Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
US TO SEEK 30-YEAR MAX SENTENCE FOR TERROR PLOTTER
Federal prosecutors will seek a prison sentence no longer than 30 years for Jose Padilla, convicted in 2007 of supporting al-Qaida and terror conspiracy charges. Padilla’s attorney said in court papers filed Wednesday the U.S. has agreed to the 30-year maximum. Padilla was originally sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars, but an appeals court threw out that sentence as too lenient.
SARASOTA CONSIDERS SENDING HOMELESS OUT OF TOWN
Sarasota city officials are backing a plan to offer transportation out of town to some of the people living on the streets. The City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to place $1,000 in a “Homeward Bound fund” that would help finance that one-way travel. City officials hope the money will be matched by donations from the public.
SHERIFF TO PROVIDE SECURITY IN WALDO
After suspending two police chiefs over the past month due to allegations of illegal ticket quotas, the north Florida town of Waldo has agreed to allow the local sheriff’s department to provide security. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Waldo entered into the agreement on Wednesday. AAA has named Waldo one of only two “traffic traps” nationwide and placed billboards outside city limits warning drivers to slow down.
LAWSUIT: STATE HELD SECRET MEETINGS, LOST RECORDS
The state of Florida is getting sued again over violations to the state’s Sunshine Law. A Xerox employee Wednesday filed a lawsuit in Leon County alleging that a Florida agency held secret meetings related to a decision to award a nearly $50 million contract. The lawsuit states that the Department of Revenue “lost” recordings it had made of the meetings. The contract to process child support payments was awarded to a rival of Xerox.
PANTHER KILLED IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Officials say a Florida panther was killed by a vehicle in southwest Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that the 3-year-year-old uncollared female was found Tuesday in Hendry County, just north of the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. This is the 22nd Florida panther death of 2014, the 17th hit by a vehicle.
