Tallahassee

Gov. Scott vetoes hundreds of millions from state budget

From a coast-to-coast bike trail to tuition increases, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed more than $350 million from the state budget, which he signed Monday.

18-foot-8-inch python caught in South Florida

The longest Burmese python ever caught in the state - 18 feet, 8 inches long and 128 pounds - was found alongside a rural South Florida road, wildlife officials said Monday.

FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD

Florida National Guard in transition phase

The Florida National Guard’s emphasis is changing as foreign deployments dwindle. Now its members are getting serious training to face a familiar foe — the next big hurricane

Home-buying frenzy: Strong demand collides with scarce inventory

The Open House on a leafy street near South Miami featured a snack wagon with cupcakes and chilled beverages, but the real draw was the newly listed house for sale for $435,000.

BROWARD

Former Miami Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson spends Monday in Broward jail

Chad Johnson, the former Miami Dolphins wide receiver who went on the lam after failing to check in with his probation officer, spent Monday in the Broward County jail before posting bail and being released.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland excited about roster: ‘We got players we wanted’

Despite a flurry of offseason moves, the Dolphins still have ample cap space and will continue tweaking the roster.

Hialeah ‘Shadow banking’

Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and wife surrender to authorities on tax evasion charges

Julio Robaina and his wife are accused of receiving undisclosed cash payments as interest on more than $1 million in personal loans.

ECONOMY

Rare drop in healthcare hiring brings Miami-Dade its slowest job growth in three years

The healthcare sector in South Florida has switched from a reliable jobs producer to an anchor on hiring growth.

Child welfare

Miami-Dade mom of tot who died in hot car has DUI history

A Miami-Dade mom who left her infant son in a sweltering car, where he died, has a history of drug- and alcohol-related arrests.

Pérez Art Museum Miami

Miami’s art museum gets anonymous $15 million gift

An anonymous donor has given $12 million in cash and more than $3 million worth of art to the future Pérez Art Museum Miami.

Miami waitress killed in crash in the Keys for bartender bash

Kristen Rivera and Didier Miles were two young Miami-Dade County waiters who came to Islamorada for the annual end-of-season bash for South Florida restaurant industry workers.

MIAMI

Charges dropped against brothers in Miami murder scene scuffle

Brother Antwan Carl Walker, 27, ran under police crime-scene tape, spurring a struggle as officers tried pushing him away from the body.

Fla. gov. rejects Amazon deal

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has made job creation his top priority since coming into office, has rejected a proposed deal to bring major Internet retailer Amazon to the state.

American Airlines: Passengers without carry-ons get priority boarding

American Airlines is changing its boarding procedures to give priority to passengers who don’t have carry-on luggage that needs to be stored in the overhead bins.

South Beach club operator sentenced to 12 years for “bar girls” racket at Russian-style lounges

A South Beach club operator was sentenced to 12 years in prison for conspiring with his business partners and “bar girls’’ to rip off male customers at their Russian-style lounges.

Courts

Miami-Dade cop wounded in gun battle testifies

Detective John Saavedra grew teary when recalling the three bullets that hit him outside a marijuana grow house in late July.

Hialeah/Miami Lakes

Hialeah, Miami Lakes mayors to duke it out in ‘mixed martial arts’ bout

The mayors of two Northwest Miami-Dade cities will fight in public to raise money for charity.

North Miami

North Miami mayoral candidate says voters chose Lucifer ‘over Jesus’

A North Miami mayoral candidate who received the fewest votes on Tuesday is questioning the accuracy of the numbers.

IN THE CAMPS

Guantánamo: 30 of the 100 hunger strikers now being tube-fed

Guantánamo prison staff members were tube-feeding 30 of the 100 hunger-striking captives on Wednesday, the detention center said, reporting an all-time high last reached in 2005.

MIAMI HEAT

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade intends to play despite painful knee injury: ‘It is what it is’

Dwyane Wade’s right knee is virtually being held together by bandages, and he’s averaging 11.3 points in the Bulls series. But he wants to keep playing.