggling for air.Fish said its front and back flippers on one side were tangled in a crab trap rope, which made it difficult for the turtle to get a good breath.Fish called the FWC Wildlife Alert phone number, but said they told her they weren’t sure when they’d be able to get someone out to help the turtle, so her husband jumped into the water.Once he was able to get close enough to the worn-out turtle to be able to grab the crab trap line, he and brought it back to the boat.They were able to pull the crab trap onto the boat and unravel the rope from the turtle's legs.Once free, the turtle swam off.Fish said they took video and photos and sent them to the FWC, so they could complete a report on the turtle rescue.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Lindsey Fish was fishing with her husband and son on the Tampa side of the Tampa Bay fishing channel on Friday when they saw a sea turtle struggling for air.Fish said its front and back flippers on one side were tangled in a crab trap rope, which made it difficult for the turtle to get a good breath.Fish called the FWC Wildlife Alert phone number, but said they told her they weren’t sure when they’d be able to get someone out to help the turtle, so her husband jumped into the water.Once he was able to get close enough to the worn-out turtle to be able to grab the crab trap line, he and brought it back to the boat.They were able to pull the crab trap onto the boat and unravel the rope from the turtle's legs.Once free, the turtle swam off.Fish said they took video and photos and sent them to the FWC, so they could complete a report on the turtle rescue.
Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus reveals he, wife tested positive for COVID-19 in March
NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus revealed Sunday, July 19 that he and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus back in March when the pandemic first swept across the United States.
NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus revealed Sunday, July 19 that he and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus back in March when the pandemic first swept across the United States.
Florida sheriff: 3 best friends beaten, fatally shot as they met up to go fishing Friday night
FROSTPROOF, Fla. -- The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the person(s) who killed three men Friday night, July 17 in Frostproof, Florida.According to PCSO, Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30 and Brandon Rollins, 27 were beaten and shot as they met up to go fishing around 10 p.m. on Lake Streety near US 27.Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Tillman showed up to the lake first and was killed.
FROSTPROOF, Fla. -- The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the person(s) who killed three men Friday night, July 17 in Frostproof, Florida.According to PCSO, Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30 and Brandon Rollins, 27 were beaten and shot as they met up to go fishing around 10 p.m. on Lake Streety near US 27.Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Tillman showed up to the lake first and was killed.
Citing mental illness, prosecutors won't seek death penalty for man accused of murdering Florida bus driver
TAMPA, Fla. -- Citing a diagnosis of mental illness for murder defendant Justin McGriff, Hillsborough Assistant State Prosecutor Ron Gale surprised the court at an otherwise routine hearing by announcing that the state is taking the death penalty off the table."We would announce our intention to withdraw that notice at this time," Gale said by phone Friday. “I will be filing a formal pleading withdrawing our notice of intent to seek death.”Judge Christopher Sabella appeared surprised by the move saying, "All right, well that’s pretty significant.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Citing a diagnosis of mental illness for murder defendant Justin McGriff, Hillsborough Assistant State Prosecutor Ron Gale surprised the court at an otherwise routine hearing by announcing that the state is taking the death penalty off the table."We would announce our intention to withdraw that notice at this time," Gale said by phone Friday. “I will be filing a formal pleading withdrawing our notice of intent to seek death.”Judge Christopher Sabella appeared surprised by the move saying, "All right, well that’s pretty significant.
Sheriff: Florida residents organizing 'COVID-19 parties,' some led by gang members
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida gang members have supposedly been hosting massive parties at vacation rental homes with the hopes of spreading the coronavirus, according to officials.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida gang members have supposedly been hosting massive parties at vacation rental homes with the hopes of spreading the coronavirus, according to officials.
'Hey buddy, there's a shark right there!' Off-duty police officer pulls boy away from shark
COCOA BEACH, Fla. - An off-duty Cocoa police officer pulled a boy away from a shark to safety.
COCOA BEACH, Fla. - An off-duty Cocoa police officer pulled a boy away from a shark to safety.
After months apart, 90-year-old Florida man wears full PPE to say goodbye to wife with dementia
LAKELAND, Fla. -- For nearly 30 years, Sam Reck was by his wife JoAnn's side.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- For nearly 30 years, Sam Reck was by his wife JoAnn's side.
