MedleyStory

Jose Baez says Casey Anthony is 'Girl next door'

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:24:07 -0400

As the release date of his new book approaches, Casey Anthony's former attorney, Jose Baez, spoke out about Casey.

The book, entitled "Presumed Guilty" details what it was like to defend Anthony.

Baez said he goes into great detail about getting to know Casey, including her facial expressions and conversations.

Baez gave his opinion on why Anthony has become a frenzy.

"It's probably because Casey is the girl next door," Baez said.

The book is set to be released in July, which is one year after Anthony was acquitted on murder charges.

Man, 63, pistol-whipped, tied up during home invasion

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:08:22 -0400

Orange County deputies said they are on the hunt for two violent home invaders.

Investigators said two armed men barged into a home on Lavender Court Thursday night just before midnight.

They pistol-whipped a 63-year-old man, tied him up and rummaged through the home, looking for cash, authorities said.

Neighbors said the home is often the scene of high stakes poker games.

The victim, whose name was not released, was taken to the hospital.

He is expected to be OK.

Dragon capsule on course for space station arrival

Fri, 25 May 2012 06:52:38 -0400

The privately bankrolled Dragon capsule approached the International Space Station for a historic docking Friday after sailing through a practice rendezvous the day before.

The unmanned SpaceX Dragon was right on track to deliver a half-ton of supplies and become the first commercial vessel to visit the space station.

"It's a great view," Dutch space station astronaut Andre Kuipers said as the Dragon drew to within 900 feet, its strobe light flashing. "The solar panels are nicely lit."

On Thursday, the capsule came within 1 1/2 miles of the space station in a practice fly-by. It returned to the neighborhood early Friday so Kuipers and U.S. astronaut Donald Pettit could capture it with a robot arm. First, the capsule had to go through a series of stop-and-go demonstrations to prove it was under good operating control.

A collision at orbital speed -- 17,500 mph -- could prove disastrous for the space station.

This is the first time a private company has launched a vessel to the space station, an achievement previously reserved for a small, elite group of government agencies.

President Barack Obama is pushing commercial ventures in orbit so NASA can concentrate on grander destinations like asteroids and Mars. Once companies master supply runs, they hope to tackle astronaut ferry runs.

The California-based SpaceX -- officially known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp. -- is one of several companies vying for the chance to launch Americans from their homeland. That ability ended with NASA's final shuttle flight last summer. To get to the space station, NASA astronauts must go through Russia, an expensive and embarrassing situation for the U.S. after a half-century of orbital self-sufficiency.

SpaceX's billionaire maestro, Elon Musk, who helped create PayPal, said he can have astronauts riding his Dragon capsules to orbit in three or four years. His Falcon 9 rockets lift off from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Musk monitored Friday's operation from the company's Mission Control in Hawthorne, Calif.

The space station has been relying on Russian, Japanese and European cargo ships ever since the shuttles retired. None of those, however, can bring anything of value back; they're simply loaded with trash and burn up in the atmosphere.

By contrast, the Dragon is designed to safely re-enter the atmosphere, parachuting into the ocean like the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules did back in the 1960s. Assuming all goes well Friday, the space station's six-man crew will release the Dragon next Thursday after filling it with science experiments and equipment.

Cops: Man tried to rob Lowes store; Stole golf cart from nearby nudist colony

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:41:57 -0400

Investigators said they arrested Milton Hodges after a crime spree in Osceola County on Wednesday.

Deputies said Hodges first tried to rob a Lowes store on Pleasant Hill Road. They said he attacked a cashier in the garden section and tried to steal some cash from the register.

"He demanded he open the cash register. When he didn’t, he put a knife or what he thought was scissors up to his neck. The cashier got away," Twis Lizasuain with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said.

Surveillance video, only obtained by WFTV, showed Hodges also attacked another cashier. Several customers and employees then chased him out of the store.

"He tried to run across Pleasant Hill Road, and a white pickup truck was blocking his way, so he walked up to that pickup truck driver and punched him in the face," Lizasuain said.

Officials said the driver was not hurt.

Deputies said Hodges then stole a golf cart from a nudist community near the Lowes.

By that time, deputies were already at the scene to make the arrest.

Hodges is charged with attempted robbery and attempted battery.

WFTV also found out Hodges was wanted out of Clay County, near Jacksonville for a robbery.

