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  • UPDATE: Woman Charged with Arson in Connection with Structure Fire

    Tom Lemons, July 20, 2024|Updated Jul 21, 2024

    UPDATE: July 21, 2024 - An arrest has been made in connection with a structure fire that destroyed a Spring Hill Home on Saturday. According to the Hernando County Detention Center website, 43-year-old Christina Marie Bock of 2080 Haulover Ave, has been charged with 2nd Degree Arson, Criminal Mischief, Failing to Report a Dangerous Fire, and Weapons Offense. Sources say Bock threw a Molotov Cocktail into her home which sparked the fire. The Sheriff's Office has not released a...

  • Two Suffer Burns in Marine Incident Near Bayport Park

    Tom Lemons, July 21, 2024|Updated Jul 21, 2024

    BAYPORT – Two people were hospitalized after a marine incident occurred in Gulf waters near Bayport Park. According to Hernando County Fire Rescue, two people suffered burns after their boat became disabled from mechanical problems near Channel Marker 3. Officials say Marine 6 responded to the scene and rendered Advanced Life Support (ALS) to both patients while transporting them back to the Bayport Park boat ramp. Both patients were then transported to a local hospital for t...

  • BREAKING: President Joe Biden Will Step Down

    Tom Lemons, July, 21, 2024|Updated Jul 21, 2024

    In a statement released today, President Joe Biden announced he is stepping down. My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We've made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We've provided critically needed care to a million veterans...

  • Low Attendance Plagues Political Forums, Voters Left Uniformed

    Tom Lemons, July 18, 2024|Updated Jul 20, 2024

    SPRING HILL – Despite this being one of the most controversial and hotly contested election cycles in Hernando County, most voters have been kept in the dark on when and where to meet local candidates. There have only been a handful of political forums this year, and the last one to draw a substantial audience was the Hernando Beach Yacht Club forum held in May. Since then, there has been little to no public notice, even with Politics in the Park, the biggest event of the y...

  • Inmates Help Cleanup Spring Hill Waterfall in Preparation for Makeover

    Tom Lemons, July 19, 2024|Updated Jul 19, 2024

    SPRING HILL – The historic Spring Hill waterfall looks a lot better today, thanks to a work crew from the Hernando County Detention Center. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, work began on July 16th with the help of several inmates who mowed the grass, trimmed bushes, and pulled weeds. Hernando County Facilities Maintenance workers and a few volunteers also helped prepare the waterfall for a full makeover, which will begin once a final plan is approved by c...

  • Suspect Charged with Kidnapping and Armed Robbery After Drug Deal Goes Bad

    Tom Lemons, July 18, 2024|Updated Jul 19, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE – Yesterday evening, R News reported what was originally believed to be a shooting in the area Dallas Drive and Spring Lake Highway, but officials now say it was a violent drug deal gone bad. According to a statement from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, 911 received a call about a man trying to flag down motorists. The man eventually flagged down a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper and advised that he had just been robbed at gunpoint. The investigation soon r...

  • Residents: 'Stop lying to us' After Sheriff Snubs $2 Million Grant to Purchase BWCs

    Tom Lemons, July 16, 2024|Updated Jul 18, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE – For years the citizens of Hernando County have demanded that Sheriff Al Nienhuis implement a body-worn camera (BWC) program to protect deputies and the community, but no matter how many solutions are presented, Nienhuis always finds a way to say no and dodge the issue. Nienhuis is up for reelection this year and up until candidate Joe Puglia stepped into the ring, Nienhuis thought he could once again ignore pleas for more transparency in the agency. Unfortunately...

  • BREAKING: Former President Trump Injured in Assassination Attempt

    Tom Lemons, July 13, 2024|Updated Jul 13, 2024

    BUTLER, Pennsylvania – At least two people are confirmed dead, including the shooter, after an assassination attempt was carried out against former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally. Trump was struck on the right side of his head after several shots were fired in his direction. Secret Service immediately surrounded Trump and rushed him to an awaiting vehicle. The shooter was shot and killed at the scene. There are unconfirmed reports that a third attendee is in c...

  • Hit-and-Run Driver Injures Elderly Woman Using a Walker

    Tom Lemons, July 13, 2024|Updated Jul 13, 2024

    HUDSON – The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for help in identifying a suspect in a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian late Friday evening. According to officials, just after 10:00 p.m. Friday, a 2010-2011 Mazda was traveling southbound on Old Dixie Highway, south of Hudson Ave, when the driver struck a 67-year-old woman who was utilizing a walker. The driver fled the scene and did not notify authorities of the accident. The victim was transported to a n...

