News Update for 3/26/25
Where is 17-year-old Kaliee Durkin? That’s the question that concerned family and friends have after the Sebring teen vanished early Monday morning, just hours after chatting with her mother at home. Security footage shows her getting into a dark SUV around 3:50 a.m. with packed bags, but she left behind her car, keys, and phones. Before disappearing, Kaliee sent heartfelt messages to friends, researched how to erase her phone data, and may have taken her Siamese cat. Durkin, previously very active online, has also ceased to post on any of her social media accounts. Reportedly, she had also recently broken up with her boyfriend. Her mother and the community are searching for answers. If you have any information, please contact local authorities.
Drivers, take note! Beginning Monday, March 31, West Lake Drive Boulevard will see temporary closures for pole installation between Hawks Landing Drive and Golfview Road. The project will last 7-10 days, with detours posted. Local traffic, emergency vehicles, and school buses will be allowed through. Expect night closures from Medina Way to Hawks Landing for four nights. Once poles are set, a single-lane closure with flaggers will remain. Additionally, Palmetto Avenue between Orange and Eucalyptus will permanently close for the Highlands County Jail expansion. This area will become an active work zone and drivers should exercise caution. For more information you can call 863-402-6518.
A death row inmate in Central Florida is fighting for his life. Tommy Zeigler was sentenced to death for killing four people in Orange County in 1975. The state maintains Zeigler killed his wife, her parents and a customer in his furniture store in Winter Garden. His lawyers, though, filed papers last week to vacate the conviction based on DNA evidence. The 79-year-old Zeigler has been on death row for 48 years. He’s the longest serving death row inmate in the state.
The Florida House expected to pass a controversial bill lowering the minimum age to buy rifles and other long guns from 21-to-18. Minority Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell from Tampa says this is a slap in the face to the Parkland massacre victims and their relatives who pleaded with lawmakers for these safeguards. The legislature increased the minimum age to 21 in 2018 after the Parkland shooting. The National Rifle Association argues the age restriction violates the Second Amendment.
After nearly 15 years of vacancy, the former Wachovia Bank building in Sebring is finally getting a facelift. On Monday, water and electricity will be restored at 228 N. Ridgewood Drive, with painting set to begin soon. Developer Robert Blackmon is bringing in a team to inspect major systems, including HVAC and elevators. He’s also expediting exterior upgrades after community feedback. Blackmon recently signed a deal with IWG for office space, with renovations starting in July. The CRA Board has extended construction deadlines to June 9th.
Children of the Seminole Tribe of Florida will benefit from what may be the biggest judgment in Broward County history. A judge yesterday awarded the recipients of a children’s trust over 800 million dollars. The plaintiffs sued Wells Fargo for mismanaging a trust established 20 years ago at another bank Wells Fargo wound up taking over. Tribe officials claim the bank was too conservative in its investments and that cost the plaintiffs millions of dollars. The attorney representing the plaintiffs tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel he expects the bank to appeal.
Schools may not be able to provide ultra-processed foods if one lawmaker’s bill becomes law. Fort Myers Republican State Senator Jonathan Martin is sponsoring a bill that would ban schools from serving students ultra-processed foods. He says SB 1826 would send a signal to the food and beverage lobby that we want healthy food for our kids during the school day. A rep for the Florida Beverage Association, though, argued the FDA should take the lead on the issue so states don’t create a patchwork system. The bill went before the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday, but it didn’t pass. The bill may not be dead, though. Committee Chairman Keith Truenow tells the Times/Herald he wants to continue the conversation.
A bill that would have allowed guns on college campuses won’t be moving forward in Tallahassee. A state senate committee yesterday rejected a bill to legalize concealed carry at colleges and universities. Brevard County Republican Randy Fine sponsored the bill. He says he was inspired to file the bill after seeing the pro-Palestine rallies on college campuses across the country last year. Fine tells Bay News 9 an 18 or 19-year-old deserves to be able to fight their way out of a building.