CSX Transportation has a track maintenance project scheduled to begin next Monday, January 13th. The project will be approximately 7 weeks ending on or around February 28th and will include several closures of railroad crossings in Highlands and Polk Counties. Each Railroad crossing will be closed anywhere from 2-5 days for maintenance. A list of the crossings affected and a map highlighting the location of the crossings can be found at highlandsfl.gov under the departments tab and in the category of ongoing County Road Projects.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the Sebring Police Department are seeking any information on two thefts that occured at the Sebring and Avon Park Walmart stores back in December. Police believe one man is the suspect in both cases, but need help identifying him. He appears to have a tattoo on his right leg and his right hand. Videos showing the suspect can be viewed at the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page. The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have information on the crimes or the suspect to call 863-402-7350 or to submit an anonymous tip at heartlandcrimestoppers.com.
A child is in critical condition after he was accidentally shot in the head at a Polk County home. Lakeland police say officers were called out to a property near the Valencia Heights neighborhood in response to the incident Sunday afternoon. Before they arrived, the six-year-old had already been driven to a nearby hospital for help. Investigators say the boy got a hold of a gun that was inside a car before it accidentally went off. As of right now, no charges have been filed.
A major citrus grower is planning to redirect its Florida operations after more than a century. Alico Inc. says it will not put additional money into its citrus production after harvesting its current crops. The Fort Myers-based company broke the news earlier today, saying it will focus on more profitable uses for its land after fighting off a citrus disease and hurricane damages. Alico says it has been one of the Sunshine State’s leading citrus producers for more than one-hundred years, but has seen a more than 70-percent drop in its operations over the last decade. Overall, Florida’s citrus industry has seen a 90-percent decline in production over the last two decades.
Blue Origin is ready for a milestone launch. The Jeff Bezos founded private spaceflight company, announced yesterday its New Glenn inaugural mission will happen no earlier than this Friday. It’ll take place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. NG-One is Blue Origin’s first National Security Space Launch certification flight. The company says its key objective is to reach orbit safely. It also hopes to land the booster offshore in the Atlantic, but admits doing so on their first try is ambitious.
Florida residents can visit Disney World at a discount. Walt Disney World announced yesterday it’s offering the Florida Resident Discover Disney ticket. Starting today, state residents can buy a four-day ticket to Disney theme parks for 60 dollars a day plus tax. Three-day tickets are available for 75 dollars a day. The tickets will be good from January 13th through May 23rd with an advance park reservation. They’re good for one park per day unless you upgrade. Also, the tickets can be used on non-consecutive days. You can get more info at DisneyWorld.Disney.Go.com.
Rick Scott says he’ll work tirelessly to finally deliver the change the American people want and need. Senator Scott outlined his legislative priorities yesterday for the 119th Congress. He says he’ll refile many of his major pieces of legislation. That includes the Sunshine Protection Act to permanently lock the clock and stop us from changing the clocks twice a year. Scott says he’ll also push a bill creating term limits for members of Congress. He also wants to work with the Department of Government Efficiency to end the broken status quo and reckless spending in Washington. Scott adds now is the time for change, and he’ll be working every day to make Washington work for you.
Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election by Congress. In a joint session, lawmakers finalized the announcement as part of the official process. VP Harris opened the sealed envelopes containing the electoral vote certificates in her role as president of the Senate. The Electoral Count Reform act, passed by Congress in 2022 after the January 6th riots, clarifies that the vice president has only a ministerial role, with no power to set aside electoral votes.