Homestead woman believed dead in central Florida: Sheriff announces car located, deputy’s arrest
Seminole County’s sheriff is expected to provide an update Monday after authorities believe they found the body of a 31-year-old Homestead woman who was carjacked and kidnapped in central Florida Thursday.
Ian is long gone but water keeps rising in central Florida
Residents living in parts of central Florida donned fishing waders, boots and bug spray and canoed or kayaked their way to their homes on streets where floodwaters continued rising Sunday despite it being four days since Hurricane Ian tore through the state.
Consultant pleads not guilty in Florida ‘ghost candidate’ case
A political consultant who is accused of helping put a “ghost candidate” on a ballot to siphon off votes from the Democratic candidate in a state Senate race in central Florida has pleaded not guilty to election finance-related charges during his first court appearance.
Florida man uses $7.2M from PPP to buy mansion, Maserati and more, feds say
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A Bradenton man is accused of using $7.2 million from Paycheck Protection Program funds to buy a Central Florida mansion and three luxury cars, according to court records. Records show Cisternino applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan established as part of the federal CARES Act relief bill. Prosecutors said Cisternino is accused of using the money to buy a Maserati, a $89,000 Lincoln Navigator, a $251,000 Mercedes-Benz and a $3.1 million home in Chuluota. AdCisternino is accused of saying MagnifiCo had 441 employees with an average monthly payroll of $2.88 million. Records show after the application the Small Business Administration issued $7.2 million in PPP funds to MagnifiCo.
School district spammed as students receive racist emails
SANFORD, Fla. – Officials say public high school students in one Florida county received more than eight million racist emails with “disgusting” messages. Seminole County school officials say the emails began on Saturday. Some even made it to middle school student accounts. But officials say they were still deleting emails on Tuesday. School officials say the spam appeared to have been generated by a bot.
Tidal phenomenon could make Dorian's impact even worse
Friday marks the beginning of Florida's King Tides, a term that refers to the highest tides in any given period. King Tides, sometimes called Spring Tides, typically appear in the spring and fall. (Though the term "Spring Tides" refers to spring as in the action, not the season). "The King Tides adding a couple of feet to the water height is almost like the storm being a category higher on scale." Something like the King Tides could mean those who would typically see themselves as far enough away from the storm's threat could, in fact, be in danger.
Man, 30, gets life for killing parents, brother over webcam model
Seminole County prosecutors said Grant Amato committed murder because he was obsessed with Sylvia Ventsislavova, a webcam model from Bulgaria. ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his parents and brother because prosecutors say he was angry they cut off his relationship with a model he met on an adult website. The Orlando Sentinel reports that the 12 jurors didnt unanimously choose the death penalty for Grant Amato on Monday, meaning an automatic life sentence. Seminole County deputies say Amato had stolen $60,000 and guns from his brother to talk to a Bulgarian woman he met online. Investigators say Grant also stole $150,000 from his father, including a loan taken out on his parents house.