Local News Now

WASHINGTON D.C.-- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna (FL-24), joined her House colleagues Wednesday in introducing legislation that would ensure oil companies are held accountable for paying economic damages resulting from spills.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. 

Mayor Adam Barringer speaks exclusively to NSBNEWS.net Tuesday night following City Commission-approval to settle two of three lawsuits out of court with litigants who sued the city.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Issues or decisions that weren't done on his watch will be cleaned up on his watch, first-term Mayor Adam Barringer pledged in an exclusive video interview with NSBNEWS.net Tuesday night after the City Commission voted to settle with three litigants who sued the city rather than face far-potentially more expensive damages in court.

NSBNEWS.net video and photo by Sera Frederick.

Bob Tolley, a critic of CRA spending, is not pleased that Bert Fish paid $787,000 to the agency, especially since the money comes from indigent care tax money through the hospital district. Tolley is incensed that Community Redevelopment Agency monies are being spent on landscaping and pet projects for a small group of Canal Street merchants such as the nearly $27,000 spent on "Christmas on Canal." Our video shows the installation of a $9,000 artificial Christmas tree last fall at Canal and Riverside Drive. Click the attachment to read the CRA expenditures for Christmas on Canal.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An outspoken critic of CRA spending said he doesn't believe Bert Fish Medical Center should have to pay any further taxes towards the Community Redevelopment Agency and shouldn't have paid up last year's owed $787,000 that was paid Tuesday.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick.

Beradete Britz-Parker of the accounting firm James Moore and Co. said as a result of miscalculations, the city's reserve account, with everything taken into account, is closer to $2 milion than $10 million.  She outlines numerous "deficiencies" in the city budget that are troubling and recommended the city hire not only a competent finance director, but a budget director as well. Watch her presentation on our video, above, and click on the attachment, below, to read her summary reports.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- "We do have some issues," said the city's auditor of its troubled finances.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick and NSBNEWS.net video by Jeanette DiCara.

Some 50 supporters of the return of Amtrak passenger service with a stop in New Smyrna Beach showed their support 2:45 p.m. Saturday with a train passing through from Miami to Jacksonville with stops in Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, along the way, with a host of state officialdom on board. In the video, Deb Denys, an organizer of the rally and a candidate for the S.E. Volusia seat on the Volusia County Council, and T.C. Wilder, whose dad worked for the rail service many years ago, talk up support.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The loud horn sound 50 train revelers heard Saturday across the street from the boarded up Dunn Lumber building at the corner of West Canal Street and U.S. 1 was an Amtrak passenger engine.  Or as these folks like to think of it: An economic engine.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

A 10-year-old Orlando girl was bitten on the foot by a shark in the waist-deep surf, less than two miles south of the Flagler Avenue Approach, 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The beach was packed, thanks to the warm waters with plenty of sun and surf enthusiasts as shown in these photos taken just before 5:30 p.m.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 10-year-old Orlando irl was bitten by a shark in waist-deep water this morning and was bandaged up by lifeguards before returning to playing on the beach, a Beach Patrol official said.

Courtesy photo/POPD Jail mug of Jeffrey E. Richardson, 49, charged with lewd and lascivious conduct involving three children.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Port Orange police have arrested a 49-year-old New Smyrna Beach man on a warrant accusing him of having inappropriate sexual contact with three pre-teen children while visiting a Port Orange couple in their home.

Jeffrey Eric Richardson was charged Wednesday with lewd and lascivious conduct after a complaint was lodged against him earlier in April by the couple, Port Orange police Capt. Frank Surmaczewicz said.

Courtesy photo/far left. NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick.

The Amtrak passenger train will zip through NSB today. Deb Denys, left, a proponent for a passenger train stop here and a Volusia County Council candidate, is thrilled with the run.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Get your lawn chairs and bring them to the lot across from Dunn Lumber this afternoon to see the Amtrak passenger train pass by on its way to Jacksonville. The train is currently scheduled to pass New Smyrna Beach between 2:20 and 2:45 pm.

NSBNEWS.net by Henry Frederick. NSBNEWS.net audio by Sera Frederick.

Oak Hill police officer Brandy Sutherlin, at left in the photo, fills out a report while Oak Hill Police Chief Diane Young greets his wife, Christina, Saturday night in a gas station parking lot Saturday night across from the New Smyrna Speedway, after the couple told troopers they were victims of a road-rage incident that began on I-95 and continued onto S.R. 44, resulting in the off-duty cop shooting his gun at the other motorist's vehicle. Listen to the 9-1-1 call,

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- New details have emerged in Saturday's bizarre road-rage incident, which could call into question the judgment of an off-duty Oak Hill police officer chasing another motorist at speeds approaching 90 to 120 mph with his wife and kids in the car, as described in the 9-1-1 call he made to the authorities.

Courtesy photo/Facebook profile.

The Dec. 22 death of Jonathan R. Novenski, 18, of Edgewater, whose body was found in a ditch in front of his family's home, has been ruled "accidental" by the Volusia Counry Medical Examiner.

EDGEWATER -- The Dec. 22 death of 18-year-old Daytona State College student Jonathan R. Novenski, found dead in a ditch in front of his family's home after a party, has been ruled "accidental" by the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office.