The Tallahassee Reports Morning Briefs: Monday, Dec. 19th

The Tallahassee Reports Morning Briefs: Monday, Dec. 19th

Local News

One person has died after crashing on Bannerman Road in Tallahassee. The victim, who is being identified as a 48-year-old woman from Tallahassee, lost control of her SUV and crashed into a line of trees around 8:30 Sunday night near Bannerman Lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The woman, who was wearing a seat belt at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic was shut down from the intersection of North Meridian Road through to Oak Grove on Bannerman until 2:30 a.m. Monday. No further details have been made available.

On Tuesday, the newly elected chair of the Leon Democratic Executive Committee, Ryan Ray, will appear on the Steve Stewart Show. On Thursday, Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch will appear on the show. The Steve Stewart Show airs on RealTalk 93.3 FM on Tuesday and Thursday beginning at noon.

Florida gas prices dropped 12 cents per gallon last week. The state average has now declined five consecutive weeks, falling a total of 54 cents per gallon since mid-November. On Sunday, Florida gas prices averaged $3.04 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since September 2021.

The most expensive metro markets are West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.26), Gainesville ($3.18), and Miami ($3.17). The least expensive markets are Crestview-Fort Walton Beach ($2.78), Pensacola ($2.82), and Panama City ($2.85).

Additional details have emerged regarding the former Leon County Sheriff’s deputy who was fired and arrested after being accused of soliciting a minor. Jarrod Eldridge was arrested last Thursday after being caught by a coworker who was an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. The two exchanged dozens of messages and some of them were obscene and Eldridge asked to receive pictures back. He also attempted to set up a meeting between the two. Eldridge is now facing one count of using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child and one count of transmitting material harmful to minors by electronic device or equipment.

Florida News

In Lee County, the GOP is challenging the Florida GOP establishment with Chair Michael Thompson appointed former Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini as the General Legal Counsel for the Lee County Republican Executive Committee. Thompson and Sabatini are part of a GOP grassroots efforts to get “America First” candidates elected and appointed to local offices. Sabatini, however, has become most known for being in the middle of numerous controversies.

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo recently signaled that the Florida Legislature may be considering an expanded version of the Parental Rights in Education bill from last legislative session. Critics dubbed the legislation the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but the bill actually banned sexual topics from being discussed in K-3 grades. Passidomo said she would be open to expanding the ban up to sixth grade.

Sports News

FSU women’s basketball fell on the road to the UConn Huskies 85-77. The Noles battled back from being down by 23 and outscored UConn 42-32 in the second half but couldn’t complete the comeback. Ta’Niya Latson led FSU with 24 points in just under 27 minutes, fouling out midway through the fourth quarter of a game that became tight.

FSU men’s basketball also fell this past weekend, losing 93-79 to the St. John’s Red Storm in the Orange Bowl Classic. Sophomore Matthew Cleveland scored his career-high of 23 points and totaled his career-high of 13 rebounds for his second consecutive, third double double of the season and fifth double double of his career. With the loss, FSU fell to 3-10.

10 Responses to "The Tallahassee Reports Morning Briefs: Monday, Dec. 19th"

  1. Why would anyone blame the police? They do a fabulous job, minus the Chief’s behavior at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce event where any position paid for by taxpayers is a misuse of funds to spend it on this junket. It is a PR event for elected officials to exploit themselves at the taxpayers expense. This is the first thing in this town that needs to be cleaned up. Before anyone criticizes me tell me what benefit this junket does for Tallahassee and Leon County?

    In this city there is lawlessness and certain businesses are exploiting citizens…

    There are a few elected officials that should be removed by the governor for dereliction of duty. Commissioners should not be able to vote unless they are in attendance and not phoning in their appearance to a public meeting by Zoom, hence, Dianne Williams-Cox. She also needs to be censured for putting forth false intel recently.

    Breaking news…
    Uber is price gouging in Tallahassee.

  2. Crime is outrageous in 32308, Governor’s Square Mall, Magnolia and Mahan, Capital Circle and Mahan. I do not blame the police! Temporary transitional care permit for City Walk granted by the City, now low-income affordable housing less than a mile away from City Walk with 66 units planned. No one knew about the ongoings by the city commissioners or our representative from the county for the low-income affordable housing on Mahan and Blair Stone until Tallahassee Reports knew about it. This was in the works in February. Thanks Tallahassee Reports for informing all the surrounding neighborhoods on what is going on behind our backs!!!!
    Again, I do not blame the police for our outrageous crime in 32308.
    Transparency By the City – not much!!!!!!

  3. Barb

    Old news… doesn’t seem to relate to anything in these briefs, so not understanding your point. But, here is mine… high crime rate, another DAILEY drive by, which coincidentally is on the mayor’s watch, not a silly dysfunctional committee’s.

  4. For the record:

    Dailey voted against the police abolitionist. Matlow and Porter supported the police abolitionist.

    See TR article dated 12/7/22

  5. @ Tony… BINGO! Eldridge just has to claim that he’s non-binary and focused on inclusion… he’ll be an Assistant Principal at a Leon Elementary School in no time.

    On another note: “Tallahassee fast food restaurant hit in drive-by shooting… It happened Saturday night around 8:45 p.m. at the Burger King near the intersection of East Park Avenue and Magnolia Drive.”

    Those darn guns sneaking out of their gun cabinets and just running around shooting up the place again. I wonder when the impacts of that $5-million will kick-in?

  6. Be happy Deputy Eldridge chose Law enforcement over a career with the Leon County School District. Rocky would give Eldridge an award, not a court date.

  7. Not saying this is Okay BUT…… Eldridge sent an obscene Photo and some obscene Texts to what he thought was a 14 Year Old Girl. Since you arrested him for doing that, does that mean you will arrest Teachers and School Staff for talking to Kids about Gay Sex and Showing obscene Photos to young Kids in School?

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