A young adult manatee comes to the surface for air in a black murky lagoon on the Little Econlockhatchee River at Jay Blanchard Park near Orlando, Florida. To get to Blanchard Park, the 7½- to 8½-foot-long animal had to travel 25 miles from the St. Johns River up the forest-lined Econlockhatchee River and the largely urban Little Econlockhatchee River. Not only do the two rivers twist and turn countless times, some stretches are often too shallow to float even a kayak. For now, the adventurer seems content to hang out less than 10 miles from downtown Orlando, by a YMCA. Surprised state authorities have never seen one of the endangered species there and are considering whether to catch and haul it back to the St. Johns River. Read the entire story here. (Photos by Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel)
Some tips on shooting underwater scenes in the marine habitats at SeaWorld, Disney
The Snap! Orlando photography festival hits full steam on May 10, but there are a couple of warm-up events this week.
Live updates from the George Zimmerman bond hearing
Zimmerman’s father, Robert Zimmerman, said he would alert the court if his son failed to adhere to the conditions of his bond.
He said he doesn’t have much money to help his son with bail, but would take a second mortgage on his home to help secure his son’s release.
“I’m a disabled veteran, and don’t have a great deal of income,” the elder Zimmerman said. Of his son, he said, “I’ve never known him to be violent at all unless otherwise provoked, then he’d turn the other cheek.”
Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda then asked Robert Zimmerman about his son’s finances. He also asked Robert Zimmerman about his son’s prior 2005 arrest, in which he was accused of striking a law enforcement officer near the University of Central Florida.
He said his son has “always been interested in criminal justice,” and is an honest man.
“I believe him because he’s been honest his whole life,” Robert Zimmerman said. He said he saw his son the day after the shooting, and he had gashes on the back of his head. His face was swollen, the elder Zimmerman said.
Read the entire thing here.
Wife, father and mother of Trayvon’s shooter testify at hearing
We are also live tweeting the hearing. Follow us on Twitter at @OSTrayvonMartin.
Critics who for weeks have demanded that George Zimmerman be arrested for killing Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, waited another day Monday, and the special prosecutor in the case announced she will not take the case to a grand jury.
Lawyers trying to interpret that move differed on what it means, but one point is now unequivocal: Prosecutor Angela Corey will not charge Zimmerman with first-degree murder. That requires an indictment by a grand jury.
Read the full story here.
The girlfriend of slain Miami teenager Trayvon Martin spoke to the family attorneys, detailing the final moments before he was shot to death by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.
What does neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman say under his breath during his call to police just before the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin?
A small portion of Zimmerman’s already controversial call to Sanford police, in which he described 17-year-old Martin as “suspicious,” has drawn new scrutiny online.
Some insist that Zimmerman is heard using a racial slur in the audio, which was released by police last week amid mounting pressure from the community.
"— Read the story and listen to the audio here.
Brandon Northington, right, a law student, chants, “Do I look suspicious?” while holding a bag of Skittles during a rally Monday outside the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, FL.
Photo by Red Huber | Orlando Sentinel
Trayvon Martin shooting: Gun that killed teen was fired once
The handgun that killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, was fired once — not twice — by a neighborhood crime watch volunteer, according to information obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
Read the full story here.
