Florida: 5 Things to Know for Jan. 14th

3 VIE FOR GOP NOMINATION IN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

Three Republican candidates are running to fill the congressional seat of U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, who spent 43 years in Congress and passed away in October. The special primary election is being held Tuesday. Whoever wins Tuesday’s primary will face Democrat Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 general election. The GOP candidates are Mark Bircher, David Jolly and Kathleen Peters.

2 KILLED IN TAMPA BAY AREA CRASH

Authorities say two people were killed when their car was hit by a semi-truck at a Tampa Bay area intersection. Plant City police report that the victims’ were turning through and intersection Monday afternoon when the semi hit the driver side of their car. The collision sent both vehicles into the center median. The driver and passenger in the car died. The truck driver was not injured.

GOV. RICK SCOTT TO NAME LOPEZ-CANTERA AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to name Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera as the state’s next lieutenant governor. Scott will make the announcement on Tuesday in Miami, according to two people familiar with matter but who were unauthorized to speak publicly and spoke on a condition of anonymity.

2 SHOT AT FLORIDA MOVIE THEATER, 1 LATER DIES

Authorities say a retired Tampa police officer has been charged with fatally shooting a man during an argument over cellphone use at a Florida theater. A Pasco County Sheriff’s spokeswoman says the shooting occurred Monday after 71-year-old Curtis Reeves asked 43-year-old Chad Oulson to stop texting during the previews of “Lone Survivor” at a Tampa Bay area multiplex. Reeves is charged with second-degree murder.

GOV. RICK SCOTT: BOOST SPENDING TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE

Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants the state to spend millions to bolster its efforts to prevent child abuse. Scott will announce Tuesday that he wants to hire additional child protection investigators. The governor will also push for extra funding to allow for two-person teams to handle cases involving children the most at risk of abuse.

Source: Associated Press