Archive

'Politician' Dorothy Hukill playing media favoritism with $60 million Speedway bill

Daytona Rising project / Headline Surfer®State Sen. Dorothy Hukill pushes Daytona Intl Speedway legislation / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer photos® /
State Sen. Dorothy Hukill had the legislative quotes all packaged conveniently for one media outlet in announcing her Senate committee had unanimously passed a bill that would provide $60 million in tax rebates to Daytona International Speedway over 30 years as part of its $400 million modernization project dubbed "Daytona Rising."

DAYTONA BEACH -- It would be nice for once for Dorothy Hukill to stop playing politics when it comes to the news, especially that of Daytona International Speedway.

Hukill has blatantly been feeding the Daytona Beach News-Journal exclusive quotes on her committee's unanimous vote to provide $60 million in incentives to Daytona International Speedway as part of its $400 million makeover dubbed "Daytona Rising."

$60M in tax breaks for Daytona International Speedway wins Fla. Senate committee approval

Rendering of Daytona International; Speedway with $400M upgrade under way / Headline Surfer®Graphic for Headline Surfer® /
This rendering shows what Daytona International Speedway will look like from the street in 2016 after the $400 million Daytona Rising modernization project is completed.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Officials with Daytona International Speedway are keeping their fingers crossed that a bill unanimously passed today by the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee providing $60 million in tax incentives for the Speedway will continue making its way through the Legislature and eventual passage in the Spring.

The bill would provide tens of millions more for other sports stadiums throughout the Sunshine State, including the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars as well as a new soccer facility in Orlando.

"We're certainly thrilled the bill passed in the Senate committee," Speedway spokesman Lenny Santiago told Headline Surfer® in a telephone interview this afternoon.

Holly Hill cops: 3 men jailed on 2nd-degree murder charges in death of man pushed through glass plate window

Alia Malik, Holly Hill homicide vicftim / Headline Surfer®James Cory, charged with 2nd degree murder / Headline Surfer®Christopher Hoit charged with 2nd degree murder / Headline Surfer®Andrae Jelks charged with 2nd degree murder / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer®
/ James Hoit, 26, his brother, Christopher Hoit, 23, and Andrae Jelks, 25, shown from left to right in the inset, are all being held without bond on charges of second-degree murder in Saturday morning's death death of Alia Malik, 43, shown at far left, who died several hours later after he was thrown through a large plate glass window outside a Holly Hill pool hall.

HOLLY HILL -- What sparked a fight that led to a man's death after he was pushed through a plate glass window outside Brown's Billiards over the weekend is a mystery as three men accused of second-degree murder remain held without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail.

"The reason the fight is unknown and currently under investigation," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker told Headline Surfer® Wednesday.

81. Stetson University in DeLand ranked prominently by US News & World Report, two other publications

Newspaper Section

Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®

Stetson University in DeLand / Headline surferStetson University in DeLand / Headline SurferPhotos for Headline Surfer® / Stetson University was ranked prominently on a national level by US News & World Report, Washington Monthly and MilitaryFriendly.com in a news release issued in early September.

DELAND – Stetson University again earned national recognition for its rigorous academics, commitment to social mobility and service, and military friendliness by ranking among the top universities in recent national surveys, according to US News & World Report and two other publications.

80. New Smyrna Beach cops: Cocaine dealer shot in ankle during robbery

Newspaper Section

Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®

Jimmy Lee Clark, Jr. a convicted drug dealer was robbed and shot in July 2013 / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer locator / New Smyrna Beach police didn't have much to go on in trying to find a gunman who Jimmy Lee Clark, Jr. , a convicted drug dealer shown here, claimed shot him in the ankle in July while robbing him of of his money.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A an ex-con who did three tours in prison for dealing cocaine man was transported to Bert Fish Medical Center on July 27 with a gunshot wound to an ankle after he claimed he was robbed of his money by another African-American man he claimed he didn't know. The shooter was never caught, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

The shooting comes in at No. 80 in the Headline Surfer® countdown of the top 100 stories of 2013.

WFTV first with report on county chair attempt to have 3 SEV ad authority members removed for violating Sunshine Law

Newspaper Section
Lori Brown of WFTV Orland reports on ad authority scandal / Headline Surfer®For Headline Surfer® /
Here is a snapshot of WFTV reporter Lori Brown reporting from the Volusia County Council in DeLand on an attempt by County Chair Jason Davis to have three members of the board of the New Smyrna Beach-based Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority removed for communicating with each other in emails in violation of Florida's government in the Sunshine in the wake of a credit card scandal involving their executive director.

DeLAND -- WFTV was the first media outlet today to provide news on an attempt by County Chair Jason Davis to have three Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority Board members removed for violating Florida's government in the Sunshine Law by communicating with each other in a series of e-mails in support of their executive director, caught using the agency credit to pay for meals for himself and others.

Jon Kaney granted subpoena powers in Waverly probe; tells News-Journal: 'I don’t have to ask quite so nicely now'

Waverly Park benches / Headline Surfer®Jon Kaney, attorney in Waverly investigation / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Fresh off receiving subpoena authority as the lead investigator in the County Council probe of political advertising with Waverly Media, Jonathan Kaney, Jr., former general counsel to the Daytona Beach News-Journal under its previous ownership, was flapping his gums for the broadsheet Thursday about his new-found power, thanks to a 5-2 vote earlier in the day in DeLand. 
 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Even though he pledged to act with honor and integrity in carrying out an investigation of Waverly Media on behalf of the Volusia County Council, Jonathan Kaney, Jr. who didn't attend Thursday's meeting where he was granted subpoena powerss, boasted in a subsequent story published in the Daytona Beach News-Journal: “I don’t have to ask quite so nicely now."

A-Rod's 162-game suspension a victory for Major League Baseball and the fans

Alex Rodriguez suspended from baseball for 162 games / Headline Surfer®

LAKE MARY -- The 162-game suspension handed out today against New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for the upcoming season, including any post-season games, may be a major blow to the Yankee line-up, but it is a big victory for Major League Baseball and for the fans.

Volusia County government puts roadblock up in release of media-related advertising

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County government is among myriad taxpayer-funded revenue sources that is a staple of advertising for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the traditional print medium that has supported its positions as demonstrated by the recent coverage of the continuing scandal in the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority and the hiring of attorney Jon Kaney to investigate Waverly Media.