Florida Local

FBI Agent Kills Suspect In Orlando That Was Friend To Boston Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Wed, 05/22/2013 - 08:40

Orlando, Fla. - [updated 10:00am]

Early Wednesday morning an FBI agent shot and 26-year-old killed Ibrahim Todashev, who was a friend of Boston Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

The incident happened at the Windhover Apartments apartment complex in Orlando at 6022 Peregrine Avenue, which is near Universal Studios.

According to the FBI, agents had been questioning several people in the complex but was more interested in Todashev because he know the Boston bomber Tsarnaev and because he too was planning a trip to Chechnya.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Signs Bills Restoring Early Voting

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 16:11

Tallahassee, Fla. -

Hoping to end Florida being the "laughing stock" of state elections as NBC put it, Gov. Rick Scott (R) has signed a bill yesterday that will restore early voting among several other election updates.

Two years ago Scott signed a bill that cut early voting and defended it as recently as last year. However, due to long lines, a reduction in delegate counts at national conventions and complicated long ballots at the last election, Scott reversed course and signed the bill into law which will take effect January 1, 2014.

Lakeland PD Officer Jerry Monroe Arrested On Violent Road Rage Charges

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 06:49

Lakeland, Fla. -

Police officer Jerry Monroe of the Lakeland, Florida police department has been arrested on battery charges after he is accused of a violent road rage incident.

According to surveillance videos, Monroe followed another motorist into a parking lot where he engaged the motorist and began yelling and hitting him. The two men fought until both fell to the ground.

Monroe attempted to continue to beat the motorist until a nearby witness stepped in and broke up the fight.

Monroe has been booked into the Polk County Jail.

$590 Million Powerball Winner In Florida Still Unknown

Submitted by News Desk 3 on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:49

Zephyrhills, Fla. -

The winner of the $590.5 Million Powerball ticket, the highest ever, has still not come forward. The ticket was purchased a Publix Grocery store in Zephyrhills, Florida 30 miles northeast of Tampa.

Today is the first day that the lottery offices are open since the drawing for the winner to claim their prize. Under Florida state law, the winner's name, age and hometown will be made public after turning in the winning ticket.

Wanted Mississippi Couple Arrested In Ocala Florida

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:39

Police in Ocala have arrested 2 wanted persons from Mississippi, 32-year-old Gary Sneed and Holly Morrison.

An FHP trooper stopped to help what he thought was a stranded motorist when he ran the tags and discovered the vehicle was stolen.

Sneed is wanted in Miss. for failing to report to his probation officer and Morrison was being sought for car theft and other unrelated warrants.

Powerball Lottery Hits Record $600 Million For Saturday Night Drawing

Submitted by News Desk 3 on Sat, 05/18/2013 - 10:51

The multi-state Powerball lottery has reached a record breaking $600 million dollar jackpot. The drawing is Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

The current jackpot beats the prior record amount of $587 million set last November. The odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 175,223,510. Florida joined Powerball in January 2009 becoming the 30th state to join.

Winners have the option of taking a onetime payment or an annual payment. A onetime lump sum payment will only be taxed once at a high rate. The annual payments are taxed year at a lower tax rate.

Orlando To Open First Of Its Kind Breast Milk Depot

Submitted by News Desk 3 on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 12:24

Orlando is poised to have its first ever breast milk depot. The facility, ran by Florida Hospital, opened on Tuesday. Any mother can come in an donate to the milk bank facility who will supply to mothers who are unable to produce their own.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers give their babies pasteurized donor milk if they are unable to breast feed.

The milk depot will be located inside the hospital's Lactation Center at 2520 N. Orange Ave. in Orlando.

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92 Arrested In Online Prostution Sting

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 09:18

92 have been arrested in an online sex sting in Polk County. The sting conducted by the Polk County Sheriff targeted online prostitution ads.

Among the arrested was a 15 year old girl from Sanford who went to undercover location to prostitute herself. Deputies report that the girl has been prostituting since she was 13 and had been branded with a gang tattoo.

17 Woman Freed From Tampa Bay Prostitution Ring

Submitted by News Desk 3 on Sat, 05/11/2013 - 11:13

Local and state officials announced on friday the closing of a prostitution ring out of the Tampa Bay Area. 17 woman ranging from 21 to 25 were of various ethnicities were first forced to work in a Pinellas County brothel then sent to various home and hotels to have sex with clients.

Two men are accused of running the operation. Peter Kitt, 41 and Shawn Franklin 42 are facing charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. The men are are accused of forcing the women into prostitution by sexual and physical assaults.

Miami-Dade Prosecutor Arrested For Fleeing Scene Of An Accident

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Thu, 05/09/2013 - 06:40

Miami, Fla. -

Police have arrested 29-year-old Caycie Blake Flitman, a Miami-Dade prosecutor, for fleeing the scene of an accident after she allegedly sideswiped a car on S. Dixie Highway while doing an improper lane change.

The man that Flitman hit was an elderly man who followed her until she pulled into a parking lot where she apparently got out and started yelling at the man and swearing before leaving.

The victim was able to right down her license plate number.

Flitman has since been released from jail on bond.