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Walmart reopened after report of possible gunman

Orlando police are investigating reports of a possible gunman on Monday in an Orange County Walmart. Police said the Walmart under investigation is on the 3800 block of South Semoran Boulevard. Sky 6 was on scene Monday afternoon where it appears the store has been evacuated with the front door roped off. Multiple agencies are on scene, patrolling the parking lot and store. Orlando Fire Department officials said there was no patient needing treatment. Witnesses said there was a fight between three men in the Walmart by the pharmacy. The man who was being beat up pulled out a gun and started pistol whipping the two others, the witness told Local 6 as they filled out a police report. The witness said she screamed someone had a gun and the men took off. No other details were immediately available. Check back with Local 6 and ClickOrlando.com for more information.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:28:59 GMT

911 dispatcher calls experience working I-75 pileup 'surreal'

The 19-year-old 911 dispatcher who answered the first Alachua County 911 call for the fatal Interstate 75 pileup spoke out for the first time on Monday. The first caller had hit a guardrail and for the next 12 minutes, Edvalson kept that woman and her passenger calm and out of harm’s way. "I would like to think that I helped but I think she was cool on her own," Edvalson said. "She was scared obviously, but so was I, but she was amazing." Edvalson said at first she was confused by the call, because hours earlier, she had taken a call on the earlier string of crashes that shut down I-75 around midnight. She said she thought I-75 was still shut down when she listened to drivers hit a wall of smoke and into a deadly pileup. "It was kind of a helpless feeling, I was wishing I could do more to help these people that were so scared," she said. Edvalson calmly coached callers through the 13 minutes until first responders arrived. But once she got home, she said she broke down and cried. "I can't imagine what it would have been like seeing something like this," Edvalson said. "I just heard it and couldn't sleep for three days. Hearing the crashes was kind of alarming, it almost sounded like gunshot. I've never heard something like that before that crash." She hopes that authorities are more careful when allowing roads to be open in inclement conditions. "I just hope from now on, they keep the roads closed when there's no visibility," she said. Being a dispatcher runs in the family--two of her siblings are also dispatchers. Her brother, Dallin, said he was proud of how well his sister performed under pressure. "I don't think I've ever taken a call that's probably as hard as that one would have been," Dallin Edvalson said.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:06:51 GMT

Celebrities who died too young

Whitney Houston's death over the weekend at age 48 prompted cries of shock that she died so young. Join us in remembering Houston and these other celebrities and stars who died too early.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:43:17 GMT

Images: 2012 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are a chance to recognize outstanding music industry professionals. See images of all the bands, fashion, performances, tributes and winners from the 54th annual Grammy Awards.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:01:26 GMT

