WAFC Local News – September 16, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. LaBelle approved an ordinance for a special exception to allow a child care facility at 90 Howe Avenue. Planner Patty Kulak. We’ve talked about the need for child care for years at this point. There’ll be no bus or parent drop-off area at the facility. They can’t be within 750 feet of a business where alcohol is sold or consumed and they expect to create up to 10 jobs and serve about 50 kids from pre-k to second grade. Sherry Deming told LaBelle officials she wants to open a restaurant at the former Don’s Steakhouse building. Palm Beach School Superintendent Michael Burke wants voters there to renew a one-mill tax to help pay for teacher salaries. The additional millage was first approved in 2019 and will be up for renewal on the November ballot. Burke says he needs funding to recruit and retain teachers. Because when you look at Florida and compare Florida to the rest of the nation, we rank a dismal 46th out of the 50 states. He says the funds will raise the average teacher pay by $8,000. Glades County expects to lose about $2 million per year in ad valorem taxes should voters approve property tax reform packages this year. Commissioners also approved two November referendums requested by the school board. They’d like to use capital project money for operations and extend a half-cent sales tax hike. They agreed to support Lee Health that is trying to bring telehealth and other services to Glades County. Democratic Congressman Darren Soto wants to represent Glades County in the newly drawn District 9. He says if elected he will support Lake Okeechobee. The lake can’t be too high with regard to Lake Okeechobee and it can’t be too low and so adjusting to the changing seasons, obviously the wet season, the rain season being you know June, July, although it was a little late this year throughout the summer and the hurricane season. He also supports paying ranchers to store water. The Florida Cattlemen Association president this year John Williamson says conservation easements may very well be the future of ranching in Florida. That are involved you know we’ve certainly seen quite a bit of progress in the last few years, last it’s four to five years with these conservation easements and I feel like that’s the future of cattle ranching in certainly South Florida but probably the entire state. Dusty Holley and the Cattlemen are pushing more promotion of Florida beef. They want the University of Florida to have a beef academy or meat institute. There’s 23 million people in this state every day that have something between a knife and a fork. There’s 140 million visitors that come here every year with something between a knife and a fork. More information released on the arrest of former Pop Warner football coach 36 year old James Melton who’s charged with attempted homicide. The incident dates back to September 8th. It was reported as a kidnapping and attempted homicide and it was a domestic incident. He allegedly struck in the face and strangled the victim. He also prevented her from contacting 911 and made various threats to kill her according to Henry County deputies. Deputies say they found blood all over the residence and the victim was in and out of consciousness while suffering from memory loss. The victim had a completely swollen shut right eye, multiple bruises on her back and neck and a laceration to her head. He may have used a weapon to strike her in the head. They also found that her hair had been ripped out. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).