Law and public safety

Several incidents of a white male attempting to lure school-aged children into his vehicle were recently reported in both Alachua and Union Counties.

Gainesville Police Department installed a speeding radar last week in hopes of keeping residents and drivers safer. The radar was placed along Northwest 31st Drive after many residents voiced their concerns.

North Central Florida agencies increasingly use Facebook and other social media sites as a method to find suspects, gather evidence and give residents crime updates.

Florida is one of the most dangerous hit-and-run states, but new legislation would increase penalties.

Police are seeking several suspects, but have not made any arrests in the escape of two inmates from Florida prisons who used forged documents to secure their release.

In response to an "embarrassing" accidental release of two murderers from the Franklin Correctional Institute, Florida State Sen. Rob Bradley said the senate will meet to prevent future mishaps.

Florida executed William Happ on Tuesday for a 1986 murder. The state used a new lethal injection drug, midazolam hydrochloride. Happ was Florida's sixth execution of 2013.

The town built the Micanopy Fire Rescue Department in 1976 as a part-time volunteer fire department; it has since been converted to a full-time fire station, which is now a little cramped.

The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, can safely travel through three and a half feet of water in complete darkness. The 48,000-pound armored vehicle can help rescue people during hurricanes and floods.

A competition called Bad to the Bone had hundreds of law enforcement and rescue officials competing Friday using skills they are sometimes called to employ in the field.