Local News Now

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler didn't have to search long and hard to come up with a prominent business leader as its 2015 recipient of the "Herbert M. Davidson Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service."

Acting Police Chief Donna Lavallee may be all smiles regarding steps towards accreditation in the New Smyrna Beach PD, but all is not hunky dory despite a PR statement from City Hall.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Amid the backdrop of the continuing fallout of the theft of items from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department uncovered two years ago and a revolving door of top cops in the interim, the office of City Manager Pamela Brangaccio put out a press release Friday announcing the police agency was moving towards accreditation.

Photos for Headline Surfer® /

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - With seven new judges -- six elected and one appointed -- along with several retirements at year's end, the 7th Judicial Circuit, which comprises Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties, will see judges in new assignments in January like a game of musical chairs except where they land has been determined by the chief judge.

Circuit Judges R. Michael Hutcheson, Shawn L. Briese, Robert K. Rouse Jr., and Terry LaRue are retiring at year's end. Circuit Judge Thomas Portuallo and Volusia County Court Judge Peter McGlashan are leaving as the result of this year's election.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Mike Coffin, the chief deputy of Volusia County, is among six finalists for chief of the scandal-ridden New Smyrna Beach Police Department, still reeling in the wake of the evidence room thefts that have also resulted in four top cops in the past two years.

Mike Coffin, among the two local candidates along with retired South Daytona Police Chief Bill Hall, is considered a frontrunner and certainly the favorite in terms of overall experience and credibility, as far as New Smyrna Beach's newly-elected top leader is concerned.

"Yes, I would have to put Mike Coffin in the category of a favorite -- absolutely," Mayor Jim Hathaway told Headline Surfer® over the weekend.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Back in the 2012 election cycle, Jim Hathaway needed a strong endorsement while locked in a three-way primary battle for the district 3 seat on the County Council. So he called on environmentalist Barbara Herrin, a one-time candidate for the seat herself.