Local News Now

NASCAR video / Headline Surfer® /

DAYTONA BEACH -- Without a doubt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. remains the most popular driver in NASCAR, and why not?

The son of racing legend Dale Earnhardt has finished second in the last two Daytona 500 races, along with a win in the big race in 2004, and he's among the drivers expected to be there when the while flag is drop to signify one lap to go a week from Sunday.

Could this be the breakout season for Earnhardt to finally get that first Spring Cup championship? Junior, of course, is always optimistic ands his chances are as good as any, especially as one of the drivers for Hendrick Motorsports.

Earnhardt is one of the drivers in tonights Sprint Unlimited race under the lights at Daytona.

Earnhardt will be among the drivers Headline Surfer® will feature during Speedweeks leading up to the Great American Race -- the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In advance of the Sprint Unlimited race tonight from Daytona International Speedway, Headliner Surfer® has uploaded the 2013 race from YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

This was the first race featuring the Gen-6 cars.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Larry King and his wife, Shawn King, are part of the pre-race festivities for the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH - Legendary television and radio journalist Larry King will serve as co-Grand Marshal of The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona International Speedway tonight while his wife, singer Shawn King, will perform the National Anthem.

Shawn King will sing the National Anthem just prior to her husband's starting command, "Drivers, start your engines," which will be delivered alongside two race fans that will be selected earlier in day to serve as co-grand marshals.

Photo for Hreadline Surfer® / Recording artist loe Blacc will sing the national anthem before the gree flag is dropped for the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH – Singer, songwriter Aloe Blacc will perform the National Anthem prior to the 56th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 23.

Incumbent silent on growing advertising authority controversy and her role in it

Photos for Headline Surfer® / David Machuga is shown  in front of the historic Volusia County Courthouse where he filed paperwork to run for the dis. 3 seat on the County Council against incumbent Deborah Denys in the 2014 elections. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Citing Abraham Lincoln's "government of the people, by the people and for the people," David Machuga of New Smyrna Beach announced his candidacy today for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County Council against first-term incumbent Deborah Denys who finds herself in the midst of a media firestorm over her handling of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority.

Headline Surfer® photo by Henry Frederick /

A Port Orange cop car is shown at 6:30 p.m. near the intersectioon of Nova Road and Spruce Creek Boulevard in Port Orange as a rainstorm pelted the area.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Heavy rain pelted Central Florida with wing gusts reported as high as 50 mph plus lightning strikes, from Kissimmee in Osceola County and heading to the coastal communities.

The storm started during the evvening commute over Central Florida moving eastward over Orange, Lake and Marion counties and into Brevard, Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns Counties just before 7 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Headline Surfer® is unable to access Yahoo mail, the first time this has happened in the internet newspaper's 5 1/2 years.

The lack of accessibility began shortly after 2:30 p.m. Headline Surfer alerted its contacts on Twitter and Facebook and is doing so here as well.

Other major News in Works: NSB mayor to announce statehouse run, but ethics issues continue to dog him; latest on Waverly Media 

Headline Surfer photos / Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority Chairman Tom Clapsaddle, shown here at left, continues to make news since the politically-motivated ouster of his predecessor, Palmer Wilson, in October.

DAYTONA BEACH -- "Who's the rat?" was the mantra of Gene Sheldon, a member of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority during the holidays in asking who the source was behind leaking the free lunch credit card scandal to the media.

Sheriff Don Eslinger ecstatic for employees;  2nd time honored in three years

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Florida Department of Transportation representative Dana Crosby, shown at podium, presents the top Florida school safety award award to Seminole County Crossing Guard Supervisor Jojo Sturm.  At far left, Carl the Crossing Bear is near and dear to Seminole County school children in this Halloween pose as part of emphasis on pedestrian safety.

SANFORD, Fla. -- When it comes to the safety of children in the crosswalks, Seminole County's crossing guards are all business.

And for the due diligence of the dedicated personnel to that end, the Seminole County Sheriff's School Crossing Guard Program has been named 2013 “Florida School Crossing Guard Program of the Year” by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Parents remain behind bars on no bond status; four children in care of DCF

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Marko Capers and Keyanta Capers, were jailed on no bond status over the weekend after their arrests Friday on multiple drug dealing charges.

SANFORD, Fla. -- The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Sanford husband ad wife for trafficking prescription drugs, drug possession and even involving their own 13-year-old son in one of the illicit drug sales.

Agents with the City County Investigative Bureau began investigating in September after receiving information about illegal drug activity occurring at 817 Windtree Court. 

Agents then conducted a series of undercover operations and made controlled purchases to identify Marko Capers, 32, and Keyanta Capers, 35, as the persons involved with the drug deals, a Seminole County Sheriff's spokeswoman said.