Scott Rothstein’s uncle pleads guilty to fraud in $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme

Scott Rothstein’s uncle pleaded guilty to fraud charges in federal court Wednesday for his supporting role in the Fort Lauderdale lawyer’s massive investment scam.

Man ordered by judge to go on date with wife

A marital spat that began when a Plantation man didn’t wish his wife a happy birthday and then escalated into a domestic violence charge, resulted in an unusual bond court ruling by a perceptive judge.

TOURISM

Key West and Miami Beach ranked among ‘trashiest’ Spring Break destinations

South Florida is getting a bad rap in national media. Jealous, anyone?

WAR COURT

State Department: Guantánamo lawyers can’t question Yemeni leader

Pentagon lawyers for a Guantánamo captive want to get sworn testimony from the Yemeni leader, now in New York for medical treatment, but the State Department responds that he has diplomatic immunity.

Fort Lauderdale airport to test lower-hassle screening

A new passenger screening program to make check-in more convenient for certain travelers is being expanded to 28 more major U.S. airports, the government said Wednesday. There will be no cost to eligible passengers, who would no longer have to remove their shoes and belts before they board flights.

2012 Florida Legislature

Bills to revamp high school sports spark debate

A pair of proposals would dramatically change the structure of high school sports in Florida.

Courts

Audio statement details torture of 10-year-old Victor Barahona

In the months following the death of his twin sister, Nubia, Victor Barahona revealed the horrifying incidents of abuse by his adopted father

Experts: Marriage ban's path to high court unclear

Conservative critics like to point out that the federal appeals court that just declared California's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional has its decisions overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court more often than other judicial circuits, a record that could prove predictive if the high court agrees to review the gay marriage case on appeal.

DORAL

Miami postal worker drowns in storm drain accident

A U.S. Postal Service employee died in a freak accident early Tuesday when he tumbled into a storm drain while trying to retrieve his cellphone in a parking lot of the mail processing facility in west Miami-Dade.

Jackson Health System

Jackson Health System, union agree on $52 million in concessions

Jackson Health System and SEIU agreed to a new three-year contract after months of intense bargaining, but union workers can earn back some of their concessions by finding efficiencies.

Miami Heat

Miami Heat continues counting on Udonis Haslem

Udonis Haslem has recovered from injury and maintained his reputation as the ‘glue guy’ whose worth doesn’t show up in statistics.

Broward Inspector General: Narcotics stolen, unaccounted for at Medical Examiner’s Office

Thousands of narcotic pills, including oxycodone and hydrocodone were stolen and unaccounted for at the Broward County Office of the Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, according to a report issued Monday by the Inspector General’s office.

Jackson Health System

Uninsured woman’s search for surgery shows challenges faced at Jackson Health System

The case of a Hialeah single mother illustrates key issues — uninsured patients with complicated cases — facing Miami-Dade’s beleaguered public health system.

Enter the Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge

Find the contest rules and all you need to get started on your entry, but first let’s look back on the progress of last year’s winners.

Miami Beach

Miss USA pageant won’t return to Miami Beach

The Miss USA beauty pageant — a fixture on Miami Beach decades ago — won’t return to Miami Beach this year, but negotiations continue to bring the event to South Beach for a three-year run.

A classic Florida swindle, with a Russian twist

A Russian couple with expensive tastes hooked hundreds of investors in a classic Florida-swampland-style scheme, then vanished in the night, the feds say

SUPER BOWL XLVI | GIANTS 21, PATRIOTS 17

Manning rallies Giants to Super Bowl XLVI win over Patriots

For the second time in five seasons, quarterback Eli Manning directed an underdog Giants team past Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl, this time doing it in brother Peyton Manning’s town.

Casino bill all but dies as Fresen asks for postponed vote

After a lengthy debate, a House Business and Consumer Affairs and subcommittee stopped short of killing the bill to bring three so-called destination resorts to Florida but, by failing to take a final vote on the measure, left it on life support.

Caught on camera: Miami passengers fly as truck slams into bus

A video released to El Nuevo Herald by Miami-Dade Transit this week shows passengers being thrown to the floor when a Metrobus and a FedEx truck collided in Miami on Jan. 24.