INSIDER
Florida police union leader blasts prosecutors over charges against officers in deadly 2019 shootout
Read full article: Florida police union leader blasts prosecutors over charges against officers in deadly 2019 shootoutA Florida police union leader blasted prosecutors for bringing a criminal case against four officers over a 2019 shootout with two robbers that left a UPS driver and a passerby dead.
By the Numbers: 130 Florida manatee deaths reported in first two months of 2024
Read full article: By the Numbers: 130 Florida manatee deaths reported in first two months of 2024A reported 130 manatees died in Florida during the first two months of 2024. Here are the counties with the most manatee deaths.
Powerball jackpot rises to $1.2 billion after another drawing without a big winner
Read full article: Powerball jackpot rises to $1.2 billion after another drawing without a big winnerThe Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.2 billion after no one beat the immense odds and won the giant prize.
Kilos of fentanyl, stolen police gun found during traffic stop in St. Johns County, authorities say
Read full article: Kilos of fentanyl, stolen police gun found during traffic stop in St. Johns County, authorities sayA traffic stop for speeding led to a St. Johns County deputy and a U.S. Border Patrol Agent discovering kilos of fentanyl, meth and firearms, according to an arrest report.
JSO releases photo of gun, IDs Broward County man shot by officer following attempted Orange Park arrest
Read full article: JSO releases photo of gun, IDs Broward County man shot by officer following attempted Orange Park arrestA man who was connected to a Broward County murder investigation was shot in Jacksonville by police Friday evening after they attempted to apprehend him, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Man wanted in Broward County shot by Jacksonville police following attempt to arrest
Read full article: Man wanted in Broward County shot by Jacksonville police following attempt to arrestA man who was connected to a Broward County murder investigation was shot in Jacksonville by police Friday evening after they attempted to apprehend him, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Florida floods: Businesses, residents begin cleaning up mess
Read full article: Florida floods: Businesses, residents begin cleaning up messBusiness owners and residents have begun the slow process of drying out and recovering possessions following an unprecedented deluge that dumped more than 2 feet of rain in some areas of South Florida in one day.
Torrential storms batter South Florida, close key airport
Read full article: Torrential storms batter South Florida, close key airportNearly a foot of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale – causing widespread flooding, the closure of the city’s airport and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County region.
Grand jury wants school board members removed over Parkland massacre
Read full article: Grand jury wants school board members removed over Parkland massacreA Florida grand jury empaneled after a deadly mass shooting at a Parkland high school has recommended that four members of that school board be fired.
‘Pillowcase Rapist’ charged in at least 6 cold case attacks in Broward County from 1980s
Read full article: ‘Pillowcase Rapist’ charged in at least 6 cold case attacks in Broward County from 1980sThe Broward Sheriff’s Office announced charges Tuesday against Robert Koehler, known as the “Pillowcase Rapist,” for cold cases from the 1980s, News4JAX partner station WPLG reported.
South Florida county struggles with understaffed 911 call center
Read full article: South Florida county struggles with understaffed 911 call centerBroward County’s emergency call center is greatly understaffed and the sheriff told county commissioners his agency doesn’t have the money to fill the empty positions.
Florida officer’s convictions upheld in fatal shooting
Read full article: Florida officer’s convictions upheld in fatal shootingThe Florida Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a police officer convicted of manslaughter and attempted murder for the fatal shooting of a Black motorist whose car had broken down on an interstate off-ramp.
Higher-speed train hits car on 1st day back from shutdown
Read full article: Higher-speed train hits car on 1st day back from shutdownOfficials say a Brightline commuter train hit a car carrying a woman and her grandchild on the higher-speed line’s first day back in operation since the coronavirus pandemic began.
COVID cases falling, but trouble signs arise as winter looms
Read full article: COVID cases falling, but trouble signs arise as winter loomsTumbling COVID-19 case counts have some schools around the U.S. considering relaxing their mask rules, but deaths nationally have been ticking up over the past few weeks.
