Warnings, Advisories Issued As Cold Snap Continues
(Melbourne, FL) --It's a dangerously cold morning across Central Florida. The National Weather Service has Cold Weather Advisories in effect all over the area. There are also Freeze Warnings in Lake, Marion and Volusia counties and a Frost Advisory in Polk County. Temperatures in some areas were expected to fall below freezing overnight, and wind chills were expected to drop into the teens. The NWS advises wearing a hat and gloves, keeping pets indoors as much as possible and checking frequently on older family members, friends and neighbors. Highs today may only reach the mid-50s, and lows tonight could drop below 40.
Florida To Help California Fight Against Deadly Fires
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Florida first responders are getting ready to help fight deadly fires in Southern California. Governor Ron DeSantis posted on the X social media platform, saying the state has offered to assist in the response and rebuilding of communities that have been devastated by the fires. State emergency officials have started to organize an incident-management team and gather their equipment. At least two people are dead and more than one-thousand structures have been damaged as several wildfires continue to move through the Los Angeles area.
DeSantis Proposes Relocating NASA HQ To Space Coast
(Cape Canaveral, FL) -- If the governor gets his way, the Space Coast could be home to NASA. Governor Ron DeSantis was at Kennedy Space Center yesterday to announce the new Florida University Space Research Consortium. It includes UF, UCF and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. The consortium will be the state's official space research entity, and it'll work with KSC to facilitate the awarding of NASA research grants. At the ceremony, DeSantis said there's interest in moving NASA's headquarters from Washington, DC to KSC. He adds that he hopes the Trump administration will see this as a great opportunity.
Pinellas County Man Pleads Guilty To Defacing LGBTQ Mural
(West Palm Beach, FL) -- A Pinellas County man is sorry for defacing an LGBTQ mural in Palm Beach County. Clearwater 19-year-old Dylan Brewer pled guilty yesterday to vandalizing a rainbow-colored street mural in Delray Beach. He did three burnouts in his pickup truck on the streetscape eleven months ago. When the judge asked if he was remorseful, Brewer said 'yes, ma'am. 'The charges he pled guilty to were misdemeanors. He also agreed to pay five thousand dollars to repair the damage he caused. Brewer must also do 75 hours of community service and take an anger management course. A man who helped pay for the mural is upset with what he calls a sweetheart deal for Brewer, and he told the judge in a victim impact statement that a misdemeanor is a disgrace.
Extra Security Ahead Of South Florida's Orange Bowl
(Miami, FL) -- South Florida police are increasing safety measures ahead of the Capital One Orange Bowl. Extra officers will patrol the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where more than 70-thousand football fans are set to gather tonight. A law enforcement team will also monitor about one-thousand surveillance cameras around the area. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz says the agency's plan has been revised in response to the deadly New Orleans attack last week. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State will go head-to-head in the Orange Bowl starting at the 7:30 p.m. kickoff tomorrow.
Today in History
1951, the United Nations headquarters officially opened in New York City.
1894, the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company installed the first battery operated switchboard in Lexington, Massachusetts.