Latest news with #ActionNewsJaxDaily
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
New penalties for using tracking devices like AirTags to commit crimes set to take effect
New penalties for criminals that use tracking devices like AirTags to help them commit crimes will soon hit the books in Florida. An AirTag is just $25 and is small enough to be dropped into a purse or tossed into a vehicle without someone's knowledge. Back in 2022, Action News Jax spoke with Jessica Egger, the mother of a University of North Florida student who was alerted a tracker had been detected on her car. 'It was petrifying. Think as the days go on, and we don't really have any clear answers, it's even scarier,' Egger said at the time. Last year, lawmakers made it a third-degree felony to track another person with devices like AirTags without their consent. Now, starting July 1, criminals who use the trackers to help commit dangerous crimes will face even an harsher punishment. 'Before you had this technology, you think about the effort that had to take place to stalk someone. Now, you can buy one of these things on the internet and have it sent to you and drop it in somebody's purse or drop it in their car in a matter of seconds,' State Sen. Tom Leek (R-St. Augustine) said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Leek sponsored the legislation, which was just signed by the Governor. Under the new law, use of an AirTag or similar device to commit 26 various crimes like stalking, domestic violence, and human trafficking will carry the weight of a second-degree felony, which can land a person 15 years in prison. 'We're trying to catch it. We're trying to stay in front of it. And I think it'll do a lot of good for a lot of people, just simply because the technology is so readily available. It's so easy to misuse it,' Leek said. 'This is going to be the right bill for the time.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Leek noted most phones will automatically alert you if a Bluetooth tracking device like an AirTag is detected moving with you. He said if you don't recognize the device, it's important to call police and locate the device. Leek added it's also important to hold onto the device, so it can be handed over to police to help them identify who the device belongs to. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Four dead after East Palatka mobile home fire; family, community grieving and rallying to help
A fourth person has died after a devastating fire tore through a mobile home in East Palatka earlier this week. Family members confirmed that 27-year-old Carolina Gomez died at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, days after the fire. Her death follows the loss of brothers Fernando Hernandez Mendez, 31, Enrique Hernandez Mendez, 33, and 4-year-old Angel Enrique Diaz Perez, who were found inside the burned home Monday. Gomez's two children — a 7-year-old girl and an 18-month-old boy — remain hospitalized in critical condition. Action News Jax learned the fire is believed to have started with a refrigerator outlet. Since then, a growing number of neighbors and community advocates have stepped in to help. 'They're devastated and still can't process what's happened,' said Cirienia Martinez, a Migrant and Hispanic community advocate who is also translating for the family. 'It's unimaginable.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Martinez said Gomez and her relatives were hardworking people. 'She just wants the community to recognize that,' Martinez said. Outside the scorched home, signs of support continue to grow. The surviving family members are now living in another mobile home nearby, which is filled with donations — food, clothing, and other supplies. 'It's a large family,' said Kellie Mayes, a family friend helping organize relief efforts. 'I figured if we can get the whole community involved, the more the better. They could use all the help they could get right now.' Mayes' own children have been deeply affected. 'We knew them as neighbors. It hurts,' she said. 'My kids are traumatized by it as well.' Donation drives are underway to support the surviving children and extended family members now caring for them. FAMILY STATEMENT: The family is most in need of a place to rent in the East Palatka area and adult clothing/shoes. Donations can continue to be dropped off with any of the community organizers: Kelly Mayes, Cirienia Martinez, and Abed Aldick. Sizes can be found on our community pages on FB. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Court records suggest probe into Jacksonville's alleged illegal gun registry is first of its kind