Thief steals cooking oil from Orange County restaurant

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:35:21 -0400

The owners of the Super Orient Buffet on Semoran Boulevard told WFTV a thief stole nearly 1,000 pounds of used cooking oil.

The owners said it wasn’t the first time the oil was stolen.

"This time is the third time already from my restaurant," Owner Jim Zhang said.

Zhang said the used cooking oil is worth $1 to $6 per gallon, because it can be turned into biodeisel.

Investigators said cooking oil thefts in Central Florida are increasing, as the price of oil increases.

Officials said the thieves either sell the oil to companies, which will convert it or find converter kits to do it themselves and put it into their cars.

Zhang said after the first theft, he added more security cameras and moved his oil container inside a locked area.

"Sometimes we put it right there, but someone broke in and opened it and took it out," Zhang said.

Zhang said during the latest theft, the gates were still locked so he thinks someone may have come over the wall and syphoned the oil out of holes.

Jim’s wife and co-owner said they’re still trying to figure out who stole the oil.

"We have security camera, but didn’t find anything yet," Gui Zhang said. "For me it's like I’m very surprised at that, why people would do something like that?"

The couple said they are still going through hours of surveillance video in hopes of catching the crook.

Police: 2 murder suspects killed in crash while trying to flee from officers

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:33:33 -0400

Two men wanted for murder were killed in a crash while fleeing from officers who were trying to pull them over, according to the Orlando Police Department.

Investigators said they were attempting to arrest the two men who were wanted for a murder that happened on Tuesday on West Moreland Drive.

Three other people who were in the car were seriously injured and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, police said.

Investigators said that the driver lost control of the car and crashed into a drainage ditch as he was trying to flee from officers near the intersection of John Young Parkway and Princeton Street Thursday night at about 7:30 p.m.

"As they attempted to light him up, turn their lights on, he took off from them, accelerated away from them and that was it," Sgt. Vince Ogburn of the Orlando Police Department said. "Came down the road here and lost control of the vehicle that they were driving and was not able to negotiate the turn."

Orlando police used a crane early Friday morning to pull the car out of the ditch.

"Right now, we have two confirmed fatalities and three people that are in critical condition.

Those two people who are dead, they are in fact the two suspects we were looking for from the homicide that occurred earlier this week from the homicide at West Moreland Drive," Ogburn said.

Police said the man who was shot and killed on Tuesday was a street preacher. They also said the victim's identity was not released because his family can not be found.

The names of the two men, along with the names of the injured passengers, have not been released.

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Police nab man accused of stealing from race car drivers, teams

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:18:32 -0400

A man is jailed in Daytona Beach, accused of stealing credit cards and ID cards from a race team at the Daytona International Speedway.

Police believe actor Patrick Dempsey, who has a race team, is just one of thousands of victims who range from race car drivers to pit crew members.

Detectives said Steven Sanders was caught on a cellphone video by a race fan. He was seen stepping out of an RV at a race in Gainesville and wiping the door with a rag.

According to Daytona Beach Police, the Secret Service, and agencies across the country are finding out that Sanders stole from thousands of people.

"All at speedways, all where he's taken wallets, watches, cash, credit cards," said Detective Scott Frantz of the Daytona Beach Police Dept.

Police said they believe he got away with it for years.

Sanders was arrested in March, a few hours after a race fan shot the video of him in Gainesville.

Detectives said they have counted 43 victims from Daytona International Speedway.

Police found the racing ID of Patrick Dempsey, who races in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, in Sanders' possession.

"I can't understand why he kept that stuff, but he did," said Frantz.

Daytona police and the Secret Service searched Sanders' home in Macon, Ga.

Investigators said they found Rolex watches, cash, credit cards, SocialSsecurity cards, and $130,000 in unused gift cards.

"We've traced a majority of this stuff back to victims who had documented this stuff getting stolen, again, at raceways across the country and here in Daytona Beach," said Frantz.

Sanders even had a journal where he kept an inventory of things he stole.

He faces a long list of charges and is jailed on an $80,000 bond.

Police said Sanders is facing more charges, many from out of state, and he could have more than a dozen agencies wanting to extradite him.

Lake County to add WiFi to all schools

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:47:29 -0400

Lake County school leaders plan to spend nearly $1 million to install Wi-Fi at every school in the district.

It would be the second Central Florida school district to do so.