South Florida police chief put on leave amid allegations
Read full article: South Florida police chief put on leave amid allegationsA South Florida police chief was placed on administrative leave following an emergency city commission meeting regarding allegations that two complaints had recently been made against him.
Florida Department of Education give Alachua, Broward 48 hours to drop schools mask mandates
Read full article: Florida Department of Education give Alachua, Broward 48 hours to drop schools mask mandatesThe Florida Department of Education on Friday formally demanded that the Alachua and Broward County school districts “comply with state statute and rule” by dropping their mask requirements.
2 more large Florida school districts defy state over mask mandate
Read full article: 2 more large Florida school districts defy state over mask mandateHillsborough and Miami-Dade counties have become the third and fourth school districts in Florida to adopt stricter mask mandates, a day after school boards in Broward and Alachua counties faced threats of severe penalties for defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, which says parents should decide whether their children wear masks.
DeSantis and Crist are polar opposites on school mask mandates
Read full article: DeSantis and Crist are polar opposites on school mask mandatesGov. Ron DeSantis threaten to withhold funding from school districts that implement mandatory mask mandates in the fall has drawn blowback from his potential 2022 Democratic opponents.
Lawsuit challenges unemployment money halt in Florida
Read full article: Lawsuit challenges unemployment money halt in FloridaBroward County residents struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic have filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to cut off federal unemployment money for Floridians.
Driver says he is devastated by fatal Pride parade crash
Read full article: Driver says he is devastated by fatal Pride parade crashThe 77-year-old driver who accidentally slammed his truck into fellow members of a gay chorus group, killing one and injuring two others, said Monday that he was devastated by the crash at the start of a Pride parade in South Florida.
Parkland sheriff gets job reviewing red light tickets
Read full article: Parkland sheriff gets job reviewing red light ticketsA former South Florida sheriff who was removed from office by the governor because of his agency’s response to the Parkland school shooting that left 17 people dead has found a new job reviewing the footage of red light cameras.
Florida school halts use of book about a Black boy’s killing
Read full article: Florida school halts use of book about a Black boy’s killingA Florida school board is halting the use of a fictional book about a Black boy who is killed by a white officer after a police union complained to the school district that it is propaganda.
Records: Superintendent lied to jury investigating massacre
Read full article: Records: Superintendent lied to jury investigating massacreThe superintendent of the Florida school district where 17 students and staff died in a 2018 high school massacre has been arrested on a charge that he lied to a grand jury.
Florida deputy is 7th in agency to die of coronavirus
Read full article: Florida deputy is 7th in agency to die of coronavirusFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Broward County sheriff’s deputy has become the seventh person in the agency to die of complications from the coronavirus. The Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page that 48-year-old Sgt. Shane Owens died on Saturday. He had been hospitalized and on a ventilator prior to his death, the sheriff's office said. Shane Owens would be in it.”
Data: Florida’s texting-while-driving law rarely enforced
Read full article: Data: Florida’s texting-while-driving law rarely enforcedThat roadside encounter, in November, was the exception rather than the rule when it comes to enforcing a new Florida law against texting and driving. AdBut the new law against texting is rarely enforced, according to official state figures. The report also contained at least one major error – discovered after the fact by a news reporter – that overcounted texting tickets by hundreds. AdIn areas where law enforcement agencies submitted data, the numbers also showed that police aren’t aggressively enforcing the anti-texting law. AdThose provisions make the texting law difficult to enforce, said Kinsey, the Alachua County sheriff’s sergeant.
Florida governor walks back claim over 1 millionth shot
Read full article: Florida governor walks back claim over 1 millionth shot“An American hero,” the governor proclaimed Friday, would be the 1 millionth senior in his state to get a lifesaving shot in the arm. State officials acknowledged that it could take a few more days to reach the milestone. DeSantis' own health department reported that, as of Thursday, fewer than 840,000 seniors had received the shot. State officials had no immediate comment on any of those assertions. On Friday, health officials reported 277 new deaths, matching the Aug. 11 record for the highest single-day toll since the pandemic began.
