Local News Now

Headline Surfer video produced by Sera King / Mark O'Mara, lead defense counsel for accused murderer George Zimmerman in the gunshot slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, addresses the media after the latest bail hearing at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Florida. 

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

SANFORD, Fla. -- Had the judge in the George Zimmerman murder trial refused bail -- which he ultimately set at $1 million -- his defense team could have resorted to a legal maneuver that would have ramped up the high-profile case even more for both sides: a demand for a speedy trial.

ORLANDO -- A 7-year-old boy was struck by at least one vehicle late Monday night in the westbound lanes of Silver Star Road near Orlando West Drive in Pine Hills and pronounced dead at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children a short time later in an apparent hit-and-run, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

"At this time troopers are sorting out who left the scene," FHP spokesman Sgt. Kim Montes said of the 10:15 p.m. fatality.

Private attorneys Raven Sword and Katherine Hurst Miller, shown left to right respectively, along with assistant public defender Steven Gosney, will have a hand in helping to choose candidates to serve on the bench in Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties.

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Steven N. Gosney, Katherine Hurst Miller and Raven E. Sword to the 7th judicial circuit nominating commission.

Chipper Jones, shown here in a photo from his website, was all smiles at Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City, Mo., hitting a single in the 6th inning.

PIERSON -- Chipper Jones -- the pride of Pierson, Florida --  rallied his National League All-Stars in a pre-game speech Tuesday night before they took to the field in Kansas City and shut out their American League counterparts, 8-0.

Headline Surfer photos by Sera Frederick / A series of public debates in 2009 in New Smyrna Beach, including this one at the Brannon Center, headlined by the race for mayor between then-incumbent Sally Mackay and Adam Barringer, who won the election that year, drew hundreds of citizens. Headline Surfer is the first media outlet in Volusia County to hold public debates this election season, again at the Brannon Center. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Headline Surfer will hold seven media-style debates on July 21 at the Brannon Center that will include and encourage public participation with the candidates.

The arrow points to the Papa Johns restaurant outside the DeLand city limits where an employee was robbed by a lone gunman.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the armed robbery of an employee of a North Woodland Boulevard pizzeria who had the night deposit cash on him when a gun was shoved in his face as he was getting into his vehicle.

Deputies arrived within 3 minutes of the 1:52 a.m. Saturday 9-1-1 call made by the victim outside the Papa Johns.

"Once there, deputies learned that an employee was getting into his car when a stranger emerged from an adjacent parking lot, thrust a gun through the passenger side window of the victim’s car, pointed the weapon at the victim and demanded his money," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The victim immediately complied and handed over a bag containing the cash for the night deposit."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I want to offer something that is rare in these contentious times: praise for and thanks to those who serve the public and community. This particular message of thanks is not directed to our first responders. They get lots of well-deserved praise.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Tony Stewart stayed clear of the carnage in tonight's Coke Zero 400 to take the checkered flag for his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory of the season.

"I don't even remeber what happened in the last lap," Stewart said, when asked about the multitude of wrecks including one on the final lap. "Anytime you win at Daytona it's special."

Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., who got caught up in the biggest pile-up, to finish 15th, said of the wreckfest, "I was getting shoved. It was pretty wild. We were all running into each other."