Administrators said students will be able to bring their own laptops, but the school system will still have control over the internet.

"I think we'll be in the top 5 or 10 percent of probably the nation," said Creed Wheeler, IT director for the school district.

According to Wheeler, Wi-Fi will go in all 45 county schools with 1,800 wireless devices.

Administrators will then allow students to bring their own laptops or tablets to class, cutting down the need for textbooks.

Administrators estimate that up to 75 percent of the students already have a laptop or tablet. For the other 25 percent, the schools have enough desktop computers to fill in the gaps.

"We definitely don't want a situation where we have haves and have-nots," said Chris Patton.

Last fall the district distributed 1,200 iPads to students at the new Lake Minneola High School.

Administrators said they don't have the money for more of that. They said they do believe wireless classrooms lead to better grades. And they insist that though students would be bringing their own devices, they would not be able to log onto any prohibited websites.

"You always have to look and see how you can block that stuff. But they are going across our network and our Internet. So, we still provide that filter," said Wheeler.

Wheeler was asked about students who may have already downloaded something they shouldn't have.

"It would be no different than when I was an administrator in a school and a kid brought in a dirty magazine," said Wheeler.

Back in those days they caught the student in the act and took the magazine. Wheeler said it will be the same thing with an iPhone.

Officials said Wi-Fi should be in place in all Lake County schools by December.

Sanford to auction off items from condemned housing projects

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:08:51 -0400

The Sanford Housing Authority is taking its first major step toward demolishing dozens of condemned buildings across six properties.

And Channel 9’s Bianca Castro found the agency is auctioning off a wide range of items that were at the housing projects.

Two years ago, the federal government said Sanford's public housing was so deteriorated that buildings had to be demolished.

People moved out of the buildings but nothing happened.

“I don't see anything going on with them,” said Sanford resident Moease Brooks. “It’s just a waste.”

However, the Sanford Housing Authority will now auction off hundreds of items inside the units or on property, including playgrounds, basketball hoops, railings, clothing lines and appliances.

Housing officials said they don't know what kind of money they can get for the items, but they feel it could be valuable to scrappers interested in metal.

Aluminum scrap can go for up to 65 cents a pound.

The Housing Authority will get 25 percent of the sales from the auction. The auctioneer gets the rest.

Still, no set date or funding has been identified for tearing down the complexes, which is expected to cost roughly $6 million.

The auction is scheduled for June 9, The Sanford Housing Authority is working to get grant money to cover the costs of demolition.

Police: Man accidentally shot, killed by friends

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:01:20 -0400

Two men have been arrested on charges of accidentally killing an Orlando man they were trying to help, police said.

Orlando investigators said Curtis Walden got into a fight with another man over a girl at a Mobil gas station last Friday.

Walden called his friends Cortez Hughes and Willie Underwood for help.

Investigators said Hughes pulled out a gun and opened fire and a stray bullet hit Walden in the head, killing him.

"One of the friends gets out of the car and starts shooting," said Sgt. Vince Ogburn, of the Orlando Police Department.

Police said his friends left him in the parking lot of the gas station to die.

Detectives believe Hughes pulled the trigger. They said underwood is charged because he acted as the getaway driver.

Underwood proclaimed his innocence after his arrest by Orlando police. He and Hughes are charged with second-degree murder.

WFTV learned that Hughes was first arrested when he was 15 for burglary and trespassing on school grounds.

He was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault, vehicle theft and drug possession.

Hughes and Underwood could face life sentences if convicted, police said.

Tropical disturbance may become T.S. Beryl by Saturday

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:57:22 -0400

A strong tropical disturbance, just northeast of Florida, could become Tropical Storm Beryl as soon as Saturday. While this system is drifting to the northeast right now, and away from Central Florida, it will start to drift back to the southeast coastline for the second half of the weekend.

According to Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields, a tropical storm could make landfall just north of us late Sunday.

MAP: Storm Model Plot

SPECIAL SECTION: Hurricanes & Tropical Storms

While we will be drier Friday and Saturday, with only a few isolated storms, the seas will build and the rip current risk will increase. The rain and wind threat increase Sunday and Monday, with dangerous surf.

Severe Weather Center 9 will keep close tabs on the developing storm system as it would be the first time since 1887 that two tropical storms have formed in May.

Amoeba scare causes officials to close lake at Veterans' Memorial Park

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:52:27 -0400

A popular swimming spot in Palm Bay is now closed for good because of fears of a deadly amoeba.

