Serial bank robbery suspect caught
The FBI says a serial bank robbery suspect is now off the streets, a day after he held up a bank in Clay County. Myron Ernst is accused of targeting two Clay County banks in the last month and a half, including a Bank of America in early October, and a SunTrust Bank on Blanding Boulevard yesterday. He’s accused of several other robberies in Florida and Alabama. The Ocala Police Department says they have an attempted armed robbery charge out against Ernst, for an incident on Tuesday. They say he was pulled over on a traffic violation in Lakeland today, and he was taken in to custody at that time.
Democrats continue 2018 election gains in House
In what has almost been a daily event since Election Day last week, Democrats won another GOP seat in the House on Thursday, as a new form of runoff election in Maine knocked off a Republican incumbent, increasing the gains of Democrats to 35 seats, with seven GOP seats still undecided. In Maine, Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) had asked a federal judge to block the final tabulation of results in his district under the format known as “ranked choice voting” – but the judge refused, saying that was a political question, as Maine voters had approved the new runoff format twice in statewide elections. Poliquin is the 26th House GOP incumbent to be defeated in last week’s elections; Democrats lead in three of the seven remaining undecided House races, while Repulbicans are ahead in the other four – as Democrats could win three or four more seats. “Now we’re getting up to forty,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “That’s really a very big – almost a tsunami,” arguing that Democrats had to overcome Republican gerrymanders to notch their victories. At her press conference, Nancy Pelosi notes this year's freshman Dem class is the biggest since 1974 'Watergate babies.' “I don’t know if this Congress will name itself, but we’re almost close to 60 new Democrats,” she says. — Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen) November 15, 2018 Regardless of what term you use to describe the gains by Democrats in the House, it will be the party’s biggest pickup since 1974, a class that was dubbed, “the Watergate babies,” when Democrats gained 49 seats. Overall, there will most likely be over 90 new members of the House, getting close to the total change in the Tea Party midterm election of 2010, when 94 new members arrived on Capitol Hill. While Pelosi expressed excitement about the growing number of new Democrats in the Congress, she flashed a bit of impatience with reporters on Thursday, as they pestered her again with questions about whether she would have the votes to once again be Speaker of the House. “I intend to win the Speakership,” said Pelosi, who served as Speaker for four years between 2007 and 2011. “I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be Speaker of the House,” Pelosi added, even as other Democrats were trying to come up with another candidate to oppose her. PELOSI latest: 1. Rep Jayapal isnt saying where she is – told us she, Rep. Pocan are meeting w Pelosi later. 2. Rep. Richmond (CBC chair) said he is not anti-Pelosi but if Fudge runs he will likely support. Also said he spoke w Fudge today and she did not bring up Speaker run. — Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) November 15, 2018 Pressed by reporters at a news conference, Pelosi said she would welcome a challenge by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), or anyone else. “I say it to everybody, come on in, the water’s warm,” Pelosi said. While Republicans held their leadership elections this week – House Democrats won’t vote until after Thanksgiving.
Florida Highway Patrol identifies people killed in head-on crash in Green Cove Springs
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the two people who died Wednesday in a head-on crash in Green Cove Springs. Kaitlyn Kane, 21, was driving south on Russell Road in a Honda Accord near Old Blue Den Road when she tried to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone, according to the Highway Patrol. The car veered back into the southbound lane but continued onto the grass shoulder before going back into the road and into the path of a van in the northbound lane. The two vehicles crashed into each other, ejecting Kane from the Honda, according to the FHP. Troy Livingston, 21, of Green Cove Springs was also in the vehicle, and he died. The FHP says Kane was from Richmond, Texas. The two people in the van were both taken to the hospital, and the driver was listed in serious condition, according to the FHP. Kane was not wearing a seat belt.
