Daycare owner charged after cops say she beat girl with belt

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A Gainesville daycare owner has been arrested after authorities say she beat a girl with belt for soiling her pants. According to an arrest report Ethel Mae Norman was charged with child abuse Friday. A mother told police that one of her three children said Norman got angry at the 2-year-old […]

Rangers catch grizzly suspected in Yellowstone hiker death

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) – Rangers caught a grizzly bear that they believe was involved in the first fatal bear attack in Yellowstone National Park since 2011, a park spokeswoman said. The man’s body was found last Friday near Lake Village after he went hiking alone off-trail, without bear spray. The National Park Service hasn’t released […]

US Postal Service reports $586M net loss for spring

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service on Monday reported a net loss of $586 million this spring, a big improvement for the cash-strapped agency compared to a nearly $2 billion loss during the same period last year. Postal officials said the loss was mitigated largely because interest rates, which are associated with worker’ compensation […]

Gator captured after attacking, biting off swimmer’s arm

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Authorities have captured and killed an 8-foot, 9-inch alligator that bit off an Orlando woman’s arm while she was swimming. Florida wildlife officials say Rachael D. Lilienthal, 37, was swimming in Wekiva River on Saturday when the gator attacked her, biting her twice. A kayaker struck the alligator with a paddle, […]

Diet Pepsi gets rid of aspartame, but will customers return?

NEW YORK (AP) – A revamped Diet Pepsi without aspartame is popping up on store shelves. So will people start flocking back to the soda? PepsiCo says its new Diet Pepsi should be available nationally this week. In response to customer feedback, the company said earlier this year that it would replace the aspartame in […]

FMPD arrests 2 in undercover drug deals

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Two suspected drug dealers are now under arrest. Pedro Murphy, 39, and Schylea Williams, 49, were taken into custody as a result of a search warrant at a home on the 2700 block of Market Street. Authorities say undercover drug purchases were made from the residence over several weeks. Murphy is facing multiple counts of […]

Families call off private search for missing teens

TEQUESTA, Fla. (AP) – The families of two Florida boys who went missing at sea have called off their private search and are starting a foundation to promote youth boating education. The families of Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos announced with great sadness Sunday that they had called off their private search, which included helicopter, […]

Driver involved in crash with deputy now in custody

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- The driver who was involved in a serious crash with a Collier County deputy is now in the Collier County Jail. Vanessa Wagenman, 32, is facing several charges including fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphenlia after deputies found a crack pipe and scale in […]

Man breaks into massage parlor, steals cash register

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is looking for a man who broke into a massage parlor early Saturday morning and left with the entire cash register. Deputies responded to Assuage Massage, located at 9704 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, around 6:20 a.m. on Saturday after the alarm was set off. Detectives say a man […]