The city had temporarily closed the lake at Veterans' Memorial Park, last summer after a Titusville girl died from an encounter with a deadly amoeba in the St. John's River.

Officials now believe that type of deadly amoeba could be in the lake, according to Channel 9’s Lori Brown.

The city said the lake provides the perfect environment for the deadly amoeba, so they’re closing it down.

“It's sad,” said lake-goer Ashley Edwards. “My kids and I have been here for years, and we've swam in it. We've had birthday parties here.”

Edwards said it was the only place where she and her sons could go swimming in the area.

Palm Bay said the amoeba thrives in warm water. It lives in the upper layer of sediment in the bottom of lakes and ponds. When the ground is stirred up, the amoeba enters the body through the nose and then destroys brain tissue.

Last summer, Astronaut High School student Courtney Nash died after coming in contact with the amoeba in the St. John's River.

“We don't want that to happen here. This is an attempt to avoid it,” said Palm Bay spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez.

There are no fines if people do go swimming in the lake, but the city hopes people won't take any chances.

Doctor caught on video smashing face in FHP cruiser fired from hospital

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:30:27 -0400

WFTV has learned that an anesthesiologist at the Parrish Medical Center in Titusville was fired after graphic video showed him bashing his face against the back seat divider as he sat in a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser following a drunken driving arrest.

The suspect, Dr. Zach Bird, was fired from his position at the hospital on Thursday. Bird’s employer, Team Health, told WFTV they have also suspended the doctor indefinitely.

However, legal analyst Bill Sheaffer, who's represented health care professionals in trouble, said it's likely Bird will not lose his license.

“If there are no prior incidents and because this did not occur when he was on staff at a hospital, the likelihood is there would be some rehabilitation or counseling as opposed to loss of license,” Sheaffer said.

Video from inside the patrol car shows Bird going berserk after troopers searched his pockets and found $40,000 in cash.

"All of the officers are stealing my money!" Bird can be heard screaming.

Police said Bird was driving along State Route 417 early Sunday morning when investigators said he nearly ran a trooper off the road. Bird was pulled over and failed a field sobriety test, police said.

When troopers searched his pockets, they found the cash. In his car, police said they found another $14,000.

Police then searched Bird in the back of the cruiser, which is when he began banging his head into the plexiglass divider, screaming and kicking, saying, “Take me to the hospital!"

As the smashing continues, blood starts running down Bird’s forehead, into his eyes and mouth.

He also continuously screamed, "Stop stealing my money!"

Troopers, concerned Bird would seriously injure himself, pulled the handcuffed man back out of the cruiser.

“When they got him out of the vehicle, he swallowed, took a deep breath and mouthful of blood, spit blood all over one of my sergeant's faces,” said Kim Montes of the FHP.

Bird was facing a DUI charge, but after spitting the blood, he’s now being charged with resisting arrest with violence, as well as property damage, since he broke the glass with his face.

The FHP had to have a biohazard team clean the interior of the cruiser. Officers said they’re also getting the vehicle fixed after Bird repeatedly kicked in the door as he sat in the back seat.

On top of the cash, investigators said they also found unknown pills and two handguns in Bird’s car.

Lake, Polk county sheriffs terrorizing sexual predators

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:19:43 -0400

Two central Florida sheriff’s offices said they’re terrorizing predators who want to have sex with your children, and Channel 9’s Berndt Petersen found arrests in Lake and Polk counties have added up so quickly, officials now believe they’re scaring sexual predators away.

In the last two years, the Sheriff’s Office’s Cyber Crimes Unit has busted 58 people who traveled to Lake County to meet children for sex.

“If we had 20 (more computers), we would probably have thousands of arrests each year,” said Lt. John Herrell.

It all starts in chat rooms, where detectives pose as young children. Then, once a meeting place is designated, police wait for the suspects to arrive before arresting them.

“It’s just literally unbelievable,” said Herrell. “There’s an endless supply of people out there looking to victimize children and looking for those children over the Internet."

Investigators said it usually takes detectives only a few seconds before they get messages in the chat rooms.

In one case, a man backed off when the detective stated he was 13, but investigators said in a disturbing number of cases, the predators follow through.

Since 2006, the Polk County sheriff has made more than 1,100 arrests for child pornography and traveling to the county to have sex with children. The investigations began online.