  • Poor Turnout for Political Event May Have Been by Design, Voters are Demanding Change

    Tom Lemons, July 12, 2024|Updated Jul 13, 2024

    SPRING HILL – The seventh annual Politics in the Park event went off without a hitch last night at Challenger K-8 but only one thing was missing – voters. Every two years the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce hosts the usually packed event, where residents have an opportunity to talk to candidates face-to-face. Throughout the evening, each candidate has an opportunity to deliver a short speech in the auditorium in front of a normally packed house, but this time the a...

  • Vehicle Crash Injures One, Prompts Hazmat Response

    Tom Lemons, July 11, 2024|Updated Jul 12, 2024

    DADE CITY (HERNANDO) – Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to an accident with injuries this afternoon that resulted in a hazmat incident. According to officials, Fire Rescue responded to the area of Cortez Blvd and Olancha Road around 1:00 p.m. after a rear end collision caused Muriatic Acid to spill onto the roadway. The Florida Highway Patrol shut down the roadway until a Hazmat crew could remove the corrosive chemical. One patient was airlifted to a trauma center with s...

  • Teen Charged with Possessing Child Porn, Suspected of Abusing 8-Year-Old Family Member

    Tom Lemons, July 10, 2024|Updated Jul 11, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of a teenager who they say was in possession of child pornography and sexually abused an 8-year-old family member. Officials say on June 16th, detectives received information 17-year-old Noah Smith had downloaded child pornography from the internet. A search warrant was served on the social media provider which revealed that Smith was in possession of 10 files containing child sexual abuse material. O...

  • Was Election Official's Decision Not to Disqualify Two Candidates Influenced by State Senator?

    Tom Lemons, July 9, 2024|Updated Jul 10, 2024

    FLORIDA – A Citrus County Commission candidate is fighting to stay on the ballot after a minor technicality prompted the Supervisor of Elections to disqualify him. Republican Jesse Rumson filed in June of 2023 to run against incumbent Holly Davis, also a Republican, in the District 5 Primary. On June 6th of this year, Rumson filed a Candidate Oath form but failed to check yes or no to the question whether he owed campaign finance violation fines. Supervisor of Elections M...

  • ATV Ordinance Reversed in Unanimous Decision

    Tom Lemons, July 9, 2024|Updated Jul 9, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE – Just over a year after it was passed, the Hernando Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) overturned an ordinance that prohibited anyone from operating an ATV on unpaved roadways. Commissioner Steve Champion led the effort after several Royal Highlands residents said the measure is overreaching, restricts basic freedoms, and allowed the Sheriff's Office to conduct traffic stops without probable cause. Commissioner Champion, who cast the only "No Vote" when the o...

  • Three Vehicle Crash Involving Tractor Trailer Kills Motorcyclist

    Tom Lemons, July 7, 2024|Updated Jul 8, 2024

    WEBSTER – One person is dead, and two others injured in a multivehicle crash involving a tractor trailer. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Ford Expedition driven by a 69-year-old Winter Garden man was traveling westbound on SR-50 and ran a red light at SR-471. As a result, the driver struck the passenger side of a tractor trailer driven by a 58-year-old North Port man. Subsequently, the tractor trailer traveled into the southbound lanes where it collided with a H...

  • Democrat Candidate Found Dead Inside Brooksville Home

    Tom Lemons, July 7, 2024|Updated Jul 7, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE – Democrat Candidate for County Commissioner Kathleen Cummings has died, sources say. Fire Rescue responded to her residence on Winding Creek Drive after receiving reports that Cummings was discovered unresponsive inside her home on Saturday. Cummings taught 12th-grade English at Springstead High School and planned to return to teaching this fall. A close friend of Cummings, Carla Johns, tells R News, "Despite our political difference, Cummings was an amazing p...

  • Beloved Fire Captain Dies in July 4th Boating Accident

    Tom Lemons, July 5, 2024|Updated Jul 5, 2024

    CITRUS COUNTY – Sad news to report out of Citrus County today, after a 4th of July boating accident claimed the life of a beloved Citrus County Fire Captain. Citrus County Fire Rescue released the following statement: It is with profound sadness that Citrus County Fire Rescue announces the passing of one of our esteemed training captains, Michael Fletcher, due to an off-duty boating incident that occurred in Crystal River on the night of Thursday, July 4, 2024. 42-year-old M...

