News Update 11/12/24
In the wake of Florida FEMA official Marn’i Washington telling relief workers to bypass Lake Placid Homes where pro trump signs and flags were displayed after Hurricane Milton, Highlands County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will team up to revisit more than 3000 homes in the area to ensure residents receive disaster assistance. Washington was promptly fired for her statements after officials said that she violated the organization’s standards of conduct. FEMA Canvassers will be in Tropical Harbor Estates starting today and throughout the rest of the week, where they plan on revisiting some 410 homes. The Tropical Harbor Community experienced an F-2 tornado during Hurricane Milton that caused significant damage. Management staff from both FEMA and Highlands County have expressed that regardless of political views, their goals are to make sure that every resident is served equally and receives fair access to assistance available.
A man is dead following a Polk County police-involved shooting over the weekend. Authorities say a 61-year-old woman called 9-1-1 to report that she was being beaten by her husband at their Eagle Lake home on Saturday morning. A deputy who was first on the scene says he could hear the victim screaming for help. 52-year-old Charles Edwards is accused of attacking his wife with a hammer. Police say Edwards eventually charged at the deputy, forcing him to fire two shots. Edwards died at the hospital, while the victim is expected to survive.
Two suspects are facing charges in connection to a gas siphoning ring in Central Florida. The Volusia County sheriff’s office says its deputies recently received a tip from Seminole County police about a minivan that was tied to the gas theft operation. The vehicle was spotted in Deltona on Saturday evening with another car following behind it. Investigators say the driver, 33-year-old Henry Ortega of Miami-Dade County, was caught in the act of stealing diesel fuel before he was arrested. A second man, 35-year-old Jose Aguila, was later taken into custody in DeBary.
A Florida congressman could be part of Donald Trump’s administration. Several reports out yesterday say Republican Michael Waltz will be Trump’s national security adviser. He represents District 6 in North Central Florida. The 50-year-old was first elected in 2018. He served in the Army in Afghanistan and was a Green Beret.
Governor Ron DeSantis may soon have a big vacancy to fill. There are reports that Donald Trump will nominate Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state. If Rubio were to take that job, DeSantis would be responsible for naming someone to succeed Rubio until 2026 when a special election will be held. CBS News Miami is reporting DeSantis is considering several options. They include Rubio’s chief of staff or Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez. DeSantis is also reportedly considering resigning as governor, having Nunez succeed him and then she would appoint DeSantis to fill Rubio’s seat. CBS News Miami reports DeSantis is also considering appointing Attorney General Ashley Moody, House Speaker Jose Oliva and DeSantis’ wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis.
SpaceX is celebrating a record-tying launch of its Falcon 9 boosters. Monday’s launch that carried a Korean communications satellite into space was the 23rd for the first-stage booster. That ties the mark set by two other Falcon 9 boosters that are both out of service. The reusable booster landed about seven miles away at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It was a busy day for SpaceX, as later it launched a second a Falcon 9 rocket into space — this one carrying another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit.
Four people are safe thanks to a Disney cruise ship. Disney says four stranded boaters were rescued Sunday morning by one of their ships on its way to Florida’s Port Canaveral. The Disney Treasure was off Bermuda when it got a distress call from a 50-foot catamaran and responded from about 80 miles away. The cruise ship’s captain says crew members worked together and skillfully demonstrated their training and commitment to safety.
Passengers from South Florida are dealing with a scary incident on a flight to Haiti. A Spirit Airlines plane from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was approaching the airport in Port au Prince yesterday when it was hit by gunfire. The flight was still in the air, and instead of landing, it diverted to the Dominican Republic. Another flight from FLL was sent there to pick up the 48 passengers and bring them back. Spirit Airlines says a flight attendant suffered minor injuries, and the plane sustained some damage.