COVID-19 hospitalizations top 6,000 in Florida
Read full article: COVID-19 hospitalizations top 6,000 in FloridaTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With steady increases in recent months, more than 6,000 people were hospitalized Monday in Florida with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19, according to information posted on the state Agency for Health Care Administration website. As of a midday count, 6,081 people were hospitalized, including 1,018 in Miami-Dade County. By comparison, 2,081 people were hospitalized with primary diagnoses of COVID-19 on Oct. 1; 2,371 were hospitalized on Nov. 1; 4,282 were hospitalized on Dec. 1; and 5,514 were hospitalized on Dec. 21, according to information The News Service of Florida has compiled from the agency’s website. The increases in hospitalizations have come as Florida has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases. As of Sunday, the state reported 1,271,979 cases since the pandemic started, according to the Florida Department of Health website.
South Florida counties implement temporary holiday curfews
Read full article: South Florida counties implement temporary holiday curfewsFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Some South Florida counties have put into place a short-term curfew over the holidays in an effort to discourage the spread of the new coronavirus. “Christmas and New Year’s holidays are known for large gatherings," Broward Mayor Steve Geller told mayors during a conference call Tuesday. “We are expecting a spike in cases here.”The temporary curfew, from Christmas to Jan. 4, is meant to stop people from moving around and gathering for parties. Midnight mass and travel to and from work are exempt, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Ron DeSantis' order removing restrictions on bars and restaurants, and they are “speculative and arbitrary,” wrote U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.
COVID-19 hospitalizations top 5,000 in Florida
Read full article: COVID-19 hospitalizations top 5,000 in FloridaTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The number of people hospitalized in Florida with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19 topped 5,000 on Tuesday, as case numbers and deaths continued to climb. As of early Tuesday evening, 5,103 people were hospitalized with primary diagnoses of COVID-19, up from 4,931 during a Monday count, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration website. Miami-Dade County had the largest number of people hospitalized Tuesday with 932. It was followed by Broward County, with 514; Hillsborough County, with 300; Duval County, with 286; Palm Beach County, with 283; Pinellas County, with 241; Orange County, with 234; Polk County, with 155; Pasco County, with 136; Escambia County, with 126; Sarasota County, with 125; Lee County, with 124; Osceola County, with 119; Lake County, with 114; Volusia County, with 110; and Collier County, with 109.
Amber Alert canceled after 2-year-old Broward County girl found safe, authorities say
Read full article: Amber Alert canceled after 2-year-old Broward County girl found safe, authorities sayBecause the child is no longer missing, News4Jax has removed the names and photos from this article. An Amber Alert issued Sunday morning for a 2-year-old Broward County girl was canceled in the afternoon after she was found safe, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE issued the Amber Alert shortly after 10 a.m. for the girl, who authorities said had last been seen around 2 a.m. in Wilton Manors, Florida. According to Wilton Manors police, the mother does not have custody of the child. Just before 3 p.m., FDLE announced the Amber Alert had been resolved and the child is safe.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to mount in Florida
Read full article: COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to mount in FloridaTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With thousands of additional COVID-19 cases being reported every day, the number of people hospitalized with the disease continues to mount. As of early Monday evening, 3,243 people in Florida were hospitalized with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19, up from 3,118 on Sunday afternoon, according to Florida Agency for Health Care Administration numbers. The increase came as Florida reported an additional 4,663 cases on Monday, bringing the overall total to 889,864 since the pandemic started, the state Department of Health reported on its website. Also, 17,559 Florida residents and 216 non-residents had died of COVID-19. Miami-Dade County had the most COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, with 465.
Final weeks of historic hurricane season bring new storms
Read full article: Final weeks of historic hurricane season bring new stormsTropical Storm Eta is parked off the western coast of Cuba, dumping rain. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Theta — which formed overnight and broke a record as the 29th named Atlantic storm of the season — is chugging east toward Europe on the cusp of hurricane status. The system now has a 70% chance of becoming the 30th named storm. Never before have three named storms been twirling at the same time this late in the year, Klotzbach said. The overall message is that everyone in the area should pay attention to Eta, Brennan said.
