Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
GOV. SCOTT, JEB BUSH WANT IN-STATE TUITION BILL
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, along with former governors Jeb Bush and Bob Martinez, made an urgent last-minute plea for legislators to pass a tuition break to students who entered the country illegally. The push from Scott - and two other Republican governors - comes one day after key GOP state senator Joe Negron used a procedural move to block the legislation from being heard next week. The move makes it nearly impossible for the legislation to be considered during the final two weeks of this year’s legislative session.
DEPUTIES: MAN SMOTHERED CRYING SON OVER VIDEO GAME
Sheriff’s deputies in north Florida say a man suffocated his young, crying son so he could play video games. Authorities say 24-year-old Cody Wygant is charged with third-degree murder and child neglect. He was being held Friday without bail at the Citrus County Jail. Sixteen-month-old Daymeon Wygant wasn’t breathing when emergency crews arrived at the home Thursday morning. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
PANHANDLE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER DIES IN CRASH
Authorities say a Florida Panhandle school bus driver was killed in a crash while driving a high school track team back from a meet. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office reports that 65-year-old William R. Fowler II was transporting students and coaches back to Florida State University High School early Friday morning from a regional track meet in Jacksonville. Back in Tallahassee, just a few miles from the school, authorities say a car turned in front of the bus, causing the crash.
FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT RATES TICKS UP
The state’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 6.3 percent in March, with the ranks of the unemployed increasing by 17,000 to 606,000. The numbers represent a slight setback in the forward moves of the state’s rate, a slight increase over February’s rate of 6.2 percent. However, Florida led the nation with the addition of 22,900 jobs in March.
MIAMI’S ULTRA FEST HIRES OUTGOING MIAMI BEACH POLICE CHIEF
Organizers of Miami’s Ultra Music Festival are hiring the outgoing Miami Beach police chief to oversee security after a guard was trampled by gate-crashers. Ultra producers announced Friday that retiring Chief Ray Martinez will help the 14-year-old dance music event strengthen security in future years. Martinez has over 35 years of law enforcement experience including supervising security at events such as Art Basel and Memorial Day weekend.
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