Florida officer beaten unconscious by suspect needs facial reconstructive surgery, police say
ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida police officer needs facial reconstructive surgery after he was beaten unconscious by a suspect early Thursday morning, July 16.Atlantic Beach police received a complaint around 5 a.m. about a man in the parking lot of a Panera Bread restaurant, First Coast News reported.
ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida police officer needs facial reconstructive surgery after he was beaten unconscious by a suspect early Thursday morning, July 16.Atlantic Beach police received a complaint around 5 a.m. about a man in the parking lot of a Panera Bread restaurant, First Coast News reported.
Miami-Dade to issue $100 fines for people not wearing masks in public
MIAMI -- Miami-Dade County plans to start aggressively enforcing rules designed to combat the rapidly spreading coronavirus.The county's commission unanimously approved an emergency order on Thursday that gives all code and fire inspectors authority to issue tickets of up to $100 for individuals and $500 for businesses not complying with guidelines to wear masks and practice social distancing.
MIAMI -- Miami-Dade County plans to start aggressively enforcing rules designed to combat the rapidly spreading coronavirus.The county's commission unanimously approved an emergency order on Thursday that gives all code and fire inspectors authority to issue tickets of up to $100 for individuals and $500 for businesses not complying with guidelines to wear masks and practice social distancing.
#FloridaMorons trends on social media as crowds form at reopened beaches
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Crowds reportedly returned to beaches in Jacksonville Friday, April 17 after Governor Ron DeSantis said it was OK to reopen if done safely, Fox News reported.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Crowds reportedly returned to beaches in Jacksonville Friday, April 17 after Governor Ron DeSantis said it was OK to reopen if done safely, Fox News reported.
George Zimmerman, acquitted in shooting of Trayvon Martin, banned from Tinder
MIAMI — The ex-neighborhood watch volunteer who killed an unarmed teenager in Florida in 2012 has been banned from the dating app Tinder.An emailed statement from Tinder cited users' safety as a reason for removing George Zimmerman's profile.An article by Tampa, Florida, weekly Creative Loafing says Zimmerman used a fake name on the dating app.Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting of Trayvon Martin on the grounds of self-defense.He has had several run-ins with the law, including a 2015 arrest after he was accused of throwing a wine bottle at his girlfriend.
MIAMI — The ex-neighborhood watch volunteer who killed an unarmed teenager in Florida in 2012 has been banned from the dating app Tinder.An emailed statement from Tinder cited users' safety as a reason for removing George Zimmerman's profile.An article by Tampa, Florida, weekly Creative Loafing says Zimmerman used a fake name on the dating app.Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting of Trayvon Martin on the grounds of self-defense.He has had several run-ins with the law, including a 2015 arrest after he was accused of throwing a wine bottle at his girlfriend.
Families of 17 victims killed in Parkland school shooting will get $400K each from GoFundMe
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The families of the 17 victims killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting will each receive $400,000 from a $10.5 million fund.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The families of the 17 victims killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting will each receive $400,000 from a $10.5 million fund.
'Changing the game:' Parkland shooting survivors to embark on 2-month tour to register young voters
PARKLAND, Fla. — A day after graduating, a group of Florida high school shooting survivors announced they'll spend their summer crisscrossing the country, expanding their grass-roots activism from rallies and schools walkouts to registering young voters to help accomplish their vision for stricter gun laws.David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin and about two dozen other students who have become the faces and voices of bloodshed in American classrooms stood together Monday in matching black "Road to Change" T-shirts, holding placards at a park just down the street from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 were killed on Valentine's Day.In the months since the shooting, the students have rallied hundreds of thousands across the country to march for gun reform, including a massive turnout in Washington, D.C., in March.But the young activists say rallies won't matter unless that energy is funneled into voting out lawmakers beholden to the National Rifle Association this November."This generation is the generation of students you will be reading about next in the textbooks. ...
PARKLAND, Fla. — A day after graduating, a group of Florida high school shooting survivors announced they'll spend their summer crisscrossing the country, expanding their grass-roots activism from rallies and schools walkouts to registering young voters to help accomplish their vision for stricter gun laws.David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin and about two dozen other students who have become the faces and voices of bloodshed in American classrooms stood together Monday in matching black "Road to Change" T-shirts, holding placards at a park just down the street from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 were killed on Valentine's Day.In the months since the shooting, the students have rallied hundreds of thousands across the country to march for gun reform, including a massive turnout in Washington, D.C., in March.But the young activists say rallies won't matter unless that energy is funneled into voting out lawmakers beholden to the National Rifle Association this November."This generation is the generation of students you will be reading about next in the textbooks. ...
'A sad day:' Diplomas presented to families of 4 seniors killed in shooting at Parkland high school
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The senior class from the Florida high school where 17 people died in February's gun massacre held graduation ceremonies Sunday afternoon, with the focus on honoring four students slain in the attack.Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will present diplomas to the families of Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack, and Carmen Schentrup at the event that began about 2 p.m. The school principal, Ty Thompson, underscored the honors to the four slain students in a tweet Sunday."Remember those not with us, and celebrate all the successes the Class of 2018 has brought to the community and the world!" Thompson tweeted.The ceremony for the 784 members of the Class of 2018 was being held at the BB&T Center, where the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers play.
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The senior class from the Florida high school where 17 people died in February's gun massacre held graduation ceremonies Sunday afternoon, with the focus on honoring four students slain in the attack.Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will present diplomas to the families of Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack, and Carmen Schentrup at the event that began about 2 p.m. The school principal, Ty Thompson, underscored the honors to the four slain students in a tweet Sunday."Remember those not with us, and celebrate all the successes the Class of 2018 has brought to the community and the world!" Thompson tweeted.The ceremony for the 784 members of the Class of 2018 was being held at the BB&T Center, where the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers play.
Mutual admiration as Parkland students celebrate milestones
MIAMI — Samantha Fuentes, one of the Parkland school shooting survivors who gave emotional speeches at the March for Our Lives in Washington, has something to celebrate: Three months after the attack, she says "My face is finally shrapnel free!"Fuentes tweeted a photo of her face on Saturday, showing a wide smile despite bruises and a hospital bandage stretching from her ear to her mouth."Regardless of the fact I look like I lost a fight, inside I'm winning in a way.
MIAMI — Samantha Fuentes, one of the Parkland school shooting survivors who gave emotional speeches at the March for Our Lives in Washington, has something to celebrate: Three months after the attack, she says "My face is finally shrapnel free!"Fuentes tweeted a photo of her face on Saturday, showing a wide smile despite bruises and a hospital bandage stretching from her ear to her mouth."Regardless of the fact I look like I lost a fight, inside I'm winning in a way.
Nikolas Cruz and his brother might have $1 million in bank, attorney says
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nikolas Cruz could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, his public defender said Wednesday as the Florida school shooter appeared at a hearing to determine if taxpayers will pick up the tab for his defense.Wearing an orange jumpsuit and flanked by five Broward County Sheriff's Office deputies, Cruz looked down as his defense team addressed the court.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nikolas Cruz could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, his public defender said Wednesday as the Florida school shooter appeared at a hearing to determine if taxpayers will pick up the tab for his defense.Wearing an orange jumpsuit and flanked by five Broward County Sheriff's Office deputies, Cruz looked down as his defense team addressed the court.
Florida school shooting hero blames sheriff, superintendent
PLANTATION, Fla. — A student gravely wounded while saving his classmates' lives by blocking a door during the Florida school massacre said Friday that the county sheriff and school superintendent failed the victims by not arresting the shooter before the attack and by allowing him to attend the school.An attorney for 15-year-old Anthony Borges read a statement from him during a news conference criticizing Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and Superintendent Robert Runcie for the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 14 students and three staff members.Borges was shot five times, suffering wounds to the lungs, abdomen and legs.
PLANTATION, Fla. — A student gravely wounded while saving his classmates' lives by blocking a door during the Florida school massacre said Friday that the county sheriff and school superintendent failed the victims by not arresting the shooter before the attack and by allowing him to attend the school.An attorney for 15-year-old Anthony Borges read a statement from him during a news conference criticizing Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and Superintendent Robert Runcie for the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 14 students and three staff members.Borges was shot five times, suffering wounds to the lungs, abdomen and legs.