$17.7 billion budget requested for NASA

President Barack Obama announced NASA would get $17.7 billion under his budget request for fiscal year 2013 on Monday. The budget would supporting space exploration that will build on new technologies and expand America's reach into the solar system, according to a NASA press release. NASA said the budget is a $59 million decrease from last year's Congress approved funding. The budget request for the 2013 fiscal year, which starts in October, lays the foundation for new destinations, such as an asteroid and Mars by 2035. NASA administrator Charlie Bolden spoke at NASA headquarters in Washington D.C. Monday following the budget request and was upbeat about the proposal. "This budget is about American innovation and ingenuity," Bolden said. "It's about keeping the U.S. the world leader in space exploration." Bolden said that tough choices had to be made, resulting in cutting some programs. "Tough choices had to be made," Bolden said. "This means we will not be forward with the planned 2016 and 2018 Exo-mars mission." Close to home, the budget continues transforming Kennedy Space Center into a 21st century launch complex. The hardest hit area is the planetary science exploration department, which has proposed cuts of $226 million. The budget includes: $4 billion for space operations and $4 billion for exploration activities, which includes close-out of the Space Shuttle Program and funding for the International Space Station, $4.9 billion for science, $669 million for space technology and $552 million for aeronautics research. "This budget puts us on course to explore farther into space than ever before, revealing the unknown and fueling the nation's economy for years to come," Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said in a release. "We are committed to ensuring that our astronauts are once again launched from U.S. soil on American-made spacecraft, and this budget provides the funds to make this a reality." Solid funding is included for the continued development of the Space Launch System, which is the rocket and capsule that will eventually take astronauts into deep space. That's good news for the ladi-ff workers on the Space Coast. Funding is also allotted for the development of commercial space programs with outside companies to service the International Space Station Former U.S. senator and astronaut John Glenn has been speaking out about budget cuts. He said that shutting down shuttle operations was a "mistake, because it left us with no way to travel to our own International Space Station." While NASA faces cuts, it will have to pay the Russian Federal Space Agency in excess of $1 billion through 2016. NASA managers say the budget continues to reduce administrative costs by $200 million. "We are having to make tough decisions because these are tough economic times," Bolden said. "We are really looking for smarter ways to do business... and you're going to find that we do things a little bit differently than you're accustomed to." Bolden said he's heard his critics say that NASA is too big and wastes too much money. "Every dollar spent on space exploration is spent right here on earth," Bolden said. "This budget insources jobs, creates capabilities here at home, and strengthens our workforce."

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:22:12 GMT

Alleged fatal FAMU hazing rituals detailed in lawsuit

The lawyer for the family of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion, who was killed in a hazing incident in Orlando last year, filed a lawsuit Monday against Fabulous Coach Lines on his clients' behalf. According to the lawsuit, Champion's family is suing the bus company for damages in excess of $15,000. Champion was found injured Nov. 19 on one of Fabulous Coach Lines buses in the parking lot of the Rosen Centre hotel on International Drive. He later died as a result of blunt force trauma from hazing, authorities said. The family's attorney, Chris Chestnut, says bus company managers knew that band members conducted hazing rituals on buses after football games but did nothing to stop them. "We don’t want to stop the music, we want to stop the hazing," Chesnut said at the press conference. Chesnut said the Champion family wants answers and that's the main focus of the lawsuit. Chestnut also says the bus driver on the night of Champion's death stood guard outside the bus while the drum major was being hazed. He said they don't know the extent of the bus driver's involvement, but that the bus driver knew about the hazing as it was going on. "This bus company embraced the culture of hazing," Chesnut said. "Robert Champion was not the only person being hazed on that bus that night." Chesnut said the hazing ritual was called "Crossing Bus C where band members must run to the back of the bus while being hit and kicked. If you fall, you must go back up to the front and start again, Chesnut said. During this ritual, Chesnut said the driver purposely parked in a dark corner and left the bus running. Champion was also subjected to another hazing ritual called the "hot seat", where a pillowcase is put over band members' heads and they must answer questions correctly to breathe resulting in his body being exposed to an unbearable amount of trauma, Chesnut said. Champion tried to get off the bus because he was vomiting. Chesnut said he was then put back on the bus and the bus driver was standing there. The bus driver forced Champion back on the bus after he threw up, according to the lawsuit. Ray Land, the owner of Fabulous Coach Lines, didn't immediately respond to phone and email messages. But he told The Associated Press last year that the bus driver was helping students unload their instruments when Champion collapsed. Chesnut said they hope to start the lawsuit process within the next 90 days. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:33:05 GMT

