Brevard County

Dan Reiter a life-long Floridian and surfer, has released his first book called "On a Rising Swell." In the two dozen essays, Reiter chronicles the passionate Space Coast community of surfers who are determined to surf the less-than-perfect sandbars in the small wave capital of the world. FOX 35's Brooks Garner speaks with Reiter about his journey and new book.

Two fires have sparked in the area of Palm Bay. One is fully contained, the second is smaller and not contained. About a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution, according to the Palm Bay Police Department.

A Florida postal worker was arrested after she allegedly drank vodka on the job, drove the wrong way into traffic and threw red Solo cups out of the vehicle. An arrest report shows the woman told officers she was invited to a party on her mailing route and drank two shots of vodka. Katelyne Dye, a 33-year-old postal worker in Melbourne, has since been released on a misdemeanor DUI charge.

Senator Ashley Moody presented her first Florida's Finest Award on Wednesday. The award is aimed at recognizing Floridians from all walks of life who take courageous action to save lives and better their communities. The first recipient, Brevard County's Ashley Willis, is a member of the Indialantic Police Department?s 911 dispatch team who is credited with potentially saving the life of a pregnant woman who was assaulted.

Katelyne Dye, a postal worker in Melbourne, faces charges for allegedly driving drunk while making mail deliveries on April 12. The 33-year-old woman told officers she had consumed two vodkas after being invited to a party along her mailing route. She has since been released on a misdemeanor DUI charge.

Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough has opened a restaurant, lounge and condo complex called "Coa" in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The restaurant and lounge are located in a five-story oceanfront condo complex called "The Surf." The Surf is a high-end development, with all the condos reportedly sold out. Coa serves modern American cuisine with global influences, and the Coa Lounge is a Floridaterranean cocktail lounge.

The dry conditions are continuing across Central Florida, causing brush fires to spark up in the area. To help prevent those fires, a burn ban could go into effect in Brevard County today.

A couple recently had their Brevard Zoo wedding crashed by an unexpected friendly visitor, when a large lion made a special appearance to watch the happy pair speak their vows.

Dogs flocked to Cocoa Beach in Brevard County on Easter Sunday for a day of surfing. The Brevard County Humane Society hosts the event with Ron Jon Surf Shop as their main sponsor. Around 5,000 people, along with their pets, showed up from across the country for the event. The event also included vendors and costume contests.

More than 300 passengers were affected after a flight was aborted due to a mechanical error on Friday night at the Melbourne-Orlando International Airport. Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane veered off a taxiway after exiting the runway, and its right main landing gear collapsed. The flight was set to take off around 11:10 p.m. and was headed to Birmingham, England. No one was injured during the incident.

More than 700 events are scheduled around the U.S. Saturday to protest the Trump administration?s agenda. This round of events, organized under the 50501 movement, will focus on community action in the wake of President Trump?s policies on immigration, transgender rights and other marginalized people in America. Many of the events will be protests, but others will be community-focused food and clothing drives, picnics and other "social support" activities, organizers said on Substack. FOX 35's Stephanie Buffamonte heads over to Cocoa Beach to talk to people at the protests.

Parents, teachers and students are rallying in support of a Florida teacher who is losing her job. Her teacher contract is not being resigned for never year, because she used a student's preferred name without their parent's permission which violated state law. A petition to get the Brevard County teacher's contract renewed has more than 10,000 signatures.

FOX 35's Esther Bower is investigating a health care crisis in Brevard County. Patients in the area say they are waiting hours in the emergency room because hospitals are overflowing. Earlier this month, the Rockledge Hospital shut down its emergency room, and the facility will fully close next week.