COVID-19 hospitalizations top 2,900 in Florida
Read full article: COVID-19 hospitalizations top 2,900 in FloridaTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The number of people hospitalized with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19 has substantially increased during the past two weeks, topping 2,900 on Monday, according to numbers posted on the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration website. The total of 2,902 hospitalizations late Monday afternoon was up from 2,777 on Sunday. It also was up from 2,474 a week earlier and 2,252 two weeks earlier, numbers compiled daily by The News Service of Florida show. The increase in hospitalizations has come as the state has seen thousands of new COVID-19 cases each day. Miami-Dade County had the most people hospitalized late Monday afternoon at 402.
Eta soaks South Florida, weakens as it moves away from Keys
Read full article: Eta soaks South Florida, weakens as it moves away from KeysTropical Storm Eta caused severe flooding in South Florida in areas already saturated from previous downpours. The system made landfall in the Florida Keys and posed a serious threat across South Florida, which was already drenched from more than 14 inches of rain last month. The Hurricane Warning for the Florida Keys and Florida Bay have been replaced with a Tropical Storm Warning. The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning for the Florida west coast from Englewood to Anna Maria Island. On the forecast track, the center of Eta will gradually pull away from the Florida Keys and south Florida today and be over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight through Wednesday.
Man mauled by leopard behind Davie home; animal’s owner charged
Read full article: Man mauled by leopard behind Davie home; animal’s owner chargedA man who paid $150 for a “full-contact experience” with a black leopard says he had to undergo multiple surgeries after he was mauled by the fully-grown animal in an enclosure behind a Davie home. The man who lives there, identified as Michael Poggi, has a Facebook page saying he runs an animal sanctuary for rare and endangered animals. Authorities say Poggi was charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal and was cited for maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition. Investigators say Poggi charged the 50-year-old Turner $150 for a “full-contact experience” with his black leopard — to “play with it, rub its belly and take pictures.”FWC’s report says that once Turner walked inside the enclosure, the leopard attacked. They say Poggi admitted to them, though, that what he did was illegal.
Florida officials stop scheme to register dead voters as Democrats
Read full article: Florida officials stop scheme to register dead voters as DemocratsOfficials in Broward County, a Democratic stronghold and Florida's second most populous county, uncovered the scheme over the summer. Broward County supervisor of elections officials flagged the registrations as suspicious and turned them over to the Broward state attorney's office. “We cannot comment on an ongoing, active criminal investigation,” state attorney’s office spokeswoman Paula McMahon told The Associated Press in an email. Thirty of the 51 were verified by the state attorney's office as being deceased. Elections officials said the applications were left blank in spaces for driver license and Social Security numbers.
Jamaicans in Florida energized by Harris on 2020 ticket
Read full article: Jamaicans in Florida energized by Harris on 2020 ticketFlorida has more than 974,000 people of West Indian ancestry — a Caribbean category that excludes Hispanic nationalities such as Cuban. A conservative estimate for the number of Jamaican voters in Florida stands at 91,000, because many may not report Jamaica as their country of origin. Haitian voters are estimated at about 115,000. Shawn Myers, a voter in Broward County who is Jamaican American, said he would vote for Biden and Harris, just to unseat Trump. Omphroy said she identifies with Harris as a first-generation daughter of immigrants, and she also thinks the candidate is easy to like.
Miami-Dade, Broward counties to move into next phase of reopening
Read full article: Miami-Dade, Broward counties to move into next phase of reopeningRon DeSantis on Friday announced that two large South Florida counties will move into the next phase of reopening. DeSantis said Miami-Dade County and Broward County will move into Phase 2 of reopening starting Monday. This is really, really important. “With a transition of our county to Phase 2 effective Monday, that lifts a huge roadblock that has prevented us from taking additional steps,” Carvalho said. Over 236,000 total people in Miami-Dade and Broward conties have reported positive coronavirus tests over the last six months, according to state data.
