Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
OUSTER OF FLORIDA’S TOP COP DIVIDING SCOTT AND REPUBLICANS
A top statewide official is calling on Gov. Rick Scott to start a fresh search for a leader at the state’s main law enforcement agency. Last week, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater joined with Scott and two other officials to appoint Richard Swearingen as the new commissioner for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. But questions over the ouster of the former commissioner prompted Atwater on Tuesday night to send a letter to Scott demanding a new search. Atwater in his letter encouraged Swearingen to apply.
WIFE’S BREAST IMPLANT LEAKS DELAYS CONGRESSMAN’S DIVORCE
A trial to determine if U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson’s wife committed bigamy when she wed the congressman has been delayed because she required emergency surgery to remove breast implants. The trial scheduled for Thursday in Orlando is now set for March. Court papers filed this week say Lolita Grayson had been suffering chest pains. When she went to a hospital to get checked out, she was told she needed emergency surgery to remove the leaking implants and scar tissue.
US: 2 NEW ‘JANE DOE’ VICTIMS CAN’T JOIN SEX OFFENDER LAWSUIT
Federal prosecutors say two women claiming to be victims of wealthy sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cannot join in a lawsuit seeking to reopen Epstein’s 2008 plea agreement. The women, identified only as Jane Doe No. 3 and Jane Doe No. 4, sought late last year to take part in the 2008 case brought by two other women. All four claim they were victimized as minors by Epstein, who pleaded guilty to state underage sex and prostitution solicitation charges but escaped federal prosecution.
PINELLAS COUNTY PUPPETEER ARRETED ON CHILD PORN CHARGES
A Gulf Coast puppeteer who made a living entertaining children was arrested on child pornography charges. Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives say 34-year-old Peter Douglas Emr possessed hundreds of pornographic images of children. Emr, who performed under the stage name “Emr the Jester,” was arrested Tuesday on six counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of sexual performance with intent to promote.
OFFICERS CLEARED IN KILLING OF MAN WHO AMBUSHED DEPUTIES
A Leon County grand jury is clearing officers responsible for killing a man who lit his house on fire and then ambushed deputies who arrived on the scene. The grand jury on Wednesday said all the officers involved in the November incident conducted themselves “heroically.”
