Florence To Impact Local Beaches (Melbourne, FL) -- Though she's hundreds of miles away, Hurricane Florence's presence will still be visible at our local beaches. The National Weather Service says the storm will create hazardous swimming and boating conditions today. Those conditions include a high risk for dangerous rip currents, which could last through the weekend.
UCF Admits To Misusing Millions In State Funds (Orlando, FL) -- UCF is admitting to what it calls an embarrassing moment. School officials announced yesterday they misused state funds two years ago to build Colbourn Hall.
A state audit revealed last month the school used money meant for operations for the 38-million dollar academic building. UCF says CFO Bill Merck took full responsibility and resigned yesterday, and President Dale Whittaker, who just took over in July, says that will never happen on his watch.
Federal Court Upholds Suspension Of Valencia College Student (Orlando, FL) -- A college's decision to suspend a student for sexual harassment is being upheld. A federal court yesterday ruled that Orlando's Valencia College did not violate the student's rights when it suspended him for a year.
The student was suspended for sending a female classmate sexually explicit text messages even after she, the school and Seminole County deputies told him to stop. In his lawsuit, the student claimed the suspension violated his First Amendment rights.
MPD Lieutenant Arrested For Molesting Child (Miami, FL) -- A police officer is facing charges for molesting a child in Miami-Dade County. Lieutenant Braulio Gonzalez was arrested yesterday for the charges involving a girl who was as young as eight at the time.
The girl is now 15, and she recently told investigators Gonzalez held a gun to her head at the time and threatened to kill her family if she refused him. Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez says the charges are beyond shocking and disturbing.
Facebook Helps Arrest Child Porn Suspect (Molino, FL) -- Facebook is credited with helping arrest a child porn suspect in Escambia County. Deputies this week arrested 36-year-old Steven Godwin for child porn possession.
A cybertip led the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to a Facebook account and Facebook then provided the center with an IP address that led to Godwin. Deputies say they found 20 images of child porn on Godwin's cell phone.
Online Date Turns Into Carjacking (Jacksonville, FL) -- A man now has a scary reminder of the dangers of online dating. The unidentified man was recently carjacked after meeting a woman in person that he met online.
The woman asked to meet him at Blue Cypress Park, and when the man showed up, he says a man pulled a gun on him and took his car, phone, wallet and keys. The man tells News4Jax he has since gotten his car back, but the woman and the man with a gun are on the loose.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2015, a Kentucky county clerk arrested for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples went back to work. Kim Davis returned to Rowan County after being released from jail a week prior. As a condition of her release, Davis was ordered not to interfere with deputy clerks issuing marriage licenses.
1978, ”Mork and Mindy," starring Robin Williams and Pam Dawber, debuted on ABC.
1940, Congress passed the Selective Service Act providing for the first peacetime draft for men between the ages of 18-to-25.
1901, President William McKinley died of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. He was 58.
1814, Francis Scott Key composed the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner" after watching the British bombardment of Maryland's Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
1741, composer George Frederick Handel completed "The Messiah." The piece is also known as "The Hallelujah Chorus." It became one of his most popular works.