News from the South - Florida News Feed
Sebring bank shooter sentenced to death for murders of 5 people in 2019
SUMMARY: Zephen Xavier has been sentenced to death by a Florida judge for the 2019 mass shooting at a Sebring bank, where he killed five women. Xavier pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, and a jury recommended the death penalty. The victims, four bank employees and a customer, were executed in a planned attack. Xavier showed no emotion during the sentencing. The judge noted the premeditated nature of the crime, citing evidence of Xavier’s intentions in the weeks before the murders. The victim’s families expressed satisfaction with the decision, with one stating they would “pull the switch” if allowed.
A Highlands County judge has sentenced Zephen Xaver to death for the shooting deaths of five people inside a Suntrust Bank in 2019 in Sebring. This comes after a jury recommended the death penalty earlier in 2024. In Xaver’s case, on all counts, the jury split by a 9-3 vote on recommending the death penalty. Earlier this year, jurors heard closing arguments from lawyers on both sides, starting with the state.
News from the South - Florida News Feed
Trump, a populist president, is flanked by tech billionaires at his inauguration
SUMMARY: At President Donald Trump’s inauguration, some of the most exclusive seats were reserved for powerful tech CEOs, marking a break from tradition. Typically, such seats go to the president’s family, past presidents, and honored guests. Notable tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook were seen mingling with Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marco Rubio. The presence of these wealthy figures highlights the growing influence of tech billionaires in national politics, with some even helping fund political campaigns, as President Biden recently warned of the potential dangers of oligarchy.
The post Trump, a populist president, is flanked by tech billionaires at his inauguration appeared first on www.clickorlando.com
News from the South - Florida News Feed
Leaders in ethnically divided Cyprus fail to reach deal on new crossing points
SUMMARY: A meeting between Greek Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in Cyprus ended without agreement on opening new crossing points along the U.N.-controlled buffer zone. The leaders discussed trust-building measures, but could not agree on specific locations for the crossings. They plan to continue talks in the coming days. The dispute centers on the location of the crossing points and an eight-point trust-building package. A crossing point deal could have advanced U.N. efforts to resolve Cyprus’s ethnic division, but disagreements, particularly over the two-state solution versus federation, remain obstacles to peace.
The post Leaders in ethnically divided Cyprus fail to reach deal on new crossing points appeared first on www.news4jax.com
News from the South - Florida News Feed
As Trump returns to the White House, families prepare for mass deportations
SUMMARY: As Donald Trump begins his second term, many undocumented immigrants and those with temporary legal status fear deportation. Nora Sandigo, a legal guardian for over 2,000 children, helps families prepare by advising them to carry key documents and know whom to contact. Many, like Erlinda from El Salvador, worry about being separated from their children. Deportation plans appear uncertain, but the threat remains, especially for sanctuary cities like Chicago, which has reinforced policies against local cooperation with immigration authorities. Religious leaders in these areas are speaking out in solidarity with the immigrant community, emphasizing their city’s legacy of inclusion.
The post As Trump returns to the White House, families prepare for mass deportations appeared first on www.clickorlando.com
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