A deadly crash in Highlands County on Saturday has claimed the life of a 88-year-old Michigan man. According to reports, he allegedly drove into the path of a tractor trailer driven by a 58-year-old Mayo, FL man. The 88-year-old victim was driving a pickup truck southbound on County Road 721, approaching the intersection of State Road 70. At the same time, a semi-truck was traveling westbound on State Road 70 approaching CR 721. The victim traveled into the oncoming northbound lane in an attempt to go around a vehicle that was stopped at a stop sign and drove into the direct path of the semi. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The Sebring Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Orange Blossom Avenue early Sunday morning. At about 2:51 AM- Engine 14 and Engine 15 responded to the scene and found a single-story residential structure, fully engulfed with no one inside the structure. Units were able to put the fire out without any damage to nearby structures. The residence at 2202 Orange Blossom Avenue was declared a complete loss. One Sebring Fire Department firefighter was treated and released from a local hospital due to minor injuries sustained at the scene.
A highly contagious stomach bug is spreading around Central Florida. Dr. Timothy Hendrix with AdventHealth Centra Care says the hospital’s urgent care facilities are noticing an increase in norovirus cases, which is a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Hendrix tells WFTV9 that the infection can stick around for several days to weeks. It most commonly spreads within families, schools, and cruise ships. People are urged to take extra precaution during the winter months by frequently washing hands and staying home when sick.
A Florida Keys lawmaker is trying to change the state bird. The mockingbird has represented the Sunshine State for nearly one-hundred years. However, Republican Representative Jim Mooney filed a proposal Friday that would name the flamingo as the state bird and appoint the Florida scrub jay as the official songbird of Florida. Similar measures have been presented in recent years, but have failed among legislators. The effort has gained support from the state wildlife officials, who believe the bird should be unique to Florida. The next state legislative session is set to begin on March 4th.
A Fatal motorcycle crash occured Sunday night on HWY 27 in Frostproof. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a van and motorcycle were involved in the accident around 6:01PM. Preliminary reports state that the accident resulted in the death of the motorcyclist. An investigation into the cause of the crash iS underway.
There is 75-hundred dollars available for critical information in a Polk County murder last week. The Haines City Police Department gave an update Thursday, increasing the reward amount for tips that lead to an arrest in a targeted shooting on December 27th. Two women were inside their car off Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Way when another vehicle pulled up behind them and opened fire. A 33-year-old woman was killed, while the other victim was injured. Anyone with information can contact local law enforcement or Heartland Crime Stoppers.
Floridians are able to sue local governments in connection with a new law targeting homeless encampments. Counties in the state have been establishing their own ordinances in order to comply with legislation that bans people from camping on public streets, sidewalks, and parks. As of last week, a new measure took effect that allows residents and businesses to sue a municipality if they fail to enforce the anti-homeless camping law. Governor Ron DeSantis has said the state will now allow encampments to intrude on its citizens or undermine their quality of life.
Florida’s hourly workers will see a bump in pay this year, but it won’t happen right away. The state’s minimum wage will rise by one dollar on September 30th, to 14 dollars an hour and ten-98 for tipped employees. In 2020, Florida voters approved a ballot amendment raising the minimum wage to 15 dollars by 2026. The minimum wage went up in 21 other states as of New Year’s Day.