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DeSantis signs bills aimed at illegal immigration, issues warning to Haitian refugees
Read full article: DeSantis signs bills aimed at illegal immigration, issues warning to Haitian refugeesGov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference Friday morning at the Polk County Sheriffโs Office in Winter Haven.
Man wins $5 million playing Florida Lottery scratch-off game at gas station
Read full article: Man wins $5 million playing Florida Lottery scratch-off game at gas stationA 54-year-old man is $5 million richer after he purchased a $5,000,000 CASHWORD scratch-off ticket after stopping at a gas station, Florida Lottery officials confirmed Tuesday.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis makes appearance in Winter Haven
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis makes appearance in Winter HavenCopyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. โ Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference at 2 p.m. Friday at the Polk County Sheriffโs Office in Winter Haven. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526.
Worldโs first Peppa Pig theme park coming to Florida
Read full article: Worldโs first Peppa Pig theme park coming to FloridaWINTER HAVEN, Fla. โ If youโre the parent of a child under the age of 7, thereโs a good chance youโve heard the words โPeppa Pigโ once (or dozens of times) during the quarantine. The good news is that in 2022, youโll be able to take your Peppa Pig-loving kid to an entire theme park dedicated to the British piglet and brand. In 2022, the worldโs first Peppa Pig theme park is coming to Legoland Florida Resort. Families will also be able to meet Peppa and her friends at the theme park during their stay. Annual passes to Peppa Pig Theme Park will be available as standalone memberships or inclusive passes that will also grant admission to LEGOLAND Theme Park, LEGOLAND Water Park, and other regional Merlin Entertainments attractions.
Pythons from Florida Everglades could help produce vaccines, researcher says
Read full article: Pythons from Florida Everglades could help produce vaccines, researcher saysEVERGLADES, Fla. โ A python hunter and a researcher believe the help in the fight against COVID-19 is hiding in the Florida Everglades. Dustin Crum and Daryl Thompson, a researcher, and entrepreneur with Global Research and Discovery Group out of Winter Haven, said the invasive Burmese python contains squalene, a compound thatโs commonly used in vaccines. Thatโs enough to make about 3,500 vaccinations.โโWe have a lot of snakes in the Everglades,โ Crum said. Currently, the compound is not on the Food and Drug Administrationโs list of ingredients in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. I also agree that pythons in the everglades are a major problem.
Florida mother, infant missing for weeks
Read full article: Florida mother, infant missing for weeksWINTER HAVEN, Fla. - A Florida mother and her infant daughter have been missing for two weeks and now Winter Haven police are seeking the public's help in locating them. Authorities said Heather Cunniff, 32, and 3-month-old Destiny Cunniff were last seen on Nov. 6 at their home in Winter Haven. "Although we do not suspect foul play, we want to make sure they are both safe since they have not been seen," Chief Charlie Bird said. Anyone who has information concerning their whereabouts is asked to call Sgt. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
17 arrests made in Florida child porn sting; 2 worked for Disney
Read full article: 17 arrests made in Florida child porn sting; 2 worked for DisneyWINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Authorities in central Florida say two Disney workers and a former assistant principal at a middle school were among 17 arrested in a child porn sting. In a news release, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Friday that the 17 men arrested range in age from 19 to 77. Authorities say 52-year-old Walt Disney World Resorts janitor Donald Durr, of Davenport, had images of child porn on an electronic tablet. Investigators say 40-year-old Brett Kinney, of Lake Alfred, told officers he had an addiction to child pornography and worked as a guest experience manager at Disney World. In a statement, Disney says Kinney is no longer employed by the company and Durr is on unpaid leave.
Deputies: Teen gamer arrested after posting violent threats
Read full article: Deputies: Teen gamer arrested after posting violent threatsWINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Investigators in Florida have arrested a 17-year-old gamer who they say made violent and disturbing online threats to kill and stab multiple people. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news release that tips from users of the Discord text-chat site led detectives to the teen, who was arrested Wednesday. He says the teen admitted to making the threats after becoming jealous of other gamers. Officials say the teen wrote that he was "going to kill so many people," adding that he wanted to stab people and "make them hurt." Another text said he gets happy when he imagines himself "being a villain going on a mass murdering spree like in a movie."
Legoland Florida offers discounted tickets to help Hurricane Dorian relief
Read full article: Legoland Florida offers discounted tickets to help Hurricane Dorian reliefWINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Legoland Florida will be offering discounted tickets with proceeds going to help those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. On Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8, the Florida theme park will sell single-day tickets for just $25. The park will donate $10 from each ticket to the American Red Cross to be used for relief efforts. Legoland will also serve as a collection point for guests who wish to donate nonperishable goods, water, toiletries, baby products, radios, batteries, candles and bedding to those in the Bahamas. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
Police: Driver nearly hits officer with car, passenger shot
Read full article: Police: Driver nearly hits officer with car, passenger shotWINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Authorities say a Florida police officer shot and wounded a passenger in a car that nearly hit the officer. One officer stood in front of the vehicle while another approached the drivers door. Police say the driver, 23-year-old Douglas Davis Jr., was ordered out of the vehicle but stepped on the accelerator. Police say the officer in front of the car fired through the windshield, hitting a backseat passenger in the shoulder. Investigators say Davis and two passengers fled on foot.