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USA Today
21-07-2025
- USA Today
'I didn't see it': Surfer bitten by shark in second attack at Florida beach this month
An 18-year-old surfer was bitten by a shark at New Smyrna Beach in Florida, marking the second such attack at the beach this month. The male victim sustained a shark bite on his foot while surfing on Friday, July 18, Aaron Jenkins, deputy chief of Volusia County Beach Safety, confirmed to USA TODAY. Sam Hollis, a surf instructor, told NBC's Today he was able to swim to safety after the sudden attack that happened "in the blink of an eye." "It just kind of felt like something clamping down really hard, and then it kind of felt hot, because the teeth obviously, you know, started to dig into my skin," Hollis told Today. "I didn't see it beforehand, I didn't hear it or anything. It just kind of yanked me," Hollis told the outlet. It marks the second shark attack this month at the beach, which is known as the self-proclaimed "Shark Bite Capital of the World," according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. On July 6, a 40-year-old man was bitten by a shark on his right forearm as he swam in the ocean, per the News-Journal. So far in 2025, four shark bites have been reported in Volusia County, Jenkins said. Surfer bitten by shark had non life-threatening injuries, officials say Around noon local time on July 18, an 18-year-old male surf camp instructor was paddling to a sandbar when he attempted to jump and push his board over a wave, according to a report of the incident. At that time, the shark bit his left foot, causing lacerations. The surfer kicked the shark on the nose to get it to release from his foot. He told officials he barely saw the shark but said it was large, according to the report. Lifeguards arrived on scene to treat the man, who was then transported to a hospital with "non life-threatening injuries," Jenkins said. Four shark bites in one Florida county this year, officials say Jenkins said the July 18 incident marks the fourth shark bite in Volusia County, Florida, so far this year. Most recently, a 40-year-old man was bitten on his arm at New Smyrna Beach on July 6. He sustained non life-threatening injuries, according to the News-Journal. Volusia County leads the nation in shark bites each year, though they are typically non-fatal, according to data from the International Shark Attack File. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
USA Today
19-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Florida city being billed $271K for unpaid taxes on closed golf course. How come?
Florida city being billed $271K for unpaid taxes on closed golf course. How come? The Volusia County Tax Collector said Ormond Beach owes for taxes and delinquency interest a total of $377,466.69. Citing case law, a judge has ruled that a Florida city is responsible for unpaid property taxes on the shuttered River Bend Golf Course and has ordered a hearing to determine how much the city must pay. Circuit Judge Kathryn Weston issued the ruling on Monday in the legal battle in which Ormond Beach sued Volusia County Property Appraiser Larry Bartlett and Volusia County Tax Collector Will Roberts. Roberts also counter-sued. Ormond Beach owed $271,000 in unpaid taxes, according to Bartlett in a News-Journal story three years ago. The city maintained it was exempt from property taxes because it is a municipality. But Weston cited case law in ruling that since the golf course was leased to a private for-profit business during the time the taxes were levied, it was not exempt from taxes. Weston wrote that the city was responsible for unpaid property taxes. 'Accordingly, the Court finds that Ormond Beach is the proper taxpayer for ad-valorem property taxes imposed on the property,' Weston wrote. Weston ordered the city, property appraiser, and tax collector to coordinate on a date for an evidentiary hearing to determine the amount of taxes the city owed. The city leased the land in 1988 to the River Bend Investment Group which ran the golf course next to the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport. The golf course lease was transferred to Wes and Stacie Norwood of River Bend Management Group LLC in 2010, according to a News-Journal story by Mark Harper. River Bend Management went out of business in 2020, the story stated. Harper wrote in the April 2022 story that Ormond Beach had paid $338,208 in legal fees by the end of March 2022 in the legal battle over the $271,000 in unpaid taxes. The story stated the county had paid the salaries of its staff. River Bend legal fight reaches back to 1997 Weston wrote that a court's 1997 final judgment providing a retroactive public purpose tax exemption for the River Bend golf course property was based on a part of state law found unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court in another case involving the Sebring Airport Authority. 'The Court finds that the property was not exempt from ad valorem taxation while leased to a private entity,' Weston wrote. She noted that the Florida Constitution Article VII Section 3(a) which states that all property owned by a city and 'exclusively used for municipal or public purposes' will be exempt from taxes. But she wrote that a 2009 lease ended Ormond Beach's 'exclusive use and control of the property.' She cited another case in which the 2nd District Court of Appeal to relied on the Sebring case to rule that a for-profit golf course is not a public purpose and therefore not entitled to a property tax exemption. Florida Supreme Court ruling still holds despite notice to River Bend There was also a dispute on whether Ormond Beach had received proper notice that it was being billed for the property taxes. But Weston wrote that the issue didn't change, that the exemption had been ruled unconstitutional by the state's top court. Weston wrote that she was 'unpersuaded that the lack of statutory notice requires this court to grant the very tax exemption that the Florida Supreme Court found unconstitutional' in the Sebring case. River Bend listed as taxpayer in documents Weston was more agreeable to the argument by Ormond Beach that River Bend Management as the leaseholder should be solely responsible for the property taxes from 2013 through 2020. Weston noted that the Property Appraiser's records support this argument. She noted that River Bend Management was listed as the taxpayer in documents in 2013 and 2014 and in Trim notices in 2015, 2016, 207, 2018, 2019 and 2020. She also noted that the Department of Revenue also reasoned that River Bend Management was the taxpayer. 