Man dies after jumping out of Lyft on I-95
Read full article: Man dies after jumping out of Lyft on I-95HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A 48-year-old man jumped out of a car window and died after being struck by another car traveling on Interstate 95 in South Florida, authorities said. The man climbed out of the window of a Lyft traveling south on I-95, just south of Hallandale Beach Blvd., the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. The Florida Highway Patrol said the man was hit and killed at about 8:15 p.m on Sunday. The man was hit by a sedan whose driver did not stop, according to the agency. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
2 killed when plane crashes into public storage building
Read full article: 2 killed when plane crashes into public storage buildingPEMBROKE PARK, Fla. Two people were killed when a small plane crashed Friday into a Florida public storage building, officials said. The twin-engine Aero Commander crashed around 9 a.m. in Pembroke Park, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said in an email. Rescue workers from Broward County and the city of Hollywood responded, according to a Broward Sheriff's Office news release. Two people were located in the wreckage and pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Preliminary information shows the plane left Pompano Beach and was heading south to Opa Locka, the sheriff's office said.
Statewide grand jury wants more time to investigate school safety issues
Read full article: Statewide grand jury wants more time to investigate school safety issuesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. A statewide grand jury impaneled after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County is seeking more time to finish its work. The office of Statewide Prosecutor Nicholas Cox filed a petition Thursday at the Florida Supreme Court asking for a six-month extension of the term of the grand jury. Ron DeSantis asked the Supreme Court to impanel the grand jury to investigate school-safety issues, a request that was granted by the court. The statewide grand jury began meeting in June 2019 for what was expected to be a 12-month period. The statewide grand jury has diligently investigated the issues identified by this honorable courts order (impaneling the grand jury), several of which have required evidence from every county in the state, Thursdays petition for more time said.
Police: Men broke into home while wearing GPS ankle monitors
Read full article: Police: Men broke into home while wearing GPS ankle monitorsHOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A group of men already on pretrial release for previous offenses are behind a string of burglaries carried them out while wearing ankle monitors that track their locations, police said. They are accused of being part of a criminal organization committing burglaries, armed burglaries, fraud, gun thefts and other criminal acts throughout South Florida, Hollywood police said Tuesday. Hall, Williams and Hill each face charges of burglary, grand theft and racketeering. Hall is facing 35 counts, and Williams and Hill are facing 25 and 19 counts respectively. Hollywood and Margate police, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Attorney General’s Office are conducting a joint investigation.
Sheriff claims victory over predecessor fired after Parkland
Read full article: Sheriff claims victory over predecessor fired after ParklandRon DeSantis fired his predecessor Scott Israel over his handling of the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead. The Broward County sheriff runs a 6,000-employee operation with a half-billion dollar budget, one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the southeast. Israel won election twice before he was removed by DeSantis after the Parkland school shooting. Broward County Mayor Dale Holness said in a statement that Tony deserved to be elected. "Sheriff Tony came into office under circumstances that many questioned, Holness said.
Florida sheriff race hinges on massacre, old shooting
Read full article: Florida sheriff race hinges on massacre, old shootingFILE- In this Oct. 21, 2019 file photo, former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel appears before the Senate Rules Committee concerning his dismissal by Gov. Ron DeSantis, in Tallahassee, Fla. Israel is running against Sheriff Gregory Tony in the upcoming Florida primary. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon, File)
Small plane makes emergency landing on Florida highway
Read full article: Small plane makes emergency landing on Florida highwayCORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – The pilot of a small plane made an emergency landing on a South Florida highway Friday night. The 29-year-old pilot had a mechanical issue with his Piper PA28-140 that affected the flow of fuel and wasn't able to return to the plane to its home base safely, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He landed the aircraft on the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County just after 10:30 p.m. The plane didn't strike any cars and the pilot wasn't injured, the department said. The plane blocked two lanes of traffic until it could be moved to the median shoulder.
