Southeast

Florida teenager arrested after bringing gun on school bus, showing it to other riders: deputies

Published

6 months ago

February 12, 2024

Florida teenager arrested after bringing gun on school bus, showing it to other riders: deputies

A teenager is in custody in Florida after bringing a handgun onto a school bus last month, according to authorities.

Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis announced during a news conference Thursday that a 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with reports of a gun on a school bus and at Springstead High School on Jan. 12.

Nienhuis said the campus’ school resource deputy was informed by students on Jan. 16 of the gun on campus four days prior.

Deputies began looking into surveillance footage from the bus and the school, and discovered the teenager did appear to have a handgun on the bus and was showing it to other riders.

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A 16-year-old boy in Hernando County, Florida, is in custody after authorities said he brought a gun onto a school bus and showed it to other riders. (Hernando County Sheriff’s Office)

Neinhuis also shared that the sheriff’s office had actually encountered the boy at around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 12 while investigating a stolen vehicle at Mariner’s Cay Apartments. When he was approached by deputies, the teen allegedly pushed one of them out of the way and then fled on foot before ultimately fleeing in the car and crashing it on Mariner Boulevard.

While working to determine if the gun seen in the surveillance footage from the bus was real and functional, deputies learned of a 17-year-old wounded in an unintentional shooting on Jan. 31. Though the shooter in that incident was not the teenager who brought the gun to school, Nienhuis said the gun had the same markings as the one seen in surveillance footage.

The sheriff’s office also said the gun had been in the possession of several people between the day it was on the school bus and the day it was used in the shooting.

“We are obviously concerned it may have been stolen,” Nienhuis said of the gun in question, adding that the department is still trying to determine where it came from.

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During the news conference, the sheriff applauded the students who came forward and reported the weapon on school grounds, but stressed the importance of coming forward immediately instead of waiting a few days.

Nienhuis said the shooting of the 17-year-old, who he described as a “good student” who was never getting into trouble, might have been prevented had authorities been informed of the gun earlier.

“Now he is the victim of a gunshot wound because of a gun that was being passed around,” the sheriff said. “The bottom line is students need to step up and let us know when something like this happens.”

Zoomed in picture of handgun on school bus

The gun seen on surveillance footage on the school bus was also used in an accidental shooting nearly two weeks later by a different person. (Hernando County Sheriff’s Office)

Hernando School District Superintendent John Stratton also addressed the incident at the news conference, adding that weapons on campus “will not be tolerated.”

“If you’re bringing a weapon onto any of our campuses or properties you will be expelled, and you will face possible arrest in that process,” Stratton said.

The 16-year-old was arrested on Wednesday and charged with possessing or discharging weapons or firearms in school-sponsored events or on school property. He was transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Ocala, where he remains in custody.

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Southeast

Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

Published

5 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

If you are traveling to Mississippi, there is no shortage of activities to take part in during your travels.

Mississippi is filled with ravishing natural beauty and museums where you can take a deeper dive into history.

In Mississippi, there is something for everyone, from scenic hikes to testing your luck at the blackjack table at one of the state’s numerous casinos.

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Use this guide as inspiration for stops to make during your trip to Mississippi.

Visit one of the state’s many museums
Head to the casino
Relax on Biloxi Beach
Visit Vicksburg National Military Park
See Windsor Ruins
Go to Longwood
Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
Take kids to Mississippi Aquarium
Go to the birthplace of Elvis Presley

Mississippi is home to many different attractions tourists enjoy, like a large aquarium and the house where Elvis Presley was born. (Getty Images)

1. Visit one of the state’s many museums

Mississippi is home to many different museums throughout the state.

One popular one to visit is the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.

The Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum, according to its website. The museum is filled with exhibits that explore the history of blues music. Check the museum’s website to see the exhibits that will be running during your visit.

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Another museum located in Mississippi is the GRAMMY Museum. This museum can be found in Cleveland. The 28,000-square-foot museum has more than 24 exhibits that cover different music genres, from rock to hip-hop to country, according to its website.

2. Head to the casino

Mississippi has many different luxurious casinos throughout the state where you can play slot machines and table games.

One of the most popular to visit is Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi. In addition to the games you can play, there are also many dining opportunities and a hotel on-site if you want to stay at the casino.

There is live entertainment at the casino, too, so be sure to check in and see who will be playing prior to your visit.

3. Relax on Biloxi Beach

Biloxi Beach is a popular tourist attraction in Mississippi.

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You can take a walk in the sand along the beach after visiting Beau Rivage Casino.

While at the beach, you can also enjoy many of the main fishing spots and grab a bite at one of the delicious seafood restaurants by the beach.

For great views of the beach 24 hours a day, stay at one of the many beachside hotels with quick access to the sandy shore.

Biloxi Beach is a great fishing spot in Mississippi. (Barry Lewis/InPictures via Getty Images)

4. Visit Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park is full of Civil War history. The Vicksburg campaign was a success for the Union Army, according to History.com, and one of the longest campaigns of the Civil War.

The Vicksburg Campaign began in 1862 and continued until July 4, 1863, with the Confederate surrender, according to the National Parks Service.

Today, you can visit Vicksburg National Military Park and see the 1,325 historic monuments and markers that fill the location, according to NationalParks.org.

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You can also find a restored Union gunboat, the USS Cairo, here and the Vicksburg National Cemetery.

5. See Windsor Ruins

Not far from Port Gibson is Windsor Ruins.

This location is where the Windsor plantation once stood but was destroyed by a fire in 1890, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Today, there are 23 columns left standing.

