Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
COAST GUARD: 19 CUBAN MIGRANTS COME DOWN FROM LIGHTHOUSE
The group descended about 5:30 p.m. Friday. The 109-foot structure in about 10 feet of water is about 20 miles from Key West. Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss says the migrants swam from their homemade vessel to the lighthouse Friday morning when they saw the Coast Guard approaching.
FLORIDA SHERIFF FACES PERJURY, OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT CHARGES
A grand jury handed down an indictment Thursday for Marion County Sheriff Chris Blair. Blair faces a three felony counts. Each count carries up to five years in prison. Court records show the grand jury had been investigating the conduct of Blair’s deputies and the possible use of excessive force.
KNOCK, KNOCK: NO JOKE, AN ALLIGATOR’S AT THE FRONT DOOR
It turns out a 5-foot alligator was outside their front door Friday morning. And so were Tampa police officers. Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers caught the gator and returned it to the wild. It was the second such alligator-knocking incident in the South in recent weeks.
2 REPORTERS DETAINED DURING POLICE SHOOTING PROTEST
The Palm Beach Post said on its website that its reporter, George Bennett, and another unidentified journalist were stopped by West Palm Beach officers Friday afternoon while covering the Anonymous Florida protest. The Post says the reporters and four protesters were detained after crossing railroad tracks.
FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE KEEPS DROPPING; NOW 4.8 PERCENT
The state figures released Friday show April’s unemployment was down from 4.9 percent in March. Florida added 31,100 jobs. Florida now has 472,000 jobless residents out of a labor force of 9,801,000. The state has added 254,500 jobs over the past year, an increase of 3.2 percent. The state remains below the national unemployment rate of 5.0 percent.
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