Volusia Breaking News Alerts

PIERSON -- A 23-year-old woman reported missing from a home here Thursday night was found the following evening walking on a sidewalk along Granada Boulevard near State Road A1A in Ormond Beach, a Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said.

Photo by Sera Frederick / Police Chief Diane Young has been dogged by a host of problems since she became the city's top cop in March 2010, including two sergeants suspended under her command.

OAK HILL -- Before she became a cop, by her own admission, Diane Young snorted cocaine 100 times and smoked marijuana. She also took quaaludes, commonly referred to as "ludes," according to results of a lie detector test she took as part of her hiring process.

The embattled police chief, beset by a host of corruption allegations by rogue cops under her command for more than a year, admitted to the cocaine and marijuana usage in writing on her application with the city eight years ago. But she left off her use of quaaludes, a highly addictive drug similar to barbiturates, known for its euphoric effects.

The discovery of the third drug was made last month by then-Mayor Darla Lauer who abruptly resigned, saying initially in a resignation letter to the city that it was because of her pending move to Alaska where her husband, an air traffic controller, has a new job. But Lauer told NSBNews.net moments after her e-mailed resignation she was "fed up with the corruption under the command of an inept chief" she never wanted in the first place because of her sordid drug history.

EDGEWATER -- A barefoot man barrelled his way into a woman's home Thursday and demanded pills before he ran off with undisclosed amount property, Edgewater police said.

The victim was accosted at 10:20 a.m. in her India Palm Drive home by a stranger as she was walking inside and forced her in the rest of the way.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 16 percent in April, compared with the same period last year.

Last month, 54,603 incoming and outgoing passengers passed through Daytona Beach International Airport. This compares with 46,888 total passengers in April 2010. For the 12-months ending April 30, passenger traffic increased 17 percent over the prior year to 515,352.

Photos by Sera Frederick / Manuel Perez is the second Oak Hill sergeant to be placed on administrative leave under embattled Police Chief Diane Young. Perez claims Young has threatened to cut off his pay. Please click the attachment to read his allegations.

OAK HILL -- Suspended Sgt. Manuel Perez put the city on notice in writing Tuesday that he is suing Police Chief Diane Young and the municipality, claiming sexual harassment, racial discrimination and other job-related issues.

Courtesy photo / Osama bin Laden, the face of evil, is no more.

The raid Sunday which killed Osama bin Laden was a fine victory for the United States and the world, and President Obama deserves his share of the credit for it, but does that in and of itself make a presidency or even justify re-election? The answer is "no!"

It's the American intelligence ops and the U.S. Navy SEALS who hunted down and killed Bin Laden for whom we owe the greatest gratitude and honor. Americans everywhere are rejoicing and rightly so: The terrorist mastermind was the embodiment of the slaughter of the innocents which Islamic Terrorism has committed since 9/11.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – GOP Congresswoman Sandy Adams, whose 24th district includes New Smyrna Beach,  issued a statement from Washington praising the intelligence and military forces involved in the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden but made no mention of President Obama.

Photo by Sally Gillies / U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio tackles the tough questions in his appearance Wednesday in Daytona Beach.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The crowd of about 200 filed into the theater at the News-Journal Center and found every seat had a perfect view of the plain black stage. They waited patiently through introductions of the myriad local politicians as did the man of the hour, who stood near the back next to the curtain. But when he strode to center stage it was like turning on a thousand-watt light bulb and audience members went wild. Yes, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio was greeted like a rock star.