Jarred Harrell - police photo

A judge sentenced Jarred M. Harrell, 26, to life in prison for the disappearance and murder of Somer Thompson.

Somer Thompson was walking home from school on October 19, 2009, with her sister and some friends, when she disappeared. Within days, her body was found in a Georgia landfill.

As tips poured in detectives were led to Meridian, Mississippi where Harrell was arrested and charged with 29 counts of child pornography on February 11, 2010.  At the time, he was also named a “Person of Interest” in the abduction and murder of Somer.

Based on DNA and other evidence, Clay County detectives searched the home where Harrell had previously lived, not far from Somer’s home in Orange Park.

On March 26, 2010, detectives charged Harrell with Somer’s abduction and murder.   Detectives say, Harrell abducted and killed Somer, dumped her body in a dumpster which later ended up in the landfill in Georgia, across the state lines.

According to several news reports, Harrell took a plea deal in order to avoid the death penalty. He won’t be eligible for parole.

Valencia College president Sandy Shugart (Photo: WONO)

“We’re becoming rather expensive in the community college world,” said Shugart, newsserviceflorida.com reports. “I think that’s a huge mistake.”

The House Education Committee has been working on a set of recommendations aimed at overhauling Florida’s higher education system, since Gov. Rick Scott’s declared push that greater emphasis ought to be placed on “STEM” – science, technology, engineering and math – degrees.

Shughart said he is concerned that if tuition fees were to increase students would be stranded in the middle of their education. “I think we would like to keep our doors as open as we can,” he said.

President of Northwest Florida State College, Ty Handy said, students in different areas of the state would respond differently to tuition increases.

“It is population, locality-driven,” he said, newsserviceflorida.com reports. “Some people can afford more, but many people can’t.”

Rep. Bill Procter (R-St. Augustine), chair of the House Education Committee said, before any recommendations are made testimony would be heard from another group of college presidents.

While state university presidents have pressed for greater flexibility in setting their own tuition rates, Procter said a case had been made for separate proposals for colleges and universities and this would be factored into any recommendations of the committee.

The committee is expected to wrap up its work by mid-February.

Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius, creator of the long-running TV dance show “Soul Train,” shot himself to death Wednesday morning at his Los Angeles home, police said. He was 75.

Officers responding to a report of a shooting found Cornelius at his Mulholland Drive home at around 4 a.m., police said. He was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 4:56 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.
Read More Here.

Troopers said, at least 12 passenger cars and approximately seven semi-trucks were involved in several crashes near mile marker 379 in Alachua County.

The crashes occurred around 4:00 a.m. on I-75 northbound and southbound lanes.

Ten people died as a result of the accidents and 18 others were transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville and other local hospitals.

A spokesman for Florida Highway Patrol, Patrick Riordan said, on Saturday evening, Interstate 75 was closed for sometime because of smoke from a brush fire in the Paynes Prairie area, but as conditions improved, FHP re-opened the highway, reports cfnews13.com.

After the crashes, both southbound and northbound lanes were closed for several hours. Troopers said, both north and south lanes of I-75 will be closed until the roadway is cleared.

For travelers using northbound I-75:

Exit at the CR 318 exit and then travel east until US 441, and travel can resume northbound.

For travelers using southbound I-75:

Exit at Williston Road, then travel west to US 27, to resume travel southbound.

This is a developing story.  Check back later for more. 

Eric Ireland - suspect

Ocoee police say, Eric Ireland, 25, was taken into custody after a tip was received that he was involved in the crime.

Cops allege that Ireland planted an explosive device which was found by a city parks service worker at Ocoee Central Park, 570 Flewelling Avenue on July 2, 2011.

The worker believed that the device resembled a pipe type bomb, and transported the object to the Ocoee Police Department. Working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), the object was safely detonated.

Cops said, it was determined that the object was an explosive device was either live or live at one time.

Ireland was arrested on a warrant by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He has been charged with possession and manufacture of a destructive device.

Everglades water way on a rainy afternoon

On Tuesday, Salazar and Ashe will join U.S. Senator Bill Nelson along the Tamiami Trail just outside of Miami to make a python announcement. Later on, Salazar will attend the Everglades Foundation “Everglades Water Supply Summit” in Tallahassee where he will identify next steps in the restoration of the Florida Everglades during a panel discussion entitled, “What’s Next.”