“We want them to fear every time they go on the Internet that a detective from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is after them,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.

Judd said the criminal cases are open-and-shut with nearly every suspect getting prison time.

“The judges are tough,” he said. “For the most part, they open at three to five years and go up from there."

As a result, officials believe that those who would travel for sex with a child are now less willing to risk a meeting with one who lives in either Lake or Polk county.

“We want to create an environment where we terrorize the sexual predators and sexual offenders who would come here,” said Judd.

Of the five dozen recent child sexual exploitation arrests in Lake County, officials said all of them have either been successfully prosecuted or are still going through the courts. None have been dismissed.

Disney looking for veterans to fill open positions

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:58:05 -0400

Hundreds of veterans in Central Florida will soon be working for the area's largest employer.

Disney wants to put 1,000 veterans to work over the next three years.

Armed with his resume, veteran John Rice hopes his 35 years in the military is what Disney wants.

Rice wants to be one of the hundreds of servicemen and servicewomen picked up through the company's Heroes Work Here program. But he knows there are a lot of other candidates, too.

Post-911 veterans account for 1 million of the nation's unemployed.

"They are motivated, and they can make a difference. And I know those are the people that Disney is looking forward to getting," said Rice.

Currently, there are 400 veterans looking for a Disney opportunity ranging from entry-level to executive.

Disney wouldn't say exactly how much veterans could earn. But WFTV learned the jobs could pay anywhere from $8 an hour to an executive-level salary.

Where a candidate falls on the pay scale depends on experience and Disney's needs.

"This job is not for everybody, but every job out there isn't for everybody," said Brian Britton, Disney's vice president of Park Operation.

One-hundred-sixty veterans in Florida have already been hired for positions. The company plans to hire another 750 over the next three years. A majority of those jobs will be in Florida.

"There are a million veterans that are going to be exiting the service between 2011 and 2016, so the time is now," said Robin Zais, Disney's director of casting.

John Rice agrees with that sentiment; he'll be out of a job in two weeks.

Disney is still accepting applications for open positions all across the country.

MORE INFORMATION: Disney's 'Heroes Work Here' program

FCAT reading, math scores released

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:53:18 -0400

To the relief of parents and third-graders around central Florida, the reading and math FCAT scores released Thursday were only down a little compared to a year ago.

The new FCAT test comes with higher benchmarks for achievement and lower expectations of performance, not to mention a whole lot of stress for students and parents who know their third-grader’s performance in reading could determine whether or not they're promoted to the fourth grade,” said Channel 9’s Melanie Holt.

“There's all this talk about it's harder this year, the scores are different, and all this, and I feel like it's not something they should have to deal with,” said parent Jessica Pullum.

Pullum's third-grader attends Orange County's Blankner School. The student did OK on the test, as well as his classmates.

About 72 percent of Blankner third-graders scored at or above grade level in reading. The state average was 56 percent, a significant drop over 2011.

About 69 percent of Blankner's third-graders scored at or above grade level in math, which is above the 58 percent state and district average this year.

“I felt fortunate,” said Blankner principal Polly Roper. “But unfortunately, some of my friends weren't as fortunate, and it upsets me for them.”

Roper still has a dozen students who scored low enough to repeat the third grade. District-wide, that number is closer to 2,000 students. But a poor FCAT performance alone doesn't mean a child will be forced to repeat third grade if the district can show a history of grade-level performance.

“I think this is one of those watershed moments where you review the data and make the necessary adjustments in your instructional strategies moving forward,” said retiring superintendent Ron Blocker.

Drug bust in West Volusia nets oxycodone, marijuana

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:25:38 -0400

Police said they found hundreds of oxycodone pills along with marijuana at a home near Stetson University.

The West Volusia Narcotics Task Force said it also found cash and guns in the rental home.

Police said three students were arrested. Their names haven’t been released.

When one of the suspects was asked why he had so many pills, he told deputies it is because he eats them.

The investigation began earlier this month after an undercover drug buy.

WFTV cleans up in May ratings

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:41 -0400

May means winners are crowned on American Idol, The Voice and Dancing with the Stars…but the biggest winner of the May ratings period was Channel 9 Eyewitness News. WFTV once again won every newscast: Monday – Friday 5-7AM, Noon, 5, 5:30 and 6PM, 11PM Monday – Sunday and weekend newscasts. The most watched local news source continues to be Eyewitness News, continually rated as the strongest, most watched news brand in Central Florida.