Carefree Florida summers a thing of past; 5K die from virus
Read full article: Carefree Florida summers a thing of past; 5K die from virusThere are 49 hospitals in Florida with 0% ICU beds available, according to Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration website as of 3 p.m. EST Sunday. The state Department of Health on Sunday reported 12,478 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 87 more deaths. Florida recently closed bars again because customers weren’t wearing masks or practicing social distancing. And I think everyone has shared blame in that,” he told CBS4’s Facing South Florida this weekend. “I feel angry that DeSantis only cares about Trump and is willfully ignorant when it comes to the virus,” she said.
Elections officials face dynamic and changing situation
Read full article: Elections officials face dynamic and changing situationCollectively, Floridas 67 county supervisors of elections have decades of experience responding to disasters. But the coronavirus pandemic presents a calamity of a different kind, posing an unknown threat thats forcing elections officials to plan for a continuum of possibilities. Elections officials had what Earley called a dry run during the presidential primary elections as the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease known as COVID-19, quickly spread through the state in March. Theyre buying no-contact thermometers to check poll workers temperatures. Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer will rely on face shields and Plexiglas barriers to separate poll workers and voters.
Helicopter pilot survives crash in Florida park
Read full article: Helicopter pilot survives crash in Florida parkCOCONUT CREEK, Fla. Authorities say a helicopter pilot transporting building materials survived a crash near a Florida park. Police in Coconut Creek said the helicopter went down Thursday afternoon in a wooded area adjacent to Tradewinds Park, in Broward County. Scotty Leamon, spokesman for the Coconut Creek Police Department, said the pilot's injuries were not life-threatening. Authorities say the pilot was airlifted from the crash site by another helicopter with a rescue basket and taken to a local hospital. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that the National Transportation Safety Board will determine the cause of the crash.
Florida shatters one-day coronavirus case record with 5,500
Read full article: Florida shatters one-day coronavirus case record with 5,500FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Floridians traveling to the New York City area will be required to quarantine as Florida's new confirmed coronavirus cases skyrocketed by 5,500 Wednesday, a 25% jump from the previous one-day record set last week and triple the level of just two weeks ago. Other local governments now requiring masks in public spaces include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orange County, Palm Beach County and the Florida Keys. Two weeks ago, Floridas one-day record for confirmed coronavirus cases was 1,601, set in mid-May. The state now has more than 109,000 confirmed cases since March 1. In South Florida, local and health officials are worried about rising hospitalizations and new infections in under-served, primarily Hispanic communities.
Brevard County FOP head resigns over post on accused officers
Read full article: Brevard County FOP head resigns over post on accused officersVIERA, Fla. – The president of a Fraternal Order of Police chapter along Florida’s Space Coast has resigned after being told he would be fired following an internal investigation over a social media post that encouraged officers linked to departments accused of using excessive force during recent protests to apply for jobs in Florida. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said Friday that Lt. Bert Gamin was no longer with the agency. The message posted last weekend on the Brevard FOP Facebook page said, “Hey Buffalo 57 ... and Atlanta 6 ... we are hiring in Florida. The four fired officers and two others face criminal charges stemming from the incident. In Buffalo, New York, dozens of police officers stepped down from the department’s crowd control unit last week, objecting to the suspensions of two fellow officers in the shoving of a 75-year-old protester who fell and injured his head.
Statewide grand jury investigating Parkland shooting to get more time
Read full article: Statewide grand jury investigating Parkland shooting to get more timeTALLAHASSEE, Fla. A statewide grand jury that has investigated the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County will get more time to conduct its work after a suspension of activities because of the coronavirus. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday issued an order that said additional days equal to the number of days for which proceedings are suspended shall be restored to the term of the statewide grand jury.Statewide Prosecutor Nicholas Cox, who is the legal adviser to the grand jury, filed an emergency petition this month at the Supreme Court seeking clarification about the panels term. The petition said the term was scheduled to end June 5, but Cox sought clarification that the time frame would be extended because of the coronavirus-caused suspension of proceedings. Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady has issued a series of orders designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The orders address various aspects of the court system, with jury trials and grand jury proceedings currently suspended through July 2.
