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Casey sentencing: Back to jail

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ORLANDO -- Saying there were "four distinct separate lies," Circuit Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Casey Anthony to four consecutive one-year sentences and a $1,000 fine on each of four misdemeanor counts of lying to police.

Asked if she wanted to say anything before sentencing, Anthony, through her defense counsel declined. That's consistent with her silence during the high profile trial that led the jury to find her not guilty of capital murder or any of the lesser included felony charges in the death of her toddler daughter, Caylee.

The judge handed down the maximum possible punishment of four consecutive one-year sentences for each of the four misdemeanors for which the the jury found her guilty. The misdemeanors were for lying to police. Anthony was also slapped with a $1,000 fine on each of the counts. In reality, she'll be out of jail before summer's end.  

Casey sentence: Concurrent or consecutive?

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ORLANDO -- Casey Anthony is looking at two distinct scenarios when she is sentenced at 9 a.m. by Circuit Judge Belvin Perry for the four misdemeanors of lying to police: A concurrent sentence, which with gain time would mean she'd be free later today. A consecutive sentence, could mean time behind bars.

Independence Day: Count your freedoms

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Independence Day is especially significant this year as we wave yet another farewell to the freedoms guaranteed in its original promise. No longer a government of, by or for the people, we have a topsy-turvy, Alice-in-Wonderland, tea-partying America presided over by a plutocracy of tax-evading billionaires whose sole ambition is to oust, rather than respect, our elected president.

Thousands enjoy spectacular fireworks show in Edgewater

 

NSBNews.net videos by Sera Frederick and Henry Frederick

EDGEWATER -- While 10,000 or so heads were craned to the brightened skies of red, blue and green and the "kaboom" sound, 3-year-old Carmine Smith was more focused on his sparkler as he twirled it around.

 

Fourth of July troubled politically

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This year we celebrate once again the anniversary of our declaration of independence from the British Empire. 2011 is the 235th time we have marked July 4th and on Monday, as we mark it again we are far and away the richest and most powerful nation the world has ever seen.

Casey Anthony trial: Not guilty of murder

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Editor's Note: Your opinions are welcomed in the comment section of the story. 

ORLANDO -- The jury has reached a verdict in the high-profile trial against Casey Anthony: Not guilty of murder.

I will adjudge you to be not guilty," Circuit Judge Belvin Perry told a sobbing Anthony on the primary charge of capital murder as she stood before him with her attorneys after the jury's verdicts were announced in a hushed courtroom.

The judge set sentencing for 9 a.m. on Thursday on four misdemeanor guilty verdicts of lying to police, which could result in up to four years in jail, if sententenced consecutively. More likely, the judge would sentence her concurrently to a 364-day maximum sentence, and with time already served, set her free. Lead defense attorney Jose Baez told the media: "There are no winners in this case," adding, "Cesey did not murder Caylee. It's that simple."

2-year-old Orlando boy drowns in Daytona Beach Shores hotel pool; becomes 7th small child in Volusia County to die in pools

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- The drowning of a 2-year-old boy in a hotel pool on this Fourth of July holiday is tragic enough if it weren't for the sad fact that he has become the seventh small child to drown so far this year in Volusia County.

Police responded to a 12:15 p.m. 9-1-1 call of a child drowning in the outdoor pool at the Oceanside Inn, 1909 S. Atlantic Ave. The toddler, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead on arrival at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

"The child went unnoticed under water for nine minutes," Sgt. Mike Fowler said, the time calculated by police in reviewing video surveillance of the pool deck area. Fowler said several family members were with the boy, but added he was unable to provide any further details as to who was actually watching the child, if anyone.

"All I can tell you at this point is surveillance video showed he was under water for nine minutes," said Fowler, the department's spokesman, who was not on duty and received information second hand for media inquiries.

Fowler, whose youngest childest is 4, said of this seventh drowning, "It's certainly a tragic story. A sad ending to the holiday weekend."

Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Harry JenningsNSBNews.net reached out to Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Harry Jennings for his reaction to the holiday tragedy and the mounting death toll of little ones.

Dad charged with leaving 4-year-old son in car while grocery shopping in Deltona

Courtesy photo / Shelton Cover was being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail after being charged with leaving his 4-year-old son alone in a car.

DELTONA -- A South Florida man was arrested Sunday afternoon when it was discovered that he had left a 4-year-old boy alone in his Toyota Camry rental for at least 13 minutes while he went into a grocery store.

"The boy was unharmed, but was in potential danger in a warm car with the windows rolled up, the car off and the doors locked," Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said of the incident in the Publix Shopping Center, 2783 Elkcam Blvd.

Shelton Cover, 32, of Hollywood, was charged with leaving a child younger than 6 unattended, a felony.

The boy was unharmed and turned over to his mother who was called to the scene by deputies. A concerned citizen saw Cover get out of his vehicle in the parking lot of the Publix at about 2:39 p.m. Cover went into the store, leaving the boy in the back seat alone Haught said.

"Deputies and the Deltona Fire Department were called to the scene where they saw the boy sweating and nervous but alert," the Sheriff's spokesman said. "It was 86 degrees with a 90 degree heat index at the time. Firefighters pried open a door, got the boy out and had him checked out by EVAC Ambulance paramedics."

Poll: NASCAR loses out to hot dog eating contest

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) in crash at 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashes in the 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway as shown in the 1st video. The 2nd video highlights his big win in the 2001 race.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In the wake of yet another no-name driver winning at Daytona International Speedway and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s post-race tirade about the state of restrictor-plate racing, a pre-race poll taken by ESPN showing sports fans prefer the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest to NASCAR's weekend racing speaks volumes about the waning interest in motorsports.