'The court finds these arguments highly persuasive,' Weston wrote. But Weston cited another case, Grove Key Marina LLC versus Casamayor, in which the 3rd District Court of Appeal held that the city alone was responsible for unpaid property taxes on 'municipal property leased to a private entity for non-governmental purposes.' Weston noted that the Department of Revenue argued in its memo that the appeals court wrongly decided the Grove Key case. But she wrote that neither Ormond Beach nor the Department of Revenue had distinguished the River Bend Case from the Grove Key or 'cited contrary case law.' Weston wrote that she was bound by the Grove Key decision unless that was changed by a ruling from the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Group Flags Florida Rep. Randy Fine for ‘Islamophobic' Remarks
A national Muslim organization said on Tuesday, June 10, that it had designated Florida Congressman Randy Fine as an "anti-Muslim extremist" and put him on its "Islamaphobia hate list." Fine, who represents part of Volusia County and all of Flagler County as part of District 6, has criticized the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which made the comments, in the past. The nonprofit, which has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and refers to itself as "the nation's largest Muslim civil rights advocacy organization," said Fine has used "unceasingly violent rhetoric directed at Muslims and Palestinians." The group's announcement focused in part on Fine's recent comments to the News-Journal. The News-Journal asked him about his comments about Gaza on Fox News, which some interpreted to mean that he supported using nuclear weapons there. Fine said, "It shows the sophistication of the Muslim-terror media that they are able to convince people like you to interpret (it that way). ... Now I recognize that half of people in Gaza are married to their cousins, so you're going to find a lot of people with mental defects. But you've got to have a mental defect to interpret the comment that way." CAIR called the comments about Gazans "racist and dehumanizing." "For years, [Rep. Fine] has invoked Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian stereotypes and incited violence against Muslims and Palestinians at home and abroad with impunity," the organization said. The group has also called for Congress to censure Fine and condemn his "dangerously anti-Muslim, anti-American, and anti-Palestinian rhetoric." Fine posted on X on Wednesday: "Hamas front group CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal terrorism trial, just honored me with a 'designation' as an anti-Muslim Terror 'Extremist.' I am profoundly honored to accept this award. Please send it to my Congressional office. We have a spot for it." Fine described CAIR to the News-Journal as a "terrorist front." He said its leader said that the attack on Israel on Oct. 7 made him "happy" and "brought him great joy when it happened. So being criticized by those terrorists is a badge of honor." According to a New York Times report, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad did say at a gathering of American Muslims for Palestine that he was "happy to see" Palestinians break out of Gaza on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. That prompted the White House to distance itself from the group and a spokesman for President Joe Biden to "condemn" the comments, according to the article. Awad, in a statement, said that his comments were taken out of context by 'an anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian hate website' to distort his meaning. He also said in his speech at the gathering that he denounced hate against Jews and called antisemitism 'a real evil' that 'has to be rejected and combated by all people.' In 2024, the Florida House adopted a resolution from Fine "to strongly encourage all executive agencies of the State of Florida, all law enforcement agencies, and all local governments in this state to suspend contact and outreach activities with the Council on American-Islamic Relations." Among other things, the resolution says "the Federal Bureau of Investigation has suspended all formal contacts with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) due to evidence demonstrating a relationship between CAIR and Hamas." The Anti-Defamation League has also criticized CAIR, saying key its leaders "often traffic in openly antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric." It also has accused Awad of once being involved in a now-defunct organization that openly supported Hamas functioned as its "propaganda apparatus," citing the U.S. government. CAIR said it is "not a front group for Hamas, a fund-raising arm for Hezbollah or part of a wider conspiracy overseen by the Muslim Brotherhood or any of the other false and misleading associations our detractors seek to smear us with." It says its "mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Muslim group calls Randy Fine an 'anti-Muslim' extremist
USA Today
07-05-2025
- USA Today
Former Miami, Maryland S Avantae Williams charged with second-degree murder
