Tight budgets can't keep fireworks down

Sixty-thousand people are expected at downtown Miami's Bayfront Park for its flagship Fourth of July show S...

NIGHTLIFE

Pedestrians taking over Coconut Grove's Commodore Plaza on car-free Saturday nights

In the heart of old Coconut Grove, Commodore Plaza is attempting a comeback by closing down -- to cars -- f...

Volunteer quits top ranks at Burger King HQ for Habitat rooftops

SOUTH MIAMI-DADE

Carvalho: I'll open migrant schools

The Miami-Dade schools chief has promised he'll continue to provide educational programs to migrant childre...

DAVIE

A former U.S. Marine vanishes from his Davie home

A former U.S. Marine disappeared from his Davie home sometime before he was to be fired from his job of 28 ...

MIAMI

New site of flea market draws opposition

Ousted from their longtime spot at the Flagler Dog Track, vendors are hoping to move to a new site on LeJeu...

WEST KENDALL

Police: 2 vandalized mosque

Two teens were arrested in last week's vandalism of an Islamic school in West Kendall. They allegedly plann...

TRANSPORTATION

Tri-Rail pushes ahead with parking projects despite budget woes

Tri-Rail has completed one parking lot in Pompano Beach, is planning to open a new one in West Palm Beach a...

Tight budgets can't keep fireworks down

Sixty-thousand people are expected at downtown Miami's Bayfront Park for its flagship Fourth of July show S...

HOT DOG KING

Miami hot dog king expands into reality TV

All American Hot Dog wants to serve its franks with a little reality TV on the side.

MIAMI HEAT | FREE AGENCY

Miami Heat has contacted Iverson and Artest, insiders say

Pat Riley contacted Allen Iverson and Ron Artest, who is reportedly headed to the Lakers, for exploratory t...

IRAQ

Biden visit raises questions

Protesters paraded through Baghdad, burning American flags and shouting anti-U.S. slogans, during a surpris...

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Palin resigns as governor, leaves plans secret

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a likely 2012 presidential contender, said at a hastily arranged news conference t...

SOUTH CAROLINA GOV. MARK SANFORD

E-mails possibly used to threaten Sanford, lover

An alleged e-mail threat to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and his Argentine lover adds to the mystery of...

Guantánamo detainee interview sites to remain

A prosecutor agreed Thursday that the government will not dismantle overseas locations where a former Guant...

ESPIONAGE CASE

What's in a spy suspect's bedroom?

SOCIAL SECURITY

Dead get Social Security checks; living don't

A new report said that in too many cases Social Security has continued making payments to people who have d...

SENATE | MINNESOTA

Democrats get 60th senator

Democrat Al Franken was finally named Minnesota's junior senator. That gives the Democrats enough senators ...

ENVIRONMENT

U.S. money going for reefs

Federal stimulus money will go to help restore coral reefs.

MADOFF CASE | FLORIDA LAW

Crist signs tougher investment protections

On the same day multibillion-dollar swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison, Florida G...

TAMPA

Heart disease to blame in death of TV pitchman Billy Mays

TV pitchman Billy Mays suffered from heart disease, which the Tampa-area medical examiner believes led to h...

MADOFF CASE | CLAIMS

Many Madoff investors file claims for payouts

Madoff victims hoping to get at least a portion of their lost fortunes back have until Thursday to submit a...

IRAQ

Biden visit raises questions

Protesters paraded through Baghdad, burning American flags and shouting anti-U.S. slogans, during a surpris...

AFGHANISTAN | MILITARY OFFENSIVE

U.S. targets Taliban in Afghanistan

The massive Marine assault launched Thursday in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province is intended to reca...

Deposed Honduran prez accused of drug ties

The regime that ousted Manuel Zelaya in Honduras claimed Tuesday that the deposed president allowed tons of...

IRAQ

Violence continues as Iraqis take charge

On the first day in which Iraqis were in control of their cities, violence continued in Iraq.

Yemeni plane with 153 crashes off Comoros islands

Gas train derails in Italy, kills 14, burns 50

Elia Quiroz was about to go to bed in his home near the railroad station in this Tuscan seaside town when t...

UN tells Honduras to reinstate president

Honduras' ousted president won overwhelming international support Tuesday as he planned a high-profile retu...

ARGENTINA

Gov. Sanford's mistress blasts `media frenzy'

An Argentine journalist briefly discussed her relationship with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and blaste...

Hondurans in South Florida express support for shake-up

Phone cards were the top-selling item Sunday afternoon at Olanchito Mini-Market, a Honduran store along Sou...

South Carolina governor's mistress keeps air of mystery

McClatchy News Service The Argentine mystery woman who stole the heart of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford ...

President's ouster rattles Honduras

The head of Congress was sworn in as president of Honduras on Sunday, while ousted democratically elected l...

U.S. RELATIONS

Honduran envoys are called home, but some stay at post

Honduran diplomats have had to choose sides, with some returning home after Sunday's military coup.

HONDURAS

Honduras quits Organization of American States

The newly installed Honduran government withdrew from the Organization of American States Friday night, af...

Top Honduran military lawyer: We broke the law

The military officers who rushed deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya out of the country Sunday committ...

Honduras rejects OAS appeal to restore president

COUP IN HONDURAS

U.S. reaction to Honduras coup could enhance image in region

Washington's reaction to the coup in Honduras could enhance its regional image, analysts say.

SOUTH CAROLINA GOV. MARK SANFORD

E-mails possibly used to threaten Sanford, lover

An alleged e-mail threat to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and his Argentine lover adds to the mystery of...

CARICOM SUMMIT

Caribbean Community nations seek unity

Members of the CARICOM regional group seek unity as Caribbean nations as economic, trade and immigration ch...

COUP IN HONDURAS

OAS secretary to visit Honduras, push for Zelaya's return

The head of the Organization of American States plans to visit Honduras on Friday to press for the return o...

New Honduran president finds himself in the hot seat

Roberto Micheletti has been president of Honduras just shy of four days. His presidency has been recognized...

COUP IN HONDURAS | THE AFTERMATH

Probe looks into Honduran president's treatment

The showdown over the ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya continued, with diplomats issuing ultimatu...

Economic free fall shakes Caribbean

With the United States in the midst of recession, the tourist-dependent Caribbean searches for ways to cush...

Investigator issues report on Sansom dealings

The special investigator hired by the Florida House of Representatives to investigate Rep. Ray Sansom's dea...

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ALEX SINK

Alex Sink orders her office to review her state-plane use

As questions continue about state-plane use by Cabinet officials, Alex Sink orders an internal review of he...

LEGISLATURE

Florida House panel to review Sansom case

Former House Speaker Ray Sansom faces possible sanctions after an investigator says he may have damaged con...

FLORIDA

Florida governor candidates defend use of state planes

Travel records show how Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum use st...

RAY SANSOM CASE

Document could be the key in Sansom case

Some seemingly cryptic information on a document could be crucial in the prosecution of Ray Sansom, former ...

RAY SANSOM CASE

U.S. takes up investigation of