  • Heat Advisory Issued for Parts of West Central Florida

    Tom Lemons, July 5, 2024|Updated Jul 5, 2024

    FLORIDA – A heat advisory has been issued for portions of southwest and west central Florida, effective Friday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of dangerous heat conditions, with heat indexes expected to reach 112 degrees in some areas. High temperatures can lead to heatstroke, a serious medical condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms of heatstroke include high body temperature (above 103°F), confusion, disorientation, ra...

  • Teen Dies in Early Morning Crash

    Tom Lemons, July 5, 2024|Updated Jul 5, 2024

    LECANTO – A New York City man died early this morning after crashing into a light pole on South Lecanto Highway. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 19-year-old driver was traveling southbound, when just west of Black Diamond Circle, he lost control of his Nissan Altima, veered off the roadway, and struck a concrete light pole. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died....

  • Dash Cam Video of Arrest Tells A Different Story, Raises Doubts Over Probable Cause

    Tom Lemons, July 2, 2024|Updated Jul 5, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE – On Sunday, R News reported the arrest of 43-year-old Jerry Dean Glisson, who deputies say fought with them while attempting to place him into custody. Recently acquired dash cam video may paint a different picture than what deputies say led up to the violent confrontation, which left Glisson with lacerations to the head and a swollen face. (ORIGINAL STORY) After reviewing the reports of every deputy on the scene and watching dash cam video from three patrol cars,...

  • Commissioner Calls for Transparency, Demands Explanation For Using "Chinese Spy Cameras"

    Tom Lemons, July 1, 2024|Updated Jul 2, 2024

    HERNANDO – Cameras are everywhere and there is no expectation of privacy when you are outside and in a public area, but when the government uses spy cameras to track your every move, that's when people say it violates their right to privacy. That's exactly what Hernando County Commissioner Steve Champion said during a recent Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting regarding the use of surveillance cameras by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. The issue first came to l...

  • Woman Charged with DUI After Crashing into Occupied Residence

    Tom Lemons, July 1, 2024|Updated Jul 1, 2024

    SPRING HILL – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the arrest of a Spring Hill woman after she crashed her vehicle into a home on Autumn Road Sunday evening. According to reports, 29-year-old Ann Marie Estevez was traveling eastbound on Spring Hill Drive when she lost control of her car and crashed into a home located at 1370 Autumn Road. Two people were inside the home at the time of the crash, but officials say no one was injured. Estevez told Troopers that someone p...

  • Tampa Free Press And R News Join Forces To Deliver Comprehensive Local, State, and National News Coverage

    Tom Lemons, June 27, 2024|Updated Jun 27, 2024

    NEWS PROVIDED BY The Free Press June 27, 2024, 13:16 GMT Tampa Free Press, R News TAMPA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, June 27, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In an exciting move to bolster local journalism and expand national reach, the Tampa Free Press and R News today announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration will combine the strengths of both organizations to deliver in-depth, high-quality news coverage to audiences across the Tampa Bay region and beyond. "This...

  • Jose "Chelo" Alonzo Becomes First Hernando County Resident Inducted in Hall of Fame

    Tom Lemons, June 26, 2024|Updated Jun 27, 2024

    HERNANDO - A Spring Hill man becomes the first Hernando County resident to be inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, going from a hero to his family to an inspiring role model in the community. This is his story... Jose "Chelo" Alonzo's journey into the world of boxing began with a poignant move from Newark, New Jersey, to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, at the age of 7 to live with his uncle and great-grandfather. Driven by familial ties, he soon found himself immersed in a...

  • Ex-Wife Found Guilty of Fraud After Stealing Retirement Money

    Tom Lemons, June 25, 2024|Updated Jun 26, 2024

    CITRUS - An Inverness woman was found guilty of Grand Theft in a Citrus County Courtroom Thursday after forging documents in her divorce to Illegally obtain retirement funds. Back in July of 2021, the victim reported to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) that their ex-wife, 58-year-old Robin Joanna Bell, had committed fraud by filing forged documents to obtain retirement benefits against a court order. In 2015, when the victim and Bell were finalizing their divorce,...

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