Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
FSU LIKELY TO RESUME OPEN SEARCH FOR NEW LEADER
Florida State University is planning to resume a wide open search for its next president. The chairman of the FSU search committee announced Tuesday evening that he wants to postpone an interview with State Sen. John Thrasher and set a deadline for other candidates to apply. Thrasher, a leading Republican and chairman of Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election committee, had emerged as the front-runner.
POLK COUNTY DEPUTIES SEIZE 19 NEGLECTED HORSES
A Lakeland couple faces animal cruelty charges after 19 neglected horses were seized from their property, including one that died from malnutrition. Polk County deputies arrested Jacob Caudy and Emily Cowper on Monday. Arrest affidavits say the couple was paid more than $1,200 by a California woman to care for her 8-year-old thoroughbred. Deputies in April found the horse in a skeletal state, confined to a fenced compound without sufficient food and water.
FLORIDA JUDGE ACCUSED OF PUNCHING ATTORNEY ON LEAVE
A Florida judge accused of punching an assistant public defender during an altercation outside a courtroom will take a temporary leave of absence so he can get anger management counseling. The chief judge of Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit said Tuesday that all of Judge John Murphy’s cases have been reassigned to other judges. Chief Judge John Harris says the public expects a higher standard of behavior from judges than that which was exhibited by Murphy on Monday.
SUSPECTED CAR BURGLAR SHOT BY OWNER IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Authorities say a suspected burglar was fatally shot while trying to break into a car in a West Palm Beach neighborhood. Police say two men — following a string of robberies in the area — were breaking into another car early Tuesday morning when the owner confronted them. The three fought, and authorities say the car owner shot 31-year-old Aaron Francis Bayliss.
SEARCH ENDED FOR SWIMMER MISSING OFF JUNO BEACH
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for a swimmer missing off of Juno Beach. Officials say crews had been searching by boat and air since 27-year-old Yusnjear Sonora went missing Sunday evening. A friend said the man was last seen struggling in the water north of the Juno Beach pier. Rescue crews searched more than 962 square miles for the swimmer before calling their search off Monday night.
