Spaceship Earthto reopen at Disney

By Times Wires
Published December 21, 2007

LAKE BUENA VISTA

Epcot's iconic white sphere, Spaceship Earth, closed for nearly six months, will reopen to the public today with a new story line and digital enhancements.

The show's producer, Bob Zalk, says the new story is about innovations and how they inspire the next generation.

The ride features new show scenes, lighting effects and costumes with a new musical score narrated by Judi Dench. The ride's vehicles remain the same, but include new touch screens. There will also be an interactive component.

CORAL SPRINGS

Former mayor arrested in molestation case

A former Coral Springs mayor has been arrested on child molestation charges. John Sommerer is held without bail at the Broward County Jail. He is accused of molesting a girl under the age of 12 since last year.

Authorities say he faces nine counts of lewd and lascivious actions involving a child.

The 60-year-old served as mayor of Coral Springs for a decade before term limits forced him from office in 2004.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Woman arrested in insurance scheme

A woman who made national headlines in 2001 after she told police she put her newborn in a backpack and threw it in a canal was arrested Thursday for violating probation in an insurance fraud scam, authorities said.

Aimee Lee Weiss, who was an office assistant for a chiropractor, was one of three suspects arrested in the undercover operation. She is charged with making a false and fraudulent insurance claim and violation of probation, said Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman Elliot Cohen.

Weiss, 24, and others charged insurance companies for treatments that were never performed.

Two healthy undercover detectives were diagnosed with concussions and a broken neck. The office never treated the detectives, but submitted 46 claims totaling $18,075 and promised to give the detectives a cut of the insurance payments, according to a news statement.

BARTOW

Teacher made lewd request, police say

Police say a Bartow High School student hoping to improve her math grades through extra credit instead got a lewd request from her teacher.

Isaac Nathan Tillis was arrested after repeatedly telling the student she could earn an "A" if she gave him oral sex. He lured the girl into a teacher's lounge bathroom on Wednesday, but once inside police and the girl sprung a trap.

The 16-year-old was wearing a hidden listening device, which recorded Tillis' proposition after he dropped his pants, police said. The 29-year-old teacher had also scribbled his request on a hall pass, an arrest report said.

Officers arrested Tillis and charged him with soliciting a lewd sex act from a minor.

[Last modified December 21, 2007, 00:22:59]