NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Adam Barringer stood front and center before 500 strong Thursday night at the Brannon Center, promising their taxes would go down if they were willing to incorporate.

Photo for NSBNews.net / Headline Surfer

PORT ORANGE -- Dear Friends: As you probably know, the 2012 Legislative Session ended last month. Now that I’m back in Volusia County, I wanted to pass along a report of the main issues that were discussed and acted on in Tallahassee this year. Most importantly, I’m proud to report that we once again fulfilled our constitutional duty of passing a balanced budget.

NSBNews.net photos by Henry Frederick / Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of slain 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, are flanked by the Rev. Al Sharpton and their attorney Benjamin Crump as several thousand cheered them on in Sunday's downtown Miami rally.

MIAMI -- NSBNews.net, New Smyrna Beach's 24/7 Internet newspaper, scored an exclusive interview today with Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, the parents of Trayvon Martin, following the big rally attended by several thousand people in downtown Miami.

The "Justice Rally" included singer Chaka Khan and retired NBA superstars Alonzo Mourning and Isaiah Thomas who flanked the grieving parents on stage.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The weekly Observer newspaper has relocated its operations to the Edgewater home of Michele and Robert Wayne Lott since they were kicked out of their suite on Flagler Avenue after falling behind on the rent, their landlord told NSBNews.net.

The Lotts obtained a home occupation license in mid-April from Edgewater to operate the newspaper out of their Riverside Drive home, but have failed to seek a similar license from the county, which still shows them operating as a commercial business on Flagler Avenue.

Editor's Note: This story will be updated shortly.

NSBNews.net video by Sera Frederick / Volusia County School Board Chairman Stan Schmidt addressed the New Smyrna Beach Class of 2011 at Saturday's commencement at the Ocean Center. He was interviewed on camera after the graduation on stage by NSBNews.net on a number of issues, including his impressions of the graduation, the school district's finances and dealing with budget shortfalls. 

DAYTONA  BEACH -- Volusia County School Board Chairman Stan Schmidt encouraged the graduating seniors of New Smyrna Beach High School to get involved in their communities and to vote. After the ceremony, he told NSBNews.net he's worried about funding for schools after the next fiscal year because of uncertainty in government spending.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County Council Chairman Frank Bruno has advice for the New Smyrna Beach High School Class of 2011: "Education is the key.

NSBNews.net video by multimedia editor Sera Frederick / Principal James Tager celebrates his first year at helm of 400-member graduating class after four years at middle school as principal. Tager led Saturday's commencement at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach where he sent 400 seniors into the real world as young adults.

DAYTONA BEACH -- James Tager may be a rookie principal at New Smyrna Beach High School, but he already knew many of the 400 graduates from their four years together at the middle school where he was also principal. NSBNews.net spoke with Tager immediately after Saturday's graduation at the Ocean Center attended by more than 4,000 parents, extended family members and friends.

NSBNews.net video by multimedia editor Sera Frederick / Class Valedictorian Ericka Kirkpatrick addresses her classmates at Saturday's graduation at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The full text of her address is attached.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Valedictorian Ericka Kirkpatrick reminded her 399 classmates they came into the world two decades ago with the birth of the Internet. With its growth, they too can grow and make a difference in the lives of so many.

NSBNews.net video by multimedia editor Sera Frederick / Salutatorian Drew Walker addresses his classmates during the graduation ceremony Saturday at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. A copy of his speech is attached. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Nice guys don't always finish last. Sometimes they finish second. Such is the case with Salutatorian Drew Walker who encouraged his classmates to endure as they face the realities of a 21st-century world with an entrenched economy where those planning to attend college will have to deal with higher tuition rates and decreasing financial aid.