5 Valentine's Day pet peeves

Simply mentioning Valentine's Day can trigger mental groans in a large section of the population -- most often, from men and singles. Whomever you want to blame for being miserable today, the real culprit is likely long gone. That's because Valentine's Day is a mix of beliefs and traditions dating back to the second century that really exploded when greeting card companies jumped in during the late 1800s. Whatever the history of the holiday, Valentine's Day has come to be a day of mushy cards, expensive flowers and candlelit meals for adults and the exchange of colorful cards and sweet candy for school children. Those who are not paired up may feel left out and bitter about the traditions, which have grown and become more expensive over the years. As you grin and bear your way through Valentine's Day, rest assured you're not alone. Plenty of others share these five Valentine's Day pet peeves. No. 5: Office flower deliveries It's just like any other workday -- except for the constant deliveries of flowers through the rows of desks and cubicles at work. If they're not roses, then they are balloons so large you'd think you're watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from your perch in front of your keyboard. In a small office? Maybe you're the only one who doesn't receive flowers. Maybe you don't have anyone's name to write on a card. Either way, the whole "Valentine's flowers at work" thing reeks of elementary school and leaving people out. Many would vote that couples should celebrate this fabulous holiday in the comfort of their own homes, not as allergy-carrying displays in the workplace. There are few other times that roses are as expensive as they are at Valentine's Day. If you are sending flowers, you may want to be a little more creative. No. 4: Facebook wall posts With Facebook's 800 million active users on the rise, you can only imagine the number of public displays of virtual affection Valentine's Day sees. Couples love to pepper each other's Facebook walls with messages of undying love and names such as "Baby," My Love," and "Honey." Single? Newly single? Simply annoyed? Couples' short exchanges appearing on your Feed will be enough to make you say, "Ugh" -- and not just in your head, but out loud. People should save those well thought out thoughts for private messages, words inside a card, a text message, a phone call or even smoke signals -- but they don't need to be right out there on the Wall. You know what they say, the people you try so hard to convince the world of their love for each other, probably have a rocky relationship anyway. No. 3: Proving love with jewelry The number of jewelry commercials seems to quadruple around Valentine's Day. Whether you're in a committed relationship or single, the jingles and slogans of national and local jewelry stores ring through your head like an earworm you just can't shake. This might be annoying for the single folks but it can be down right terrifying for those in a relationship. A pair of earrings gets put in a very similar sized box to an engagement ring and if a couple isn't ready for that kind of step, the site of the box and the assumption of what's inside can generate a short-lived panic attack. Jewelry is also used as a determining factor for how serious the relationship has become. If both people are not on the same page, jewelry -- no matter what it is -- will send a message. No. 2: Throwing money around It's fun to dress up and enjoy a night out on the town, but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank. Expensive restaurants will always have class and status but sometimes Valentine's Day "specials" have nothing special about the price. If you are enjoying a night out, do your research and find a good deal with a good atmosphere. There's no reason to get ripped off just because it's a recognized day of celebration. A better option? Eat in. Get delivery, get carry out or channel your inner Bobby Flay. Dinner at home can be much more romantic anyway. If you don't have a significant other with which to celebrate, hang out with friends, throw your own party and enjoy a bottle of wine together. Just avoid restaurants where couples will be making eyes at each other. Nobody needs to be surrounded by that, even on Valentine's Day. No. 1: Falling for the commercialization Around Valentine's Day there are two groups that stand to make a lot of money -- greeting card companies and chocolate companies. It's a beautiful relationship between these companies and last-minute panic shoppers. It's true that cards can be expensive. You might even think they're a waste of time to pick out and write in them -- but to the person who receives it, it means a lot. Take the commercialization out of Valentine's Day and flash back to elementary school when you made your own Valentine's Day cards out of pink and red construction paper and a paper doily. It really doesn't matter what it says -- it really is the thought that counts. Single? Give in. Find your favorite candy and treat yourself. Just be happy you're not dealing with the games that Valentine's Day can bring forth. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Published: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:12:30 GMT