The State Attorney's Office criminal investigation into an allegedly illegal gun registry kept by the City of Jacksonville might end up being the first time the state's 21-year-old ban on gun registries is leveraged against a local government and or government officials. At least nine current and former city officials have been subpoenaed as part of the investigation so far. Action News Jax investigates was first to uncover how the city began logging the names of people who entered city buildings while carrying concealed firearms. The practice started on July 24, 2023, according to public records. It was 23 days after Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan took office and the state's permitless carry law took effect. The mayor's office has claimed the policy predates her administration, pointing to a draft of the policy dated June 30, 2023. 'This directive was written before Mayor Deegan was sworn into office. It was sent from a city employee to a private security firm, and she was never aware of it. As soon as we found out about it, the practice was stopped,' a spokesperson for the mayor's office told Action News Jax in an emailed statement. 'Proactive measures are currently being taken to review all city policies, the bulk of which were inherited from past administrations, to ensure compliance with state law, and we are reviewing the approval process to ensure there are proper checks and balances moving forward.' On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for anyone responsible for the creation of the city's gun-owner logs to be held responsible. 'Doing these secret gun registries is completely unacceptable,' DeSantis said. Based on records obtained through the Florida court system, Action News Jax has discovered this appears to be the first case of its kind. In our review of the 42 cases dating back to 2004 that cited the section containing the prohibition on gun registries, none of those cases involved local governments or government officials. Now, Jacksonville's apparently unprecedented case is also becoming an issue in the upcoming gubernatorial race. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'Nothing just happens because some low-level staffer did it. So that's why I feel this need to be looked into,' Trump-backed Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL 19th District) said. Congressman Donalds spoke explosively with Action News Jax on Monday. He argued that this issue needs to be front and center for the legislature, Governor, and Attorney General. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'Whoever is responsible for this, in my view, needs to be removed from office because that's a violation of the 2nd Amendment. You're not allowed to do that,' Donalds said. While declining to comment specifically on the Governor and Congressman's statements, the Mayor's Office did comment on the investigation. 'We have full faith and confidence in the State Attorney's investigation, and we continue to fully cooperate,' said a spokesperson with the mayor's office in an emailed statement. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Headed to the Shrimp Fest parade on Friday? What you need to know about road closures, heavy traffic
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival kicks off Friday in Fernandina Beach! The fun starts with the annual parade at 6 p.m. But with any special event, typically comes road closures and heavier traffic. Action News Jax Traffic Anchor Bethany Reese has the details on what roads to avoid. Closures will begin around 4 p.m. South 8th Street will be closed from Ash Street to Centre Street for the parade. Centre Street will be completely closed. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Central Park closes at 4 p.m. The streets around the park will close, including: South 13th Street from Atlantic Avenue to Beech Street. South 11th Street from Atlantic Avenue to Beech Street. Beech Street between South 13th Street and South 11th Street. Atlantic Avenue between South 8th Street and South 13th Street. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Expect really heavy traffic on South 8th Street and South 14th Street as a lot of people will be navigating around the closed area. Roads are expected to reopen between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Sacrificed his life for the children': Army veteran drowns saving relatives off Fernandina Beach
Family and friends are remembering 38-year-old Joshua Curtis as a hero after he drowned saving family members. Now his family said they're remembering him as a hero in life and death. They held a celebration of life for him Tuesday evening at the Hilliard VFW. Action News Jax spoke to Curtis' mother, Dawn Wall, who says Joshua died rescuing his niece and his 6-year-old son from a current during a trip to Fernandina Beach. 'He's a warrior, and he sacrificed his life for the children,' she said. WATCH: Man catches crashes, near misses on video at Avondale intersection near his home Curtis, who is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his son, grew up in Camden County. His wife said he spent 15 years in the Army, earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Curtis and his family eventually settled in Massachusetts, where he lived when he died. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Wall said her son had only been home visiting a few days before he drowned. 'I didn't actually get to see him this time because I was sick, and so he was putting off the visit,' Wall said. Chris Wallace, Curtis' cousin, said he was on his way to meet his cousin at the beach when he got the call that he had died. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'I've always been the big brother to all my siblings; he was pretty much the only big brother figure I had,' Wallace said. 'He was always joyous, I mean, I've never seen him without a smile.' Now, the family will turn their attention to helping Curtis' wife and son. 'It's going to be hard for so many people, but I think all of us together will be able to carry on and be a piece of what he was,' Wallace said. A GoFundMe has been set up to assist Curtis' family. To learn more, click here. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
