Teacher Arrested
Maxwell Guss, a 34-year-old Sarasota teacher, was placed under arrest for inappropriately touching students.
He was arrested after two students from Brookside Middle School came forward.
Police stated that this isn’t the first time he was accused of inappropriately touching a student.
Guss left Sarasota High School after a student complained about him touching her inappropriately in 2017.
The student came forward and told how Guss pushed his thumb into her bra and touched the skin above her breast purposefully while pulling up her cardigan.
Guss would also interview students one-on-one asking personal questions related to their love lives, family situations, etc.
According to detectives, Sarasota High School administration never reported it to law enforcement.
Police are asking any additional victims to come forward.
Sex Trafficking Investigation
A Hillsborough County human trafficking investigation is now complete.
It resulted in the arrest of 104 people. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister explained the importance of the undercover operation.
“I strongly believe that in order to eradicate human trafficking we must continue to focus on reducing the demand, “ stated Chronister.
The operation was focused on websites and forums known for soliciting sex in addition to strip clubs, massage parlors and motels throughout the county.
“Predators like this do not belong on the streets in Hillsborough County,” said Chronister.
The investigation ran from June to November.
Homelessness Awareness Ceremony
Seven thousand young people in Tampa Bay will go to sleep on the streets tonight.
A local organization is launching a new initiative to help them.
The nonprofit organization called Starting Right, Now was founded by Vicki Sokolik.
It offers transitional housing and other resources to kids as long as they are committed to staying in school.
Starting Right, Now hosted a ceremony today outside of Ulele’s.
Alongside this event, they are launching a new podcast called “Raising Me.” This podcast will allow homeless youth the ability to share their stories and raise awareness.
State Budget Proposal
Governor Ron Desantis is proposing a $91.4 billion state budget.
“We have a lot of major education initiatives,” stated Desantis. “And these are things, in terms of policy, that I think are very important.”
The proposal includes over $600 million to raise the minimum salary for teachers at $47,500.
Allocations for environmental causes, school safety, and the Florida opioid epidemic are also part of the proposal.
The state legislature will take up the governor’s plan in January.
Women’s Football Scholarship
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have just made NFL history.
They’re the first team to establish scholarships for female high school football players.
In the past, the Buccaneers have successfully partnered with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department to launch the Jr. Bucs Flag Football League as well as hosted the “country’s largest” girls flag football event.
In total, the Buccaneers have reached more than 30,000 girls in football with their past efforts.
With these new scholarships, they will be able to help and support an even larger number of females around the nation.
The scholarships are open nationwide to seniors.
If you have a 3.0 grade point average and play flag or tackle football, you are eligible to apply.
The first round of awards will be given at the end of the 2020 school year.
Anchor: Jeslyn Santiago
Producer: Austin Peet
Director: Nate Lovely
Technical Director: David Jones
Audio: Mahmoud Bennett
Graphics: Will Polston
Prompter: Jordan Gaias
Floor Manager: Natalie Conkel
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Reporter: David Jones.
Radio: N/A
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Gugerty, Jeanette Abrahamsen.
