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DELAND -- The a beauty shop near DeLand was robbed of beauty supplies late Friday afternoon by two women, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

Courtesy photo. Gov. Charlie Crist presents his monthly which in this installment deals with increasing student learning and quality education opportunities.

ORLANDO – Governor Charlie Crist today signed Florida’s overall application for $1.1 billion of the $4.35 billion federal dollars available through the Race to the Top competition while visiting Mollie E. Ray Elementary School in Orlando.

ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A 51-year-old woman found dead in her home Tuesday morning has been ruled a homicide victim, and Volusia County Sheriff's investigators have named a former co-worker of hers a "person of interest" in the slaying.

I like being a "girl." I like all the attributes associated with my gender, too. Girls have compassion, intuition, and are nurturing by nature. Girls can giggle and flirt. Girls can cry and pout. Girls can wear lipstick and paint their toenails red.

We live in a fractious world with countries always fighting with each other over every little thing. You start to wonder why there's so much hate.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Former Developmental Services Director Mark Rakowski, shown here in this November photo, received nearly $60,000 as part of a severance package when his job was eliminated last month. Looking on in the background is former mayoral candidate Marilee Walters, an outspoken critic of municipal spending.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Developmental Services Director Mark Rakowski saw his job eliminated last month, but he won't have to wait in an umemployment line any time soon.

NSBNEWS.net obtained his severance amount through a public records request, showing he was paid a whopping $59,703.23.

When informed of the payout and the breakdown in costs for Rakowski, the city's chief planner, City Commissioner Jim Hathaway said he was "embarrassed."

"Giving him a whole year's income to look for another job -- it's crazy," said Hathaway, the senior member of the commission in his 15th year.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed how many fat, angry Americans are featured in the public eye and political arena these days.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Pam Brangaccio and the City Commission have agreed on a new contract that will pay her $120,000 annually.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- City Commissioner Judy Reiker brought up the artificial Christmas tree on Canal Street as a comparative difference in justifying the difference between the $120,000 salary City Manager Pam Brangaccio ultimately received Tuesday night, which was $10,000 more than what the elected body sought to pay her just a week ago.