Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Debates and the transparency, or lack thereof, of candidates, their handlers and the media is discussed in this episode of The Roundtable, Headline Surfer's online news and public affairs show.

Headline Surfer photo by Serafina Frederick / The ban on texting while driving on the beach as shown here in New Smyrna Beach may be expanded to all Volusia County roadways. The topic was broached Thursday by the County Council.

DELAND -- Volusia County's elected leaders are steadfastly in favor of a countywide ban on texting while driving for all motorists on roadways, including the 16 cities and towns, in addition to the unicorporated areas.

p>The County Council earlier this year adopted such a ban for motorists driving on the county's beaches.

"I certainly think there's no reason not to do that," council member Pat Northey said of pushing for a county ordinance with the municipalities included.

ORLANDO — President Barack Obama improved upon his previous performance in the first presidential debate, going after former Gov. Mitt Romney aggressively, in a debate that saw tense clashes between the two men. But Romney was stronger, again.

Headline Surfer photo by Ben Johnson / The following endorsement for Sheriff Ben Johnson, shown here, comes from Stanley Escudero, chairman of the Volusia County Republican Executive Committee:

My Fellow Volusians,

Ben Johnson has been our county’s chief law enforcement officer since 2000, and has served us well as a valued member of the Sheriff’s Department since 1971.

He is the recipient of a great many honors and awards from his fellow law enforcement officers and state sheriffs’ associations and has given selflessly of his time and energies to serve on charitable boards and in other offices of community service in addition to his decades of hard and dangerous work as sheriff.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- You would think that this being the 21st century, the digital age where people get their news, weather, stocks, pay bills and so forth through the Internet that elections ballots would be crystal clear. While Volusia Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall has been critical of Gov.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Dist. 8 state senate hopeful Frank Bruno was the last major candidate on stage to introduce himself to the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce hob nob crowd Tuesday at the Ocean Center, but he left a big winner, besting his Republican rival Dorothy Hukill, 54 to 46 percent of the 184 votes cast in a straw poll ballot.

EDGEWATER -- As I was going through my daily morning news review, I recognized one thing: the dismissive attitude of the subsidy cutting of public information. Why aren't my fellow Republicans up in arms regarding removing unbiased public information.

Headline Surfer® photo /

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Following an afternoon of glad-handing by candidates for public office at the Ocean Center, mostly between themselves and their campaign volunteers, the results of a Daytona chamber-sponsored straw poll had Mitt Romney beating Barack Obama, with 60 percent of the vote.

But Romney's magic didn't rub off on Republican Dorothy Hukill in the dist. 8 state senate battle with Democrat Frank Bruno, who received 54 percent of the vote to her 46 percent.

The straw poll vote sets the stage for Sunday night's 90-minute Headline Surfer® public candidate debate between Hukill and Bruno at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach.