Local News Now

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Scott released a statement this morning on the passing of former Gov. Reubin Askew.

Scott said, "Governor Askew served our nation as a veteran, he served Florida’s families as an elected officeholder, and he served our children as an educator. He helped lead Florida to enormous growth and was a trailblazer for good government. His advocacy for Florida’s sunshine laws was a landmark moment for ethics and transparency in government, and that legacy continues to endure.

Made several stops in Daytona, including 1971 Firecracker 400 race

DAYTONA BEACH -- Reubin Askew, who served as the 37th governor of Florida from 1971 to 1979, died early this morning with family members by his side at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. He was 85.

His death was announced to the media by Ron Sachs, a former aide and family spokesman.

Askew's tenure as governor for eight years, beginning in 1971, was during a time in the U.S. of turmoil and change: There was the disgraceful resignation of President Nixon with Watergate to the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War and Askew's earlier successful push in 1972 for desegregation of Florida schools through busing, despite sporadic violence that ensued.

Photos for Headline Surfer / Veteran AMA racer Rick Shaw, 65, was killed as was another motorcyclist, Eric Desy, 45, after their speed bikes collided during a Team Hammer School racing event Oct. 17 at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Bike Week is here and despite the ongoing construction for the ongoing $400 million "Daytona Rising" modernization project, there are plenty of activities for biker enthusiasts, from motocross races to demo rides and trade shows.

Henry Frederick loves the music and culture of the Big '80s, hearkening back to his college years (1980-'84) and beginnings as a metro newspaper reporter.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Christian Rodriguez, Augustin Rodriguez and Brittany Vitale pose with the banner of their new Palm Coast-based online shipping business, eShippingUSA.

PALM COAST, Fla. – Christian Rodriguez, Augustin Rodriguez and Anthony Caruso are pleased to announce that they have opened a new business that is designed to change the way people manage their shipping. Named eShipperUSA, it’s located near the Flagler County coastline on Old Kings Road in Palm Coast.

“We are excited about launching eShipperUSA in Flagler County,” Christian Rodriguez said. “It’s our goal to provide our clients with a one-stop solution to all of their shipping needs."

The company offers several virtual shipping options for small to midsize businesses. eShipper USA's business model is similar to websites such as Orbitz or Expedia, as its system compares shipping rates from all of the major carriers to quickly find the best valued rate.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Gov. Rick Scott on Friday announced the reappointment of Sarah Walton, a Pensacola-based attorney, to the Environmental Regulation Commission.

Walton, 36, of Pensacola, is an attorney with the law firm of Philip A. Bates PA. She is reappointed for a term that ends July 1, 2017.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Members of the Stetson University sand volleyball team stand tall.

DELAND -- For the second straight year, the Stetson sand volleyball program was selected as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

The Stetson sand volleyball team's accolades come in as the No. 63 story in the Headline Surfer® countdown of the top 100 stories of 2013.

The academic award is presented annually in August to volleyball programs that maintain at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

The Hatters completed the 2012-13 academic year in with a 3.40 team GPA.

Headline Surfer graphic / Blue Spring State Park, winter home of manatees for its warm waters, is where a scuba diver lost his life in a diving accident on Oct. 9.

ORANGE CITY -- A 36-year-old Edgewater man died in October in a scuba diving accident at Blue Springs State Park.

The victim was identified as Samuel Slack, a Volusia County Sheriff's official said.

Slack was pronounced dead at 3::43 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City. The Sheriff's Office had been called at 2:52 p.m. in responding to the fatality, agency spokesman Brandon Haught said.

Ebony Wilkerson, 32 and pregnant, is shown here at first apperance Saturday at the Volusia County Branch Jail courtroom in Daytona Beach before County Judge Shirley Green where she was ordered held on $1.2 million bail on three counts of attempted first-degree murder of her three children, ages 3, 9, & 10, after purposey driving her minivan into the Daytona  surf.

DAYTONA BEACH -- As she drove her minivan into the rough ocean surf at Daytona Beach, 32-year-old Ebony Wilkerson locked the doors of her 2012 Honda Odyssey, put up the windows and told her three frightened children --ages 3,9, & 10 -- to close their eyes and go to sleep.