Jury hears 2009 testimony from Delores Laster's son

The murder trial of former Orange County school teacher Delores Laster, who's accused of killing her husband in 1988, has adjourned for the day on Monday without the long-awaited taped testimony from Laster's son. Laster was arrested in 2009 after her children came forward and said they helped her cover up their father's death. The state will play the video of Clyde Laster's October testimony in Tuesday morning. Prosecutors read aloud the transcript on Monday of Clyde Laster's testimony to the grand jury in 2009, with prosecutor Pam Davis reading the prosecutor's lines and prosecutor Ryan Vescio reading Clyde Laster's testimony. In the testimony, Clyde said "My dad was lying on the floor. I remember blood on the corner of the nightstand." Clyde also describes dragging him to garage thinking he was going to the hospital. He said his mother told him they didn't have money for an ambulance. Laster's lawyers asked to see the grand jury testimony from 2009, so in a highly unusual instance, the judge unsealed the testimony. FDLE crime lab technician David Baer also testified on Monday that he detected human blood in several spots on a nightstand. He says it was the same blood type as Clarence Laster but could not conclude it was his. FDLE special agent supervisor Tony Rodriguez testified that he, along with OCSO Cpl. Duwana Pelton, reopened the cold case. He admitted that until interviewing kids, there was no conclusive evidence that pointed to who the perpetrator was. During cross-examination, the defense tried to imply that Laster's daughter Kristi Dandridge was "threatened" with jail if she didn't cooperate. Rodriguez admitted to the jury that those statements were made to her. But on re-direct, he said that Dandridge expressed concern about testifying against her mom at trial and refused to talk to them without a subpoena. Rodriguez says Laster's son, Clyde Laster, was cooperative and said things that shed new light on the case. Pelton was on the stand Monday afternoon and admitted they used "deception", such as talking about non-existent DNA evidence, in hopes of getting answers from Dandridge. Pelton told jurors Dandridge was "scared" and "didn't want to hurt her mother". Jurors will hear from Laster's son, Clyde, on Monday in a taped testimony. Clyde Laster is in the military and can't be in the courtroom in person. His testimony from October 2011 enabled detectives to arrest the school teacher 20 years after the death of Clarence Laster. Clyde Laster told investigators when he was 10-years-old, in 1988, he recalls helping his mom drag the body of his father, Clarence, from the bedroom to the garage. He also testified that he remembers talking to his father and that his father told him he would be OK. Laster's son's story contradicts Delores Laster's alibi to detectives. Laster told detectives she claimed that her husband had left the house that morning before the children woke up and that she never saw him again until discovering his body in the garage the following night. Clyde Laster also said on the stand that he may have been mistaken about what he remembers from that night and he doesn't know for sure whether he really did help his mother cover up the crime. The defense claims the children have "false memories" of that night, which they say may have been planted there by detectives. Check back with ClickOrlando.com and Local 6 for more information.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:13:00 GMT

Lake Buena Vista ranked as most romantic city in U.S.

The most romantic city in the United States turns out to be the happiest place on earth -- Lake Buena Vista, according to a report. Foursquare based the listing of loving cities on more than 1.5 billion check-ins over the past year at "romantic" places, such as restaurants and flower shops. A Minnesota city came in last place on the romantic rundown. Duluth was dubbed one of the least romantic cities in the United States, according to Foursquare. Foursquare listings of most and least romantic cities: Most romantic 1. Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 2. Napa, Calif. 3. Venice, Calif. 4. St. Louis 5. New York City 6. San Francisco 7. Reston, Va. 8. Beverly Hills, Calif. 9. Myrtle Beach, S.C. 10. Key West, Fla. Least romantic 1. Beaverton, Ore. 2. Bethlehem, Pa. 3. Lawrenceville, Ga. 4. Sterling Heights, Mich. 5. West Chester, Pa. 6. Normal, Ill. 7. Norwalk, Conn. 8. Tustin, Calif. 9. Duluth 10. Waltham, Mass.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:07:12 GMT

Whitney Houston through the years

Pop star Whitney Houston died at age 48. Here's a look at the legendary singer through the years.

Published: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:03:37 GMT

Westminster Dog Show: Breeds to watch

Check out the six new breeds in this year's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and which breeds have won the most.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:34:22 GMT

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