The Windsor Ruins is a free destination you can visit on your vacation. (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

You may recognize the ruins from the movies they have been featured in: “Raintree County” and “Ghost of Mississippi.”

Guests can visit the ruins during operating hours at no cost.

6. Go to Longwood

Longwood is a mansion in Natchez.

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The mansion is unique in its octagonal shape and an attraction that many tourists make time to see while they are visiting the state.

Guests can take a tour of Longwood seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the Visit Natchez website.

7. Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic road that runs through three different U.S. states: Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.

Take a scenic drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway during your trip to Mississippi. (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

There are many places to hike or bike along the trail.

If you enjoy camping, there are numerous places to pitch a tent on the trail after a long day of hiking or driving.

8. Take kids to Mississippi Aquarium

The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport is a great destination for kids and adults alike.

This aquarium provides hours of family fun with so much to see during your visit.

This aquarium features an alligator habitat, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a freshwater river and a touch pool for guests to get up-close to horseshoe crabs, baby sharks and more.

For an additional cost, guests can also book special encounters with dolphins, penguins and others.

9. Go to the birthplace of Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935.

If you are a fan of the King of Rock and Roll, stop at the two-room house where Presley was born.

When the house was originally built by his father, $180 was used to put together the home, according to Visit Mississippi.

The house is now part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park.

Here you can also find the “Elvis at 13” statue, a popular photo stop on the property, and Presley’s childhood church.

Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital.

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Southeast

Shark bite reported at Hilton Head Island resort is first reported shark bite of year on island

Published

12 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Shark bite reported at Hilton Head Island resort is first reported shark bite of year on island

A beachgoer is recovering after being treated for a “probable shark bite” Monday at a resort on Hilton Head Island.

Shore Beach Patrol officials told WSAV News 3 it happened shortly after noon Monday near beach marker 26 in the Sea Pines Resort.

Lifeguards claimed the beachgoer exited the water and was bleeding but had the wound under control.

Officials did not release the name or age of the female victim but confirmed to News 3 she did not need to be taken to a hospital.

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A shark apparently bit a man in the waters off Hilton Head Island, S.C., Friday, officials said. (Fox News Digital)

The area of the reported shark bite was closed for about 30 minutes until officials could make sure the area was safe and secure.

According to Shore Beach Services, this marks the first reported shark bite of the year on Hilton Head, but officials said “there was another possible shark bite early this year that wasn’t confirmed.”

The only other shark attack reported on Hilton Head Island happened in 2023.

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Beachgoers in bathing suits at Hilton Head beach

A beachgoer is recovering after what’s being called a “likely shark bite” in the waters off Hilton Head Island. (Fox News Digital)

In that incident, a shark apparently bit a 60-year-old man in the waters off Hilton Head Island.

The swimmer was reportedly bitten on the foot while in waist-deep water at the beach in Sea Pines, the Town of Hilton Head Island Government previously told Fox News Digital.

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A shark bite was reported at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island Monday. (Fox News Digital)

In 2022, there were 57 reported unprovoked shark bites on humans worldwide, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. Of those unprovoked bites, 41 occurred in the United States.

According to the International Shark Attack File, there have been 76 shark attacks reported in South Carolina since 2012.

The top 10 most dangerous beaches are all in Florida, according to Simmrin Law’s report. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, broke into the top 25. That location had 24 surf zone deaths and shark attacks and 33 hurricanes, according to Fox Tampa.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Shore Beach Services for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Chris Eberhart contributed to this report.

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Southeast

Riley Gaines touts Marsha Blackburn as 'fearless advocate for female athletes' in GOP senator's campaign ad

Published

20 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Riley Gaines touts Marsha Blackburn as 'fearless advocate for female athletes' in GOP senator's campaign ad

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EXCLUSIVE: Riley Gaines expressed her support for Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s re-election bid on Wednesday and appeared in a new campaign ad touting the lawmaker’s stance on women’s sports.

Gaines has been the leader in the movement to protect women’s sports since she competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the NCAA Championships in 2022. The former Kentucky Wildcats swimming star, who hosts OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast, has been to Capitol Hill and college campuses to spread her message.

Riley Gaines (Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK/File)

“In Tennessee, we know the difference between a man and a woman, and we know that men do not belong in women’s sports,” Gaines said in a news release obtained by Fox News Digital.

“As a fearless advocate for female athletes, Senator Blackburn will continue to ensure they are recognized for their accomplishments and protected from the left’s woke identity crisis. I’m on Team Marsha because future generations of girls depend on us to preserve the equality that generations before us fought so hard to achieve.”

In the advertisement, first seen by Fox News Digital, Gaines supports Blackburn in the fight to protect women’s spaces against “woke politics.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin/File)

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“I trained my entire life to be the best,” Gaines says in the clip. “I was one of the fastest women in the entire country. But woke politics made me swim against a man, sharing the pool and the locker room. That’s not just dangerous; it’s degrading.

“Thank God for Marsha Blackburn. No one fights harder to protect us. Marsha Blackburn will always stand for strong women because she’s one of us.”

Gaines told Fox News Digital in a separate statement that Blackburn’s political ferocity made her proud to live in Tennessee.

“Senator Blackburn has been a fierce defender of common sense, traditional values, and women,” Gaines said. “Few are as morally sound and unapologetic as she is. She makes me proud to be a Tennessean.”

Blackburn is so far running against Tres Wittum in the Republican primary, which takes place on Aug 1.

Democrat primary candidates include Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Brown, Gloria Johnson and Civil Miller-Watkins.