WAFC Local News – February 25, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Pumby’s school board wanting to have more kids enter pre-kindergarten programs. They currently provide a kit to families of four to six year old kids to help get them ready. Edwin Ferguson says he was shocked that some of the schools have a 9% kindergarten ready rate. Because there is a lot at stake. When we have children like in this school, 9% of the kids are kindergarten ready, which goes to say 91% were not. Superintendent Michael Burke says these kits are not a replacement for a quality pre-k program. Not every family is taking advantage of the free VPK that’s already in place provided by the state. You know, it’s a half day for 180 days, the regular school year or a full day summer program. Either one of those has tremendous benefit to the student. A 29 year old inmate at the Henry County jail accused of a new crime, battering a guard. Brandon Godwin allegedly spit in the face of a female guard, was pepper sprayed after throwing feces on two of the guards. The incident report says there was also an altercation in the shower with guards before he was brought under control. A 19 year old Fort Myers man led deputies on a high speed chase last fall and was severely injured. He’ll now have to face charges. Donovan Holcomb faces reckless driving, driving without a license charge and playing and eluding police. The suspect was picked up on a warrant for the chase that occurred last October 26th. Speeds reached 95 miles an hour and state road 80 near LaBelle. He allegedly ran two red lights forcing other vehicles off the road. The vehicle was found abandoned later in the woods near Palm Lane. The SUV had been in an accident and the driver severely injured. He was then flown to Gulf Coast Medical Center for treatment. The Florida Farm Bill advancing through the House and Senate, there was about one hour of public comment against a section of the bill that deals were protecting non-perishable agriculture products from disparaging speech that was since removed from the bill. Florida has had a food libel law in place since 1994, but that only encompassed perishable foods. The new provision adds non-perishables as well as agriculture practices. But again, the bill sponsor has removed that. Bailey Kirkendall told a Senate committee who would decide what is a false allegation. If criticism or questioning can be labeled as disparagement, then disagreement itself becomes risky. This framework risks punishing farmers, scientists, journalists, and everyday people for not lying, but for challenging powerful interests. Kathleen Murray did not want to let big agriculture rule what people can say over their First Amendment rights. Florida can champion agriculture without burying dissent or chilling First Amendment rights. Protecting consumers requires transparency, not fear. This language goes too far and should be rejected as part of this bill. A 30-year-old Belgrade man, DeAndre Blackman, is charged with sexual assault of a child under 16. Palm Beach County Sheriff Deputies say the victim claimed she was improperly touched when she was 11 or 12 years old, and the alleged activity took place for close to three years. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).