“Our breakthrough investigation of a local parking lot owner joyriding in customers’ cars changed the way Port Canaveral lots now operate and helped shut down the offender,” commented News Director, Bob Jordan. “The story gained national interest and aired on Good Morning America and ABC World News Tonight. It’s an example of the aggressive way we cover major local news."

Channel 9 Eyewitness News IS Central Florida’s New Leader, winning 7 of the 7 daily head to head news time periods with adults 25-54 in the May Nielsen survey. Eyewitness News commanded 40% of the total viewers for all daily newscasts combined and delivered dominant numbers in the morning and dominated the most watched news time period from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Twins wanted for Florida slaying arrested in Va

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:35:55 -0400

Twin brothers from Palm Bay were arrested on murder charges after being arrested in Virginia, authorities said.

Virginia State Police said 34-year-old Octavius and Obadiah Toppin were arrested in Stafford County just before 4 a.m. on Thursday. Police had been on the lookout for the brothers, who were wanted in connection with the shooting death Wednesday of Raymond Torres in Palm Bay, Fla.

The Toppins are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County, pending extradition to Florida.

An initial court appearance Thursday was continued. Hearings for both men were set for June 22.

Attorneys for the men did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Search for Romney running mate in audition phase

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:45:11 -0400

Mitt Romney's vice presidential search has entered a new phase: auditions.

As his campaign evaluates potential running mates, Republicans with a possible shot at the Number 2 spot on the presidential ticket are starting to engage in unofficial public tryouts for the traditional vice presidential role of attack dog.

Democratic President Barack Obama is "the most ill-prepared person to assume the presidency in my lifetime," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared at a speech in Kentucky this week. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio told South Carolina Republicans that Americans hadn't seen such a "divisive figure in modern American history" as Obama.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, speaking Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library — it's a favorite venue for Republicans seeking more attention — said Obama "wants to take us further in the wrong direction." And in an Alabama appearance earlier this month, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called Obama "the most incompetent president since Jimmy Carter."

Not that any of them — or any of the others who may have landed a spot on Romney's list — are talking about becoming vice president. Nor are any of them acknowledging they're trying out for the role or saying the Romney campaign has asked them to do so. Top Romney aides are sworn to secrecy, as are potential running mates and their staffs — an example of the Romney campaign's closely controlled, no-leaks culture.

But their high-profile appearances come just over a month after Romney assumed, for all practical purposes, leadership of the Republican Party. His vice presidential search is now well under way, with his Boston headquarters engaged in a secretive process of weighing the pros and cons of each potential pick.

With just three months to go until Republican National Convention, his campaign has little time to waste as it meticulously prepares the presumptive Republican nominee to make one of his most important decisions. With it will come implications not just for whether he'll win the White House but how he would govern the country.

Knowledge of the process is limited to a few of Romney's highest-level aides. Information is on a "need-to-know" basis — and as far as those aides are concerned, there are few people inside the Boston headquarters at 585 Commercial Street who need to know, let alone reporters and other outsiders. The Republicans who discussed the vice presidential selection process did so on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to anger a campaign that has barred people from talking about the selection in public.

The process is so secret because it's so sensitive. A vice presidential vetting is possibly the most intense background check in politics. Everything is fair game: voting records and the political past, to be sure, but also personal issues.

"You're sitting down with someone and asked if they've ever had a marital problem, if their spouse has ever cheated on them, if they've ever sought mental health counseling — that's just the beginning," said Sara Fagen, who worked for former President George W. Bush and for Romney's 2008 campaign.

If past campaigns are an indication, that level of probing will happen later, after the Romney campaign has narrowed the list to a few people who are under serious consideration. Earlier in the process, potential choices are typically asked fewer invasive biographical questions, as the campaign itself runs through all available public information.

This more basic information will help the Romney campaign narrow the list — and evaluate and prepare to deal with potential trouble spots in the backgrounds of those who make it through. The campaign team will have to be prepared to deal with past statements that might publicly contradict Romney or give Obama's team an extra opening to criticize his Republican opponent. The Democratic president had to deal with this in 2008, when Republicans gleefully circulated a clip of now-Vice President Joe Biden saying Obama was "not ready" to be president.