Former Miami, Maryland S Avantae Williams charged with second-degree murder Show Caption Hide Caption Former Miami Hurricane, Maryland Terrapin charged with Florida murder Avantae Williams, who played football at Miami and Maryland, was in a Volusia County Jail after DeLand police charged him in a fatal May 3 shooting. Former Miami and Maryland football player Avantae Williams has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to a shooting on Saturday, according to a DeLand Police Department news release. Williams — a former top-50 ranked prospect out of DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida — turned himself in to police at a lawyer's office on Monday with no incident, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. As of Wednesday morning, Williams was in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bond, per the News-Journal. Per the DeLand news release, officers responded to a shooting around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday at a bar in DeLand, Florida. Witnesses told investigators a fistfight broke out between several people in the bar, before one of the men pulled out a firearm and started shooting, according to the news release. Police said Keshod Harris, 32, was shot and killed. A bartender was also injured in the shooting, sustaining gunshot wounds to both hands. They were treated with non-life-threatening injuries. As reported by the News-Journal, Harris got into an argument at 1:25 a.m. at McCabe's Bar — less than 20 minutes from Stetson University in Florida — with Damian "D" Ramsey, who was there with Williams and another man, per an affidavit. Harris, Williams and Ramsey had previously left a celebration at the Chisholm Community Center after Harris had arrived there and argued with his girlfriend. The News-Journal reported that Ramsey had previously tried "to be with her romantically," before Saturday's shooting. Per the News-Journal, Harris and Williams began fighting, with Harris punching Williams in the jaw. Ramsey then stood up and punched Harris in the back of the head. Williams pushed Harris away, grabbed a gun from his right pocket and fired into Harris' left rib cage. Williams reportedly ran past Harris, who was motionless on the ground, and shot him in the back before running out of the bar with Ramsey. Harris was pronounced dead after he was transported to AdventHealth DeLand. The News-Journal reported that an autopsy of Harris revealed he had been shot seven times, with six bullets remaining in his body. Williams fled the scene with Ramsey. The News-Journal reports a witness identified Williams from a photo lineup, and that police had picked up an iPhone that Williams set down when he fought Harris. The News-Journal also notes that police used a license plate detection system to identify the vehicle in which Williams left the scene. It was determined to belong to an "associate" of Williams, and was seized as evidence. Williams was the No. 45-ranked player and No. 2 safety of the 2020 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings. He had 30 total tackles in his career across two seasons at Miami and another at Maryland. He last played in 2023.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Deltona teenager admits to trying to poison stepmom with bleach, affidavit states
A 77-year-old Deltona woman poured herself a glass of milk, took a sip and immediately smelled an unusual odor and sensed 'an intense chemical taste.' It turns out the milk had been spiked with bleach. The culprit: her 17-year-old stepson, according to a charging affidavit from the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The stepson was charged with attempted felony murder; aggravated abuse of an elderly person; and poisoning food or water, according to the affidavit. Deputies found that the milk was bubbling when they checked the container. And deputies located the 17-year-old hiding with a dog in a closet in the house on Brickell Drive. The News-Journal is not publishing the teen's name, because he has not been charged as an adult. The investigation began April 19 with a call from the 17-year-old's brother. Deputies responded to the home, where the brother told them his mother and brother had been 'feuding.' He said the 17-year-old two days earlier had threatened to punch and break the stepmother's neck, according to the affidavits. The woman told deputies she was fearful when the teen lunged at her with a raised fist, the affidavit stated. The 17-year-old was charged with assault on a person 65 or older in that case. The 17-year-old is 6-feet-tall and weighs 160 pounds, according to the affidavit. The stepmother is the only person in the home who drinks milk. She told deputies she suspected the stepson poisoned the milk due to their recent conflicts. She did not report immediate symptoms. Deltona Fire and Rescue transported her to a hospital. Deputies checked the milk container, opened it and noticed it was bubbling and had a 'potent chemical odor' consistent with bleach, the affidavit stated. Deputies found a bottle of Clorox bleach in the laundry room. A clear outline in the dust showed the bottle had been recently moved. The label warned of the dangerous chemical, including that it was harmful if swallowed. When deputies questioned the 17-year-old, he admitted to the deed, according to the affidavit. The teenager said he took the bleach from the laundry room, opened the milk container and poured the chemical into the milk, the affidavit stated. He said he could not confirm the quantity but admitted knowing it could harm someone, the affidavit stated. He said he was angry at the stepmother and he no longer wanted to live in the house the affidavit stated. The 17-year-old said he intended to make the stepmother sick, according to the affidavit. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona teen accused of trying to poison stepmom with bleach
