Florida
Florida corrections officer accused of using bogus handicap permit at Publix
Juania Lilly (Photo: Polk County Sheriffs Office)
HIGHLANDS CITY, Fla. – A Florida Department of Corrections officer was arrested Thursday after she was caught using a fraudulent handicap permit at Publix, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday morning, a Polk County service officer was on parking patrol at the Publix in Highlands City when he came across a car parked in a handicap spot. The officer asked Lilly if the placard was hers, and she said it belonged to her mother, according to deputies.
“The (officer) ran the placard number, and the information came back to a person who is not Lilly’s mother,” the sheriff’s office said. “The owner of the placard stated she had lost it in April of 2023.”
Deputies also said the placard was expired, but the date was altered “to make it look valid.”
Florida deputies bust driver for allegedly modifying registration decal with permanent marker
A deputy responded to the Publix and spoke with Lilly, who said she obtained the placard when someone left it in her Lyft vehicle. Lilly works as a part-time Lyft driver in addition to working at the Polk Correctional Institute, according to the sheriff’s office.
Furthermore, Lilly then denied that she ever told the service officer the placard belonged to her mother, deputies said.
Lilly was arrested and charged with the following, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office:
- Unlawful display of a disabled parking permit
- Unlawfully altering a motor vehicle registration
- Failure to deliver lost property
- False information to a law enforcement officer during a felony investigation
Florida man wanted for alleged $600 Publix meat heist
Sheriff Grady Judd issued the following statement:
“It’s very disappointing when a public servant not only refuses to cooperate with a law enforcement investigation, but outright lies. She also committed a felony when she decided to alter and use someone else’s handicapped placard. Now she’s going to be held accountable for her crimes.”
The Florida Department of Corrections has been alerted about Lilly’s arrest.
Florida
Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold named in Florida court filing
Florida
Video: Injured Florida manatee rescued by authorities, receiving medical care at ZooTampa
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida
Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters
Trump threatens tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba
Trump warned Cuba to reach an agreement with the U.S. after signing an executive order to impose tariffs on countries that supply the island with oil.
HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.
All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.
The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.
The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.
“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.
Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.
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