The Republicans who are informally auditioning would each bring different strengths — and drawbacks — to the presidential ticket.

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman supported Romney early, has a solid rapport with the candidate and hails from Ohio, a critical battleground state that could decide the election. But he wouldn't necessarily appeal directly to Hispanic or women voters.

Jindal, the Louisiana governor, could help Romney turn out the religious right and would add diversity to the ticket as an Indian-American, but he struggled during a national debut rebutting the 2010 State of the Union address.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell appeals to social conservatives but signed a controversial state law that requires Virginia women to have ultrasounds before having an abortion.

New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who's campaigned frequently with Romney, could help with female voters and in her swing state of New Hampshire. But she's from New England, the same region of the country as Romney, while Christie, a conservative favorite who can work a crowd, is from New Jersey.

Rubio could bring Florida, always a deciding factor in a general election, and appeal to Hispanics, a fast-growing voting bloc, but he's run into some trouble over a foreclosed home and possible misuse of an official credit card. And Ryan is a serious, leading policy mind with a bright future — and a brand name that's directly tied to a controversial budget that would make major changes to Medicare.

As deliberations and the informal auditions continue, potential long-listers are perfecting their nondenial denials about providing any information to the Romney campaign.

"The Romney campaign has a policy, and I'm a national co-chair of the campaign, that we don't talk about the vice presidential policy in terms of timing whether it relates to me or anyone else or the aspects of that," former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, another possible pick, told MSNBC last week when asked if he'd agreed to be vetted. "That's just the campaign policy. We don't discuss the details of that process."

"I'm not getting into that. I'm not changing any of my answers," Ryan told the Washington Examiner's editorial board recently when asked about the vice presidential process. "I get asked this every time I walk down the street. I'm not giving you any answers."

Or they're not saying anything at all. After a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, a small group of reporters questioned Rubio about whether he was being considered for vice president.

"Senator, would you like to answer any questions about vice president?" one reporter finally asked.

Mack opens big lead in Florida GOP Senate contest

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:26:49 -0400

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV of Fort Myers has become the frontrunner in a three-way contest for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows.

The conservative congressman with a famous name received 40 percent support from a group of 742 registered Republican voters in a random telephone survey compared to 8 percent for Tea Party favorite Mike McCalister and 7 percent for Fort Lauderdale attorney George LeMieux, who served the final 16 months of former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez's term,. LeMieux, who was appointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist to fill the vacancy upon Martinez's surprising decision to not finish his six-year term, did not seek re-election for the seat now held by freshman U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Miami.

"Mack's lead is pretty formidable with three months until the primary," pollster Peter Brown said. "He retains an overwhelming lead."

Quinnipiac's survey of Republican voters taken May 15-21 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

The only possible silver lining for LeMieux and McCalister in the latest Quinnipiac numbers would be hope they could garner the backing of the 41 percent of the Republican respondents who said they were still undecided. The polling began before last Friday's entry of former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon into the GOP primary race.

It also showed Mack, the son of former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack III and great grandson of the legendary baseball manager with the same name, in a general election horserace with incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Mack was preferred by 42 percent to Nelson's 41 percent in a broader survey of 1,722 registered voters. That survey's margin of error was put at 2.4 percentage points.

The 69-year-old Nelson, who holds the seat previously held by Mack's father, is seeking a third Senate term in Washington. Nelson has no major opposition in the Aug. 14 primary.

The survey also showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott's job approval creeping over the 40 percent mark for the first time. Forty-one percent said they approved of the job Scott is doing in handling the state's business while 46 percent said they disapproved.

Floridians also are behind the state's "stand your ground" law by a margin of 56 percent to 35 percent. The law is at the heart of a national controversy in the death of a teenager, Trayvon Martin, who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer who felt threatened by the unarmed teenager.

