News Update for 8/20/24
The Highlands County Supervisor of Elections will have polls open today from 7:00AM-7:00PM, at 25 precints in the county. Registered Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration card to vote at the precint assigned to them. Precint information can also be found online at VoteHighlands.gov or by visitng the Supervisor of Elections Office at 580 S. Commerce Avenue, Room A201, in Sebring. Voters can also drop off their ballot at the Supervisor of Elections office. Please make sure to have an identification card or driver’s license on hand to verify your identity and voter registration.
A Sumter County man is in custody after a police-involved shooting in Polk County. It happened yesterday in Lakeland at the Village Plaza on US Highway 98 North. Lakeland Police say Webster’s John Hofman was shot at by an officer when he tried to flee and rammed two LPD vehicles. He was arrested after he crashed near Douglas M. Cook Park. The 57-year-old showed no obvious injuries, but a police officer suffered minor injuries before being treated and released from the hospital. Hofman was the subject of felony arrest warrants from Sumter and Volusia counties, and the LPD says his background includes over 30 criminal charges and ten felony convictions.
A Lake County woman could get the death penalty for the death of a deputy. A grand jury yesterday indicted Julie Ann Sulpizio for being a principal to first-degree murder. The 48-year-old was arrested this month after Deputy Bradley Link was shot to death in an ambush at a home in Eustis. Prosecutors say Sulpizio lured Link to the home where her husband and two daughters opened fire on him. Sulpizio’s husband and daughters committed suicide. The charge Sulpizio was indicted for makes her eligible for the death penalty, but the state attorney has not said if he’ll push for it.
A New College of Florida official is now on leave after thousands of books were placed in a dumpster. An NCF spokesperson says Library Dean Shannon Hausinger did not follow state protocol in conducting the routine disposition of materials. Video of the books left in the dumpster last week in Sarasota was picked up by national media, but NCF President Richard Corcoran says the coverage was sensationalized. He says the optics were not ideal, but disposing of materials is a necessary process to ensure our collection remains relevant, up-to-date and in good condition. Corcoran also says many of the books that were dumped were destroyed due to water damage caused by leaks in the roof.
Primary races take place today in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming. In the Sunshine State, Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz battles Aaron Dimmock, who is backed by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. In Alaska, there are a dozen candidates running for the lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola. These are among the last primaries of 2024.
Florida wildlife officials are reminding boaters about their role in keeping local waterways safe. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute posted on Facebook earlier today about a manatee that was severely hurt by propellers in Pinellas County. The injured animal is receiving care at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The FWC is urging boaters to follow posted signs and, if possible, assign someone to keep a lookout for manatees. Anyone who sees a dead or distressed manatee is asked to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Disney is changing its position in a wrongful death lawsuit. The company announced last night it’s now waiving its right to arbitration in the case. Jeffrey Piccolo filed the lawsuit after his wife died last year after having an allergic reaction to a meal she had at a Disney Springs restaurant. Disney originally claimed the lawsuit should be tossed because the plaintiff agreed to arbitration when he signed up for a Disney-Plus subscription. Disney now says ‘we strive to put humanity above all other considerations,’ and ‘this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution.’ By waiving its right to arbitration, the case can proceed to court. Piccolo is asking for more than 50-thousand dollars in damages.
A private crewed launch is planned off Florida’s Space Coast next week. On Monday, SpaceX and Polaris Dawn said the mission is scheduled to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center after more than two years of training. The group is hoping to achieve several milestones, including reaching the highest Earth orbit ever flown and attempting the first-ever commercial spacewalk. The specialists onboard are also expected to conduct around 40 research experiments during their journey. The launch is set for Monday, August 26th.