GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Carrying assault rifles through a local Walmart, police officers can be seen on newly released video moving past startled shoppers looking for a shirtless man who they said just crashed a stolen excavator into the building and caused $2 million in damages across the popular shopping district. …
Read More »Death sentence appeal rejected by Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Supreme Court rejected the appeal of an inmate convicted of first degree murder in 1994. Floyd Damren, 72, challenged his death sentence after being diagnosed with autism and post-traumatic stress disorder. Damren was sentenced to death after he beat an R.G.C. Mineral Sands employee with a steel pipe …
Read More »Man accused of crashing excavator into Walmart ordered to face mental health evaluation
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A judge has ordered a man accused of stealing an excavator and running it into several buildings to undergo a mental health evaluation before he can be released on bail. Jesse Charles Smith, 47, of Trenton, Florida, was arrested late Monday in Gainesville. Police accused him of …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 8, 2023: DeSantis appoints new Alachua County sheriff
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • Mainstreet Daily News: DeSantis appoints new sheriff of Alachua County. “Watson announced his last day in office will be on Oct. 1 after he sent a letter to DeSantis on July 31 …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 1, 2023: Prosecutors push for former Rep. Harding prison sentence
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • News Service of Florida: Prosecutors urge prison sentence for former Rep. Joe Harding. “With a sentencing hearing scheduled Sept. 11, federal prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday that former state Rep. …
Read More »Prosecutors urge prison sentence for former Rep. Joe Harding
With a sentencing hearing scheduled Sept. 11, federal prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday that former state Rep. Joe Harding, R-Ocala, should be sent to prison for fraudulently applying for business loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Joseph Harding is a businessman and former member of the Florida House of …
Read More »Florida evacuates 4,000 prisoners from 35 facilities ahead of Hurricane Idalia
Inmates have been moved to more robust buildings that are better equipped to survive what are expected to be dangerous conditions, according to the Dept. of Corrections.
Read More »The Point, Aug. 28, 2023: Florida makes hurricane preparations
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Police launch investigation after 12-year-old girl fatally shot in Lake City home. “A 12-year-old girl died in Lake City after an unknown assailant opened fire into a residence on Northwest …
Read More »The Point, Aug. 25, 2023: State judge to issue ruling on congressional map
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • Florida Storms: Two-week tax break on hurricane supplies begins Saturday. “Consumers can purchase qualifying supplies, including dog or cat food, ice, generators, radios and more.” • WUFT News: Hernando County considers canal …
Read More »DeSantis suspends Orlando-area prosecutor
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell, accusing the prosecutor of “neglecting her duty” and being lax on criminal enforcement. DeSantis’ suspension of Worrell, elected in 2020 as state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola counties, marks the second time …
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