TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Wednesday, June 15.
(1) Casey Anthony trial: Day 18
The prosecution in the Casey Anthony murder trial plans to rest its mostly circumstantial case on Wednesday.
Over the past three weeks State Attorneys presented evidence and witnesses that 2-year-old Caylee Anthony was suffocated with duct tape, her body put in the trunk of Casey's car before being dumped in some woods near her grandparent's home.
A medical examiner testified the cause of death was undetermined, but ruled the manner the toddler died was consistent with a homicide.
Much of the early testimony in the case revolved around the many lies Casey told family members and investigators about her daughter's whereabouts during the month Caylee was missing.
Caylee disappeared in the summer of 2008. Her skeletal remains were found about six months later.
Casey is charged with first degree murder. She could face the death penalty if convicted.
You can watch the trial streamed live when court is in session on our website by clicking here .
(2) World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Wednesday is the 6th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The mission of the day is to raise awareness of the culture, social and economic problems that lead to elder abuse and neglect.
Judge Manual Menedez, Chief Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida is joining the Elder Justice Center, one of the Court's programs, in recognizing the day.
Judge Mendez will issue a resolution 8:30 a.m. proclaiming today as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.
Members of the Elder Justice Center will greet visitors in the lobby of the George Edgecomb Courthouse to share information about elder abuse and neglect. They will also hand out purple Elder Abuse Awareness ribbons for people to wear today.
The Elder Justice Center was founded in 1999 to respond to the needs of seniors in the Tampa Bay community. Goals include providing case management for victims of abuse and neglect, coordinating access to existing senior-related agencies as needed, and providing public education to the elderly.
For more information, visit the Elder Justice Center page in the Court Programs section on the 13th Judicial Circuit website .
You can help prevent the estimated 2.1 million older Americans who become victims of elder abuse every year. The Center on Elder Abuse lists a number of warning signs you can look out for.
If you know or suspect a vulnerable adult has been or is being abused, neglected or exploited, you're asked to immediately report the information to the abuse hotline at (800) 962-2873.
(3) Operation Medstock
The Pinellas County Health Department's Public Health Preparedness team is holding a full-scale "Point of Dispensing" exercise on Wednesday.
"Operation Medstock" will allow staff and volunteers to simulate mass dispensing of medications or vaccines to test the plans that would go into effect during a widespread disease outbreak. The exercise will be videotaped for training purposes.
The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at Osceola High School in Seminole.
For more information, visit www.pinellashealth.com/php.asp .
(4) Gulf Oil Spill Community Forum
The Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy in conjunction with the University of South Florida College of Marine Science is hosting a Gulf Oil Spill Community Forum on Wednesday.
The forum, titled "The Gulf Oil Spill: From Crisis to Solutions," will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College.
Speakers include: Dr. Ian MacDonald, Biological Oceanographer, Florida State University; Bill Hogarth, Dean, USF College of Marine Science; Cynthia Sarthou, Executive Director, Gulf Restoration Network; and David Friedman, Research Director, Clean Vehicles Program, Union of Concerned Scientists.
The forum will cover topics of the how did the spill occur, its direct impacts on Florida, and how can another oil catastrophe be prevented in the future.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.FloridaCleanEnergy.biz/spillforum/ .
(5) "Pennies for Potholes" hearing
The Hillsborough County Commission will hold a public hearing on extending the Ninth Cent Gas Tax on Wednesday.
The gas tax, commonly known as "Pennies for Potholes" has been in effect in Hillsborough County since 1980. The one cent tax is used by the county and Cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City for the maintenance of roads, streets and bridges.
Unless the levy of the Ninth Cent Gas Tax is extended it will expire on December 31, 2011.
Without an extension the County would lose around $2.9 million in 2012 while the Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City would lose an estimated $1.5 million.
During today's public hearing at 2:00 p.m., County Commissioners will consider extending the gas tax levy for an additional decade through December 31, 2021. The tax would continue to be used exclusively
PRINT
