Local News Now

NSBNEWS.net bloggers  Peter Mallory (Home page) and Palmer Wilson (Opinion page) react to Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas' vote that helped secure passage of President Obama's health-care plan.Vote in our InstaPoll on the Home page on the Obama health-care plan.

WAHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), voted with the majority of Democrats as promised in favor of President Obama's health-care plan in the historic Sunday vote that included no Republicans and 21 other Democrats saying no as well.

Still, Kosmas, in her first term, justified her vote.

"With the passage of this fiscally responsible health care reform legislation, we have taken a significant step towards reducing the deficit, ending unfair insurance practices, lowering health care costs, and improving coverage for Central Florida's families, seniors and small businesses," Kosmas said in a written statement released by her press spokesman, Marc Goldberg after the House vote. 

Courtesy photo/WFTV.com. Emergency vehicles surround the fatal accident scene on the beach in Daytona Beach where a 4-year-old girl from England was struck and killed Saturday.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 4-year-old girl from England whose hand was being held by her uncle was struck and killed Saturday by a Lincoln Town Car while the two were walking on the beach in front of Sun Splash Park and the Volusia County Lifeguard Tower, the Florida Highway Patrol said. As if that wasn't bad enough, the motorist panicked and instead of hitting her brakes, hit the accelerator and ran the child over, the FHP said.

WASHINGTON D.C.-- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), issued the following statement on her intent to vote in favor of the health care reform legislation being considered by Congress:

Courtesy photo/NSBPD. New Smyrna Beach police are asking the public to be alert for this man, 48-year-old Mark Pastones, whom they consider to be a con artist.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A man has been contacting area businesses claiming his vehicle is broken-down; his kids are stranded in the disable vehicle.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 2-year-old boy struck by a car Tuesday night in the 400 block of Third Avenue on the beachside was alert and crying when he was flown by Sheriff's Air-one Helicopter to Halifax Medical Center, said investigating police officer Matt Scheaffer who was waiting for an update on the todler's condition this morning.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 2-year-old boy was airlifted by Sheriff's Air-One helicopter to Halifax Medical Center with critical injuries after running into the path of an oncoming motor vehicle and being struck in the 400 block of Third Avenue on the beachside late Tuesday night, New Smyrna Beach police said.

The toddler's condition was not immediately known Wednesday, but police he was classified at the time of the 10:40 p.m. accident as a "trauma alert" by medical personnel at the scene. The circumstances that led to the child being out in th roadway in the first place are under investigation, police said. The todler's name was not released.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Ellen Darden, president-elect of the Southeast Volusia Board of Realtors and a Bethune Beach resident, is running for the district 3 Volusia County Council seat held by term-limited Jack Hayman. Darden is shown here at a recent luncheon of the Republican Club of Southeast Volusia. The County Council race is non-partisan. Darden describes herself politically as an "advocate of good covernment and a fiscal conservative." The other announced candidates are Deb Denys and former Deltona City Attorney George Trovato.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- As president-elect of the Southeast Volusia Board of Realtors, Ellen Darden is intimimately aware of the impact the national recession is having near and far across the country. She wants to be part of he solution closer to home and with that in mind, she's running for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council held by Jack Hayman, who is term-limited.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. The City Commission will allow airplane banner towing for at least 30 days by a local operator despite complaints from residents who live near the airport.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The planes towing banners would leave New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport and head east over the swampy areas that run parallel with U.S. and head over to the beach area, just the opposite of where Ken Petrie lives. But that didn't stop him from getting up on his soapbox and giving the City Commission an earful about airplane news generated by the flight schools.