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Pasco woman arrested for child abuse

Zephyrhills, Florida -- Pasco County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a woman Wednesday accused of throwing her 9-year-old daughter into a wall, trying to strangle her and then threatening to kill her with a box cutter.

Instead, detectives report, 34-year-old Daphine Samai Peace ended up cutting her own wrists. She was sent for a mental evaluation and then booked into the Pasco County Jail charged with Child Abuse and Domestic Battery.

Pasco shelter told to kick out residents

Zephyrhills, Fla. - This kind of Florida weather has many people pulling out jackets and sweaters. Some will even turn up the heat for the first time in months. But for some people, the only clothes they have are the ones on their backs.

They have no furnace or even a bed to sleep in for the night. They depend on the kindness of strangers.

Roughly 40 residents at a shelter located in the Chancey Road Christian Church in Zephyrhills will soon be homeless, and while the cold may not mean much to most people, it means everything to them.

Man sexually attacks girl in front of siblings

Zephyrhills, FL -- A registered felon and sexual predator was arrested Tuesday after police say he raped an 18-year-old girl repeatedly in her home in front of her younger brothers.

According to the police report released Wednesday, on Dec. 31, 52-year-old Joseph Lee Stafford held his estranged wife at gunpoint at his home, tied her up with zip ties and told her he was going to kill her and himself before the new year.

2011 Florida high school grades released

2011 Florida high school grades released

How did your school perform? Check here: Florida School Grades

High School grades are out. Locally Hillsborough reports 93% of its high school receiving either an A or a B grade. Three high schools (Brandon, Chamberlain and Spoto) earned A grades for the first time.

Pinellas has no D or F schools. Pasco school officials report 83% of its schools received either an A or B grade and no school received an F.

Doctor dies in skydiving accident in Pasco County

ZEPHYRHILLS, Florida (AP) - Authorities are investigating the skydiving death of a medical doctor from the Tampa Bay area.

Dr. T. Elaine McLaughlin died while skydiving on New Year's Day.

The medical examiner's office says McLaughlin died as a result of trauma sustained in the accident.

McLaughlin practiced at Suncoast Medical Clinic in St. Petersburg. According to the clinic's website, she had been associated with Bayfront Medical Center for 30 years.

Sumter Electric implements cold weather plan

Sumter Electric implements cold weather plan

Sumterville, Florida - "Sumter Electric Cooperative (SECO) implemented its cold weather plan early this morning due to the very low temperatures in its service territory.

According to SECO Director of Corporate Communications, Barry Bowman, "Any time temperatures are projected to hit 30 degrees or lower our plan for addressing the cold weather is automatically implemented as a precautionary measure. No issues have impacted SECO's electric system thus far.

Cold weather shelter info for tonight, Tuesday

Cold weather shelter info for tonight, Tuesday

With a low pressure system predicted to hold temperatures overnight in the 30's throughout Pasco County and again Tuesday, the Office of Emergency Management will be opening the following cold weather shelters Monday and Tuesday nights.

Hope Lutheran Church
123221 Canton Ave.
Hudson
727-243-1367
Families welcome

The Holy Ground Shelter
8835 Denton Ave.
Hudson
Families welcome

The Christian Church
34921 Chauncy Rd.
Zephyrhills
813-810-8670
Families welcome