Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Sally Crank gave birth to her third child, Jamison Liam,  on March 7, the newest of three boys. So one can just imagine the demands on her life as mother, spouse and holding down two part-time jobs. But she's not one to complain.

On the contrary, Crank says she loves being a mother and a nurturer. Her diverse responsibilities make her the epitome of the 21st-century mom on this Mother's Day.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / John DeJesus, 27, a reputed member of the Latin Kings gang, a drug dealer and sex offender, shown at left, now stands accused of first-degree murder in the April 30 shooting death of 22-year-old Yoliz Marie Borrero, shown in the inset.

ORLANDO -- Orange County Sheriff's investigators this morning arrested the man they said shot and killed his live-in girlfriend in cold blood right in front of her two small children earlier this month -- the youngest he is the father to.

John DeJesus, 28, was presented before a judge just before noon where he was ordered remanded to the Orange County Jail on a no-bond status, pending a formal arraignment to answer to the charge of first-degree murder.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Southeast Volusia Historical Society annual picnic and Board of Directors installation will take place 5 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the New Smyrna Boat and Ski Club located on the North Causeway. Members are asked to bring a covered dish.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Mayor Adam Barringer led the vote to raise property taxes to support the municipal budget back in September while not paying his own taxes, Headline Surfer® has learned after reviewing public records.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The public information officer for the Daytona Beach Fire Department is not complying with Florida public records law when in denying Headline Surfer® information requested involving an injured worker at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Due to periods of heavy rain expected throughout the remainder of the week, the city is offering sandbags at its Public Works facility, 950 Bellevue Avenue in Daytona Beach, the city's public information officer said.

"Materials are available now until further notice," Daytona Beach PIO Susan Cerbone told Headline Surfer® this afternoon. "City crews are currently on hand to assist residents throughout the day."

'All that needs to be done is for the House to take up the Senate bill out of Messages, vote on it and send it to the Governor!'

By MARIO VALLE

TALLAHASSEE -- The State of Florida through chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes provides vital protection against discrimination for individuals on the basis of several categories, including sex, color, and religion.

One category of individuals noticeably missing from such beneficial protection is pregnant women. Federal law has afforded them protection since 1978.

Over the last decade, there have been multiple attempts to amend Florida law to include pregnant women as a protected class; however to date, including this current legislative session, all such attempts have failed. The main issue preventing the amending of the statute is the apparent ambiguity within Florida's Civil Rights Act.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Ramara Garrett and James Sotolongo, of greater Daytona Beach couple who have a baby girl in addition to five older children from their previous respective relationships, may have but a few precious months together before Sotolongo is sentenced to what could be a prison sentence of at least five years, and possibly twice that and maybe more  later this summer in the wake of his guilty verdict and her acquittal in US District Court.  

ORLANDO -- A jury found James Fidel Sotolongo and Stephanie Musselwhite guilty on multiple counts of conspiring to defraud four lending institutions close to $13 million in seven upscale home mortgages in greater Daytona Beach, but Ramara Garrett, the former realtor, was acquitted outright in highly emotional verdicts earlier Monday on the second day of deliberations.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A site listed in the search engines as http://www.flnewsfeed.com is blatantly stealing the intellectual property of HeadlineSurfer.com, the Central Florida-based 24/7 internet newspaper, and passing it off as its own.

Headline Surfer® has sent "Florida News Feed" several tweets over the weekend and again this morning demanding that it cease and desist from lifting our copyright-protected stories, blogs and images. We have also contacted Google Legal and are awaiting a response.