I-TEAM: Arrest of former DEA task force officer has possible ties to the arrest of FHP trooper
The I-TEAM has been digging into the allegations against a former Nassau County Sergeant, who was also a DEA task force officer, and found possible ties to another drug investigation resulting in the arrest of a longtime Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
How law enforcement agencies are recruiting future officers in a difficult climate
Small towns and big cities alike are struggling to recruit and retain law enforcement officers amid national controversy over the police profession. Many veteran officers are retiring, leaving agencies in a bidding war for qualified candidates — as they try to hire the next generation to protect and serve.
Derailment training in Nassau County gives first responders hands-on experience in case of chemical spill
During a multi-day hands-on training course starting Wednesday, dozens of local first responders from both Florida and Georgia are learning exactly what to do if a train derails, causing hazardous chemicals to spill.
Commissioners vote to terminate Fernandina Beach city manager, appoint former police chief
Fernandina Beach city commissioners on Tuesday voted to terminate the employment of Dale Martin as its city manager, and with a 5-0 vote they approved appointing Mark Foxworth, former chief of the Fernandina Beach Police Department, as the interim replacement.
Another main suspect in ‘Operation Lucky 777s’ captured, extradited to Clay County, investigators say
A California man considered by law enforcement to be a major player in an organized drug ring that trafficked multiple kilo quantities of fentanyl into Clay County has been taken into custody, News4JAX has learned.
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office releases bodycam footage from deadly shooting of woman holding ‘BB-style rifle’
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday released body camera footage from early Jan. 11 when, according to the sheriff, a deputy shot and killed a woman who was “holding a BB-style rifle.”
After winning 12th state title, West Nassau cheerleading is after national, world championships
There are a few high school sports dynasties in our area. Bolles swimming and St. Johns Country Day girls soccer jump right to mind. But we should include the cheerleading program at West Nassau in that list.
N.Y. county GOP leaders call for Rep. Santos’s resignation over fabrications
Nassau County Republicans called on Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to resign immediately after the freshman admitted he fabricated key details of his background and failed to explain questions about his campaign finances.
washingtonpost.comTurning pain into passion: Amelia Island woman named 2023 National NF Ambassador for the Children’s Tumor Foundation
Michelle Holbrook was diagnosed with Schwannomatosis, a type of neurofibromatosis also known as “NF,” at the age of 30. The disease causes tumors to develop throughout her body and she said she had dozens.
State declines formal charges against former Fernandina Beach detective who was accused of sexual battery
The State Attorney’s Office has declined to file formal charges against a former Fernandina Beach Police Department (FBPD) detective, who in June was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, according to court documents obtained Thursday by News4JAX.
Prosecutors release recording of Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers when he pulled over his accused killer Patrick McDowell
The State Attorney’s Office on Monday released another batch of evidence in their case against Patrick McDowell, who is accused of shooting and killing Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers.
Nassau County voters approve 1 mill property tax for schools
Nassau County voters approved a 1 mill increase in property taxes to raise money to attract and retain high-quality teachers and staff, and enhance art, athletics, safety and security for students. The county expects it would raise $13.7 million each year.
Custody dispute over 1-year-old child sparked Christmas Day shooting of Long Island parents by their bodybuilder son: cops
A Christmas morning custody fight sparked a Brooklyn bodybuilder to shoot his wealthy parents, emptying his weapon before beating his wounded dad with the gun inside the family’s Long Island mansion, according to Nassau County police. Dino Tomassetti, 29, was due for arraignment Wednesday on charges of attempted murder after a New Jersey extradition hearing sent the suspect back to Long ...
news.yahoo.comChristmas morning shooting just the latest drama for wealthy Long Island family with ties to corruption
The Christmas Day shooting of a fabulously wealthy Long Island couple by their hulking bodybuilder son is only the latest chapter in the saga of a family whose lives would check all the boxes for a reality cable TV show. There’s the hardworking, company-owning husband, the trophy wife matron of the house, their go-his-own-way son who strayed far from the family business, and the stately Nassau ...