NFL cornerbacks Baker, Dunbar released from jail on bond
Read full article: NFL cornerbacks Baker, Dunbar released from jail on bondBaker is charged with four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. He turned himself in at the Broward County Jail. (Broward County Sheriff's Office via AP)FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. NFL cornerbacks DeAndre Baker and Quinton Dunbar were released from Broward County Jail on Sunday, a day after surrendering on felony charges stemming from a cookout at a Miramar home. Baker and Dunbar were attending the cookout Wednesday night when a fight broke out, and Baker pulled out a handgun, the warrant said. Baker, Dunbar and two other men began robbing people of thousands of dollars, watches and other valuables, witnesses told investigators.
Florida sheriff defends keeping childhood shooting secret
Read full article: Florida sheriff defends keeping childhood shooting secretBroward County Sheriff Gregory Tony told reporters over the weekend that he didn't see the need to disclose the 1993 killing to Gov. The former Coral Springs sergeant had quit that department in 2016 to operate a consulting firm that specialized in active shooter training. The Coral Springs employment questionnaire asked several times if he had ever been arrested, charged with a crime or received a notice to appear. "There’s nothing that I had ever done that was a crime,” Tony told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Bell told the Herald that Tony should have disclosed the shooting to Coral Springs and DeSantis.
Sheriff’s office torn by school massacre now split by virus
Read full article: Sheriff’s office torn by school massacre now split by virusFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida sheriff's office ripped apart by the 2018 Parkland high school massacre is now facing an angry, public fracture sparked by the coronavirus death of one of its deputies. “Tony has been politically fiddling with facts like Nero as Rome burned,” wrote Bell, the leader of the 1,400-member Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association. Several deputies, including school resource officer Scot Peterson, failed to charge into the building to confront the shooter. Both Tony and Israel are former Republicans, but the county is heavily Democratic and they changed parties before taking office. Before the current rift over protective equipment, Tony clashed with the union after he suspended and fired some deputies accused of excessive force.
Zero to 149 in 2 weeks: Florida coronavirus cases soar
Read full article: Zero to 149 in 2 weeks: Florida coronavirus cases soarBy Friday, three more cases were identified in the state, including the first two in Broward County. Seven days in, Florida had 16 cases of COVID-19, including five Floridians who were diagnosed outside the state. The next day, Florida announced 17 more cases, including one in Clay County. Fourteen days after that first announcement from the governor’s office, there are at least 149 people in the state diagnosed with COVID-19. As of this writing -- understanding this will be obsolete within hours -- nearly half the state’s cases are concentrated in South Florida -- 36 in Broward County alone.
3rd coronavirus case triggers advisory for Florida port
Read full article: 3rd coronavirus case triggers advisory for Florida portBROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – With three coronavirus cases linked to a Port Everglades company, Florida health officials are asking anyone who’s experiencing symptoms after traveling through the port to stay home for 14 days. That advisory was issued on Tuesday after the Florida Department of Health announced a 69-year-old woman has tested positive for coronavirus, making her the fourth Broward County case and the third among employees of Metro Cruise Services, which provides ground services at the port. According to the state health department, officials are working to identify individuals who came into contact with the infected patients while passing through Port Everglades. Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 who recently traveled through Port Everglades should self-isolate until healthy and contact their healthcare provider prior to seeking care. On Saturday, the State Department issued an advisory warning Americans about cruise travel after crew members and passengers on recent voyages were exposed to the virus.
Florida woman shocked to find snake inside her car while driving
Read full article: Florida woman shocked to find snake inside her car while drivingPEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A woman in Broward County received quite the surprise while driving early Friday evening. According to police, the woman was driving on Hiatus Road in Pembroke Pines when she noticed a snake was inside her car. Pembroke Pines Police Officer Patrick Pagliai turned on the car’s heater in order to coax the snake out of the vehicle’s air vents. The intruder, a harmless rat snake, was caught by Officer Pagliai. Authorities say anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation can call their non-emergency line at 954-764-HELP (4357).
