Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
RICK SCOTT EDGES CHARLIE CRIST FOR SECOND TERM
Rick Scott, one of the nation’s most vulnerable incumbents, narrowly won re-election Tuesday after turning back former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who was trying to return to office as a Democrat. He edged Crist by a margin of 48 percent to 47 percent. It was the second time that Scott won a close election. Four years ago he defeated Democrat Alex Sink by more than 61,000 votes. In both elections, the former CEO stressed his plans to help the state’s economy recover. In 2010, Scott’s motto was “Let’s Get to Work.” This time around it was “Let’s Keep Working.”
SEN. MARCO RUBIO HEADS TO COLOMBIA
While most the country recovers from an election hangover, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is heading to Colombia. Rubio is to begin a two-day trip to Bogota Wednesday. His staff says he will meet with Colombian officials, as well as business and civic leaders, to discuss the status of peace talks, counter-narcotics efforts and possibilities for exporting such efforts to other countries in the region. Rubio is making the trip in his official capacity as a member of the Senate’s foreign relations and intelligence committees.
CUSTOMS DISCOVERS $2.4M COCAINE IN FLORIDA SHIP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered more than $2.4 million in cocaine hidden away on a ship docked at Miami’s port. Authorities said Tuesday that the officers discovered suspicious brick-shaped packages over the weekend aboard a freighter. The packages were hidden on an overhead ledge aboard the ship.
MAN GETS LIFE FOR FATALLY STABBING WIFE
A Florida Panhandle man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife. Jerome Parrish was sentenced Monday. As part of a deal with Okaloosa County prosecutors to avoid the death penalty, Parrish previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Authorities say the Crestview man fatally stabbed his wife, Alyssa Parrish, in April 2012.
WOMAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN DUI CASE
A 31-year-old woman who killed two sisters in a DUI crash has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. On Tuesday, Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson also ordered that Terra Goodier’s prison term will be followed by 10 years of probation during which she cannot drink alcohol or go to bars. Prosecutors say she drove the wrong way down a Volusia County highway and crashed into a car, killing the women.