news.yahoo.comWhy Republicans Won in a New York County Where Democrats Outnumber Them
It wasn’t the high taxes in Nassau County, or the recent changes to New York’s bail laws that drove Lizette Sonsini, a former Democrat, to vote Republican this year. Her reasons were more overarching. “I don’t like the president, and the Democrats are spending too much money on things like infrastructure, when really we need politicians who are going to bring more money back into this country,” said Sonsini, 56, of Great Neck. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times “Maybe if
news.yahoo.comBidding wars are off the charts, as home listings fall to a record low
Presidents Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the spring housing market, but if you're looking to get in this year, hold onto your wallet. Bidding wars are off the charts, even as home prices are rising rapidly. About 40% of potential buyers cited that in a new survey by the National Association of Home Builders. Well over half of all buyers, 56%, faced bidding wars on their offers in January, according to a Redfin survey. "With so few new listings hitting the market, I expect bidding wars to become more common and involve even more potential buyers as we head into the spring homebuying season," said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin.
cnbc.comHomeowners and buyers are the real winners in this election
"Interest rates dropped to another record low this week ... because of uncertainty around the election results," said George Ratiu, senior economist at realtor.com. Volatility surrounding the 2020 presidential election has helped push mortgage rates to their 12th record low this year, giving both homeowners and buyers a boost. Mortgage rates follow loosely the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury. For homebuyers, consistently low rates over the past several months, and the almost weekly prospect of rates falling even lower, have only fueled already strong demand. In Denver, for example, record low inventory of less than a one-month supply pushed prices to yet another record high.
cnbc.comMortgage rates set yet another record low, but applications fall
Borrowers are clearly used to hearing that mortgage rates set another record low because last week's dip did nothing to spur mortgage demand. The volume of applications for mortgages decreased 0.7% for the week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. The new record low was also such a tiny move that it clearly had little impact. Housing demand continues to be incredibly strong, driven by record low interest rates and a pandemic-induced need to nest in larger homes with space for work and schooling. Mortgage rates didn't move much at all to start this week and have little incentive to make any move right now since no major economic reports are imminent.
cnbc.comHomes sold two weeks faster in September due to unusual surge in demand
In the first read on September demand, homes sold 12 days faster than they did a year ago, according to realtor.com. Homes usually sell 25% faster in September than at the start of the year, but this year they sold 39% faster. Regionally, properties in the Northeast spent 13 fewer days on the market than last year, while those in the South sold 11 days faster. In the Midwest it took nine fewer days to sell a home and seven fewer in the West. In the 50 largest metropolitan housing markets, the typical home sold in 44 days, 10 days faster than last year.
cnbc.comHome prices rose 4.8% in July, according to Case-Shiller index
Nationally, home values rose 4.8% annually, up from a 4.3% gain in June, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. The 20-City Composite rose 3.9% annually, up from 3.5% in June. Phoenix prices rose 9.2%, followed by Seattle with a 7% increase and Charlotte with a 6% increase. "In previous months, we've noted that a trend of accelerating increases in the National Composite Index began in August 2019. This index is actually a three-month running average, so it incorporates prices from May, June and July.
cnbc.comCoronavirus pandemic fuels affordability crisis for homebuyers
Fierce competition for a limited supply of homes for sale has caused a surge in prices. Now, potential buyers, some fleeing urban areas hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, are facing a national affordability crisis. Home prices are rising faster than incomes there, but for now at least, homes are still affordable. As homebuying becomes less affordable, buyers are getting by with a little help from friends and family. About 59% of millennial homebuyers are receiving help with their mortgage down payment according to a recent report from Lending Tree.
cnbc.comMasks donated by Apple and Facebook for health workers were stockpiled after wildfire regulations
The World Health Organization declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic on March 11. When large tech companies including Apple and Facebook announced this week that they'd be donating stockpiles of protective masks to health workers around the world, some people may have wondered why they had them in the first place. Masks are in short supply around the world as the coronavirus spreads and threatens to overwhelm health systems in the U.S. Apple said it is donating 9 million protective masks and other equipment to health workers in the U.S. and Europe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told health workers last week that they can use homemade masks "in settings where facemasks are not available."
cnbc.com83 New York residents placed in self-quarantine after returning from coronavirus-stricken China
People wear medical masks as a precaution against coronavirus, walking around the in the streets of New York, United States on January 30, 2020. Nassau County health officials said Wednesday that they have placed 83 Americans who recently returned to New York from China in self-quarantine due to concerns they were exposed to the new coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified local officials that a plane was carrying Nassau County residents with "potential exposure" to the virus, Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein told reporters. Potential exposure, in this case, means that they had traveled to China in the past 14 days. He added that because "almost all" of the returnees are Nassau County residents, "in most cases" they are voluntarily quarantined at home.
cnbc.com