Through The Wrist: Blood Pressure Breakthrough

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:10:41 -0400

ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood pressure is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems. About 1 in 3 adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure. The condition itself usually has few symptoms. Blood pressure is specifically defined as the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can be dangerous and cause harm to the body in multiple ways. (Source: www.nhlbi.nih.gov)

BLOOD PRESSURE NUMBERS: Blood pressure is measured as systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) pressures. Systolic refers to blood pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. Diastolic refers to blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. You will commonly see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above or before the diastolic number, such as 120/80 mmHg. All levels above 120/80 mmHg raise your risk, and the risk grows as blood pressure numbers rise. Prehypertension means you will possibly end up with HBP, unless you take steps to prevent it. (Source: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health)

CENTRAL BLOOD PRESSURE: Hypertension is a major risk factor for a wide range of cardiovascular diseases and is typically identified by measuring blood pressure (BP) at the brachial artery. While such a measurement might accurately determine diastolic BP, it does not accurately reflect systolic BP. This is because the blood pressure waveform (and systolic pressure) is distorted as it travels outward from the heart due to the presence of wave reflections from the peripheral arteries. Central blood pressure is the pressure that the heart has to pump against to get blood to flow to the rest of the body. Higher central blood pressures mean that the heart must work harder to do its job. This can eventually lead to heart failure. Central blood pressure also determines the pressure in the blood vessels feeding the brain. If central pressure is too high, it may cause aneurysms and strokes. It be directly measured only using a pressure sensor or catheter inserted into the aorta (usually through an artery in the groin or wrist). This procedure is invasive and can lead to complications. (Source: theheart.org, pulsecor.com)

METHODS: Traditional methods for taking blood pressure readings are still being used daily, but the SphygmoCor system may be able to surpass the technology of the traditional cuff methods. The device itself is a lightweight, portable, and used to non-invasively obtain important vital cardiovascular data that cannot be gathered with traditional cuff blood pressure measurements. SphygmoCor allows clinicians and researchers to measure the pressures the heart, brain and kidneys are directly experiencing. SphygmoCor assessments are fast and simple. It offers a painless and comfortable method for patients. (Source: www.atcormedical.com)

Pilot suffers minor injuries after crashing into gator-infested lake

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:02:43 -0400

An experimental plane crashed into alligator-infested water in Lake Jesup near Bird Island on Thursday, Seminole County authorities said.

The pilot, whose name hasn’t been released, suffered only minor scrapes and bruises after his plane plunged into the lake.

Dive teams rushed to find the pilot, but they never had to put on their wetsuits, because he was in waist-deep water right off the shore.

Because the pilot crashed, investigators said he’ll have to pay to have the plane removed.

In the meantime, the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and Seminole County Sheriff's Office are all working to figure out why the plane went down.

The FAA said it's investigating the cause of the crash.

Authorities said there was no one else on the plane.

Lake Jesup has the densest population of alligators in the state with estimates from 10,000-15,000 gators.

Father, son killed; other child critical after car collides with box truck

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:44:06 -0400

An Alabama father and his 10-year-old son were killed when their car collided with a box truck, authorities said on Thursday.

The car collided with the truck just after 8 a.m. Thursday, on SR-520 near Taylor Creek Road in East Orange County.

WFTV learned that the family was headed home after going on a cruise.

Stacey Watters, 38, of Gilbertown, Ala. and his son Quentin Watters were killed in the accident. Another son, Jai Watters, 9, was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital in critical condition.

The father's girlfriend and her children, who were also on the cruise, were driving ahead of Watters in a separate car.

Troopers said they believe the crash happened when the father pulled out in front of an ice cream delivery truck driven by Jaison McCray, 39, of Seffner, Fla. They believe Watters may have pulled off on the wrong exit and when he returned to the highway he was hit by the truck.

"We have several witnesses fortunately who can help us tell the timeline. At this point the impact was instantaneous. The box truck didn't appear to apply brakes right until impact," said Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said that Watters' lack of familiarity with the area may have contributed to the accident.

"Don't know, other than if he may not be from the area, just not familiar. We don't know. Unfortunately, we'll probably never know," said Montes.

Stacey Watters was a high school football coach in Ozark, Ala.

Investigators said an officer was sent to the home of the children's mother in Alabama to notify her of the tragedy.

The driver of the truck is not facing any charges.

"The box truck driver was very upset. Not injured, but just extremely upset at what happened," said Montes.

Deputies: Shot teen runs to gas station for help; two being sought

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:17:05 -0400

Orange County deputies said they are trying to find two teenagers they believe are responsible for shooting another teen at an apartment complex on University Boulevard late Wednesday night.

Officers said the wounded 17-year-old boy ran for help at a gas station near the Sutton Place apartments.

He told a Florida Highway Patrol trooper that he had been shot three times.

The victim was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

Deputies said they believe the trouble started with a fight between the three teens.

The victim's name was not released.