Special session begins on suspended Broward County sheriff
Read full article: Special session begins on suspended Broward County sheriffSuspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel faced a legislative showdown Monday in the fight to get his job back, amid procedural wrangling that began before senators even began considering his... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Nursing home employees charged in patient deaths after Hurricane Irma
Read full article: Nursing home employees charged in patient deaths after Hurricane IrmaFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Four employees of a Broward County nursing home where 12 people died in sweltering heat after a hurricane cut power were charged Monday, at least three of them with aggravated manslaughter, their attorneys said. Nursing home patients at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, ranging in age from 57 to 99, began dying three days after Hurricane Irma swept through in September 2017. Former Rehabilitation Center nurse Sergo Colin and administrator Jorge Carballo were each charged with 12 counts of aggravated manslaughter, according to jail records. Nurse Althia Meggie was charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of tampering with evidence. Memorial spokeswoman Kerting Baldwin said she couldn't confirm that the hospital sent patients to the nursing home.
Mom, daughter killed in Florida shooting that injured cop
Read full article: Mom, daughter killed in Florida shooting that injured copCOCONUT CREEK, Fla. - Friends say a mother and her 20-year-old daughter were killed in a violent domestic shooting in Broward County. Coconut Creek Police have charged Jason Roseman with two counts of murder in the deaths of Hannah Bonta and her mother Jan Kirkland. He is also charged with two counts of premeditated murder after authorities say he shot Bonta's boyfriend Saturday and a police officer who responded to the scene. Jacqueline Fantozzie, who told WPLG-TV that she as Kirkland's best friend, said the last time she communicated with her, Kirkland told her she and Roseman had gotten into a nasty argument. "They were wonderful people," Fantozzie said of Kirkland and Bontain tears Sunday.
Missing child alert canceled for 4-year-old Broward County boy
Read full article: Missing child alert canceled for 4-year-old Broward County boyMissing Child Alert for Tanner Swears,4, out of Broward County. COCONUT CREEK, Fla. - A Florida missing child alert has been canceled for a 4-year-old who was reported missing Saturday night n Coconut Creek, FloridaInvestigators would not say where the child was found. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
State panel scrutinizes school safety
Read full article: State panel scrutinizes school safetyRight now, you will lose your license if you have an armed guardian, Book said in a text message. Upon hearing her suggestion, he asked whether it could be considered an expansion of the guardian program. Books plan would tweak the state law that governs voluntary pre-kindergarten education program, and would require action by the Legislature. One of the policy proposals recommended by the panel which made it into state law is an expansion of the guardian program, which allows school personnel to be trained and armed in schools. A statewide survey conducted by the Florida Department of Education showed that more school districts have opted into the school guardian program since June.
24 children have died this year from being left in a hot car
Read full article: 24 children have died this year from being left in a hot carJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two dozen children have died from being left in a hot car this year, according to the Kids and Cars organization. Every nine days, a child left in a hot car dies from vehicular heatstroke, according to Consumer Reports. While July and August are typically the deadliest months, a child left in a car can die when the temperature is mild. This is unsafe for children and small babies because their body temperature rises three to five times faster than adults and they are unable to efficiently regulate their body temperature, Consumer Reports car seat expert Emily Thoma explained. All Consumer Reports material Copyright 2019 Consumer Reports, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Florida community picking up pieces after explosion in Plantation
Read full article: Florida community picking up pieces after explosion in PlantationClose to two dozen people were hurt during a large explosion at a South Florida shopping plaza Saturday. The blast destroyed part of a shopping center in Plantation, west of Fort Lauderdale in Broward County. Authorities are not entirely sure what caused the blast, but emergency responders found an active gas leak when they arrived. There were large pieces of concrete hurled up to 50 yards away and sent pieces of metal scattering as far as 100 yards across the street, which resulted in 21 people being taken to hospitals. "A search has been completed of the building itself," said Joel Gordon, battalion chief of the Plantation Fire Department.