On Wednesday, Salazar and Ashe will conclude their trip in Haines City with Senator Nelson where they will make an important announcement regarding the proposed Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.

EVENT 1: Florida Everglades Python Announcement

WHO: Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior

Dan Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator

WHAT: Florida Everglades Python Announcement

WHEN: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

8:45 a.m. EDT

WHERE: S-333 pumping structure, located about eight miles west of the new Tamiami Bridge on Tamiami Trail
EVENT 2: Everglades Water Supply Summit

WHO: Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior

Adam Putnam, Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture

Mike Haridopolos, President, Florida State Senate

Paul Tudor Jones, Chairman, the Everglades Foundation

WHAT: Everglades Water Supply Summit

WHEN: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

3:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center

555 West Pensacola Street

Tallahassee, FL 32306-1640

*room 208
EVENT 3: Proposed Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area Announcement

WHO: Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior

Dan Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator

WHAT: Proposed Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area

WHEN: Wednesday, January 18, 2012

10:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE: Florida Chapter’s Future Farmers of America Training Center

5000 Firetower Road

Haines City, Florida 33844

863-439-7332

Ocoee High School band performing at 6th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration, West Oaks Mall, Ocoee, January 16, 2012 (Photo: WONO)

Hundreds of Ocoee residents and neighboring communities turned out on a sun-filled yet cool morning for the 6th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration. Organized by the City of Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board, under the theme, Dare to Dream, the Parade’s Grand Marshal was Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

The event kicked off at 10:00 a.m. at the intersection of Silver Star and Clarke Road and culminated at the West Oaks Mall, in a ceremony that consisted of a medley of music by the Garden Community Choir and a call to action by keynote speaker Lucas Boyce, Orlando Magic’s Director of Community Relations-Multicultural Insights & Government Affairs.

The Ocoee Police Department motorcycle brigade let the procession, which featured several marching groups, including the Ocoee High School, American Legion, Central Florida Urban League and other clubs and schools.

“I believe that everything that Dr. King did was for all mankind, not just for blacks alone,” said William Maxwell, chairman of the Human Relations Diversity Board. “Our mission is to educate, inform and to project a positive image to the rest of the world in spite of the ugly history that surrounds Ocoee. We are not going back on the past, we are going to let the past bury its dead and live for the future.”

In 2003, in a unanimous resolution, the City of Ocoee established the Human Relations Diversity Board which is tasked with the responsibility of promoting goodwill, respect, understanding, dignity and equality of all citizens and businesses within its community.

“It is a fantastic day and a great opportunity for us to express ourselves and honor the leadership and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,” said Scott Vandergrift, Mayor of Ocoee. “We, in Ocoee, are truly an international community and I would like one day to see an International Day recognizing all nationalities, in one way or another.”

President of the Central Florida Urban League and Master of Ceremonies, Allie Braswell said, Dr. King started “something” incredible but there’s more to be done.

“I think if you look at Ocoee’s theme of the event – Dare to Dream – we must continue to embrace that dream,” he said. “I think Ocoee has made strides, but I still think we have a ways to go. We are not at the destination yet that he envisioned. We still have a ways to go, but we are working well toward that goal.”

Orange County Commissioner, S. Scott Boyd (District 1), echoed Braswell’s sentiment, noting that Dr. Martin Luther King Day is really about everyone in the community coming together.

Section of crowd at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Unity Parade and Celebration, West Oaks Mall, Ocoee, January 16, 2012. (Photo: WONO)

“In Orange County in general, there are so many ethnic groups that call Orange County home. Everybody coming together to celebrate is wonderful,” said Boyd. “We have come a long ways, but we are still working at it….This is going to be a great year for this whole entire area.”

Keynote speaker, Lucas Boyce challenged the gathering to ‘Dare to Dream’. Drawing on his personal experience, Boyce said there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome, if we all band together.  According to him, hunger, violence and poverty can be a thing of the past, if we dare to dream.

“Together we can overcome racism, together we can overcome cynicism and selfishness that consumes us, but first we must dare to dream,” he said. “…The call of history is that we in this day, in this place, dare to dream.”

The parade drew appearances from several elected officials, including from the City of Ocoee Commissioners Gary Hood (District 1), Rosemary Wilsen (District 2), Rusty Johnson (District 3) and Joel F. Keller (District 4).