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DAYTONA BEACH -- Officials with Daytona International Speedway are keeping their fingers crossed that a bill unanimously passed today by the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee providing $60 million in tax incentives for the Speedway will continue making its way through the Legislature and eventual passage in the Spring.

The bill would provide tens of millions more for other sports stadiums throughout the Sunshine State, including the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars as well as a new soccer facility in Orlando.

"We're certainly thrilled the bill passed in the Senate committee," Speedway spokesman Lenny Santiago told Headline Surfer® in a telephone interview this afternoon.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / At left is the jail mug for Alexander Lee, who the long arm of the law caught up with after he downloaded images of child porn using a 'peer-to-peer' sharing program. Now he'll he sharing space in a federal jail cell.

ORLANDO -- Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon has sentenced a 31-year-old Kissimmee man in September to five years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography, that included more than 100,000 still images and videos. Lee also was ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve a 10-year term of supervision, upon his release from prison.

The sentencing hearing  was a follow-up to Alexander Lee's June 26, 2012, guilty plea before Antoon.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Among hundreds of colleges and universities in the nation offering bachelor degree programs online, Daytona State College ranks among the top 10 according to rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

In the Top Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings, Daytona State once again stood out with criteria such as the quality and experience of its faculty and instructional delivery.

The college entered its fully online bachelor’s degrees, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management and its Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology programs for the rankings consideration.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Among hundreds of colleges and universities in the nation offering bachelor degree programs online, Daytona State College ranks among the top 10 according to rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

Headline Surfer® graphic / Michael K. Gross, 51, was identified as the motorist found dead in his Nissan Pathfinder submerged in Spruce Creek, just south of Anita Street at South Williamson Boulevard on this Wednesday morning as shown in this snapshot locator map.

PORT ORANGE -- A motorist was found dead in the front driver's side of his SUV submerged in the water of Spruce Creek Spruce at 7:30 this morning near South Williamson Boulevard at Anita Street after a report that a single vehicle had driven off the roadway, Port Orange cops said.

Port Orange police and fire rescue units responded to and found a vehicle completely submerged in the water in the center of Spruce Creek partially wedged against the bridge pylons where they discovered a body.

Officials: Project won't hinder track from being race ready for Rolex 24 

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DAYTONA BEACH – Officials at Daytona International Speedway said they are confident enough of the preliminary work has been completed in the mammoth renovation and upgrade of the word-famous track that it will be "race ready" for the fans and their love of restrictor-plate racing in the Daytona 500.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Then only five-months old, the Emergency Operations and Sheriff's Communications Center on Tiger Bay Road had issues with its E911 system back in September.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County experienced intermittent problems throughout the area with its emergency 9-1-1 system for the better part of the day on Sept. 25, a Sheriff's Office official said.

"Because of the problems, some callers have been unable to reach 9-1-1 and are receiving a recording," agency spokesman Gary Davidson told Headline Surfer®. "The situation appears to be affecting both landline and cell phones," Davidson said.