The gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school in 2018 pleaded guilty Wednesday to as many first-degree murder charges, and the legal question in the case now turns to whether he will be sentenced to death, U-S-A Today reports. Attorneys for 23-year-old Nikolas Cruz have said they will argue against the death penalty for their client. A sentencing trial is expected in the coming months. Each murder charge carries a minimum of life in prison without parole, and the attempted murder charges carry either 20 or 25 years as minimums. At Wednesday's hearing, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer sentenced Cruz to nearly 26 years in prison on charges stemming from an attack on a jail guard nine months after the shooting.

The gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school in 2018 pleaded guilty Wednesday to as many first-degree murder charges, and the legal question in the case now turns to whether he will be sentenced to death, U-S-A Today reports. Attorneys for 23-year-old Nikolas Cruz have said they will argue against the death penalty for their client. A sentencing trial is expected in the coming months. Each murder charge carries a minimum of life in prison without parole, and the attempted murder charges carry either 20 or 25 years as minimums. At Wednesday's hearing, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer sentenced Cruz to nearly 26 years in prison on charges stemming from an attack on a jail guard nine months after the shooting.

News briefs from the state of Florida.

Florida News Briefs - Florida Podcast

News Briefs from the state of Florida.

Florida News Briefs - Florida

Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz pleads guilty to 17 counts of murder, faces death penalty trial

A stray dog caused an eight-vehicle collision on a Florida highway early Friday. The overnight wreck left three people with minor injuries, and shut down all westbound traffic on the I-10 in Jefferson County, Florida Highway Patrol said. The accident began when a sedan hit a dog, rendering the car QUOTE "inoperable" in the middle of the highway, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. A second sedan crashed into that vehicle, then a semi-tractor smashed into both cars and a concrete barrier wall. Debris reportedly scattered across the highway and impacted six other vehicles. A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant said the stray dog was killed in the crash. He did not know its breed.

A stray dog caused an eight-vehicle collision on a Florida highway early Friday. The overnight wreck left three people with minor injuries, and shut down all westbound traffic on the I-10 in Jefferson County, Florida Highway Patrol said. The accident began when a sedan hit a dog, rendering the car QUOTE "inoperable" in the middle of the highway, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. A second sedan crashed into that vehicle, then a semi-tractor smashed into both cars and a concrete barrier wall. Debris reportedly scattered across the highway and impacted six other vehicles. A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant said the stray dog was killed in the crash. He did not know its breed.

Overnight I-10 wreck involving eight vehicles kills dog, injures three people, FHP says

A "security incident" that shut down a Florida county's tax collection office was the result of hacking, Treasure Coast Newspapers reports. Little has been released about what type of breach occurred or whether taxpayers' confidential information was exposed. Officials initially blamed BlackByte for the attack before retracting their statement, TCPalm reports. BlackByte is a new type of ransomware, which is used to encrypt data, demanding payment in order to unlock it. The breach prompted the abrupt closure of the Martin County Tax Collector's Office more than a week ago, and the office is expected to re-open in a limited capacity on Monday. The Martin County Sheriff's Office announced it will suspend writing tickets to local residents for expired driver's licenses and license plates until the tax collector's issue is resolved.

A "security incident" that shut down a Florida county's tax collection office was the result of hacking, Treasure Coast Newspapers reports. Little has been released about what type of breach occurred or whether taxpayers' confidential information was exposed. Officials initially blamed BlackByte for the attack before retracting their statement, TCPalm reports. BlackByte is a new type of ransomware, which is used to encrypt data, demanding payment in order to unlock it. The breach prompted the abrupt closure of the Martin County Tax Collector's Office more than a week ago, and the office is expected to re-open in a limited capacity on Monday. The Martin County Sheriff's Office announced it will suspend writing tickets to local residents for expired driver's licenses and license plates until the tax collector's issue is resolved.

Expert: Ransomware attack on Martin County Tax Collector's Office could inflict data damage

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with five pari-mutuel facilities to help market sports betting. The gambling deal, which was negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis (de-SAN-tis) last spring and approved by lawmakers during a May special session, allows the tribe to operate online sports betting available to people throughout the state. The tribe has reached agreements with five facilities, including the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Hialeah Park Casino, and Tampa Bay Downs. The new Florida law will allow gamblers to place sports bets on smartphones or other online devices, with the bets run through servers on Seminole Tribe property. Pari-mutuels that enter contracts with the tribe will market sports betting at their facilities, and will receive a percentage of the profits.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with five pari-mutuel facilities to help market sports betting. The gambling deal, which was negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis (de-SAN-tis) last spring and approved by lawmakers during a May special session, allows the tribe to operate online sports betting available to people throughout the state. The tribe has reached agreements with five facilities, including the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Hialeah Park Casino, and Tampa Bay Downs. The new Florida law will allow gamblers to place sports bets on smartphones or other online devices, with the bets run through servers on Seminole Tribe property. Pari-mutuels that enter contracts with the tribe will market sports betting at their facilities, and will receive a percentage of the profits.

Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz pleads guilty to 17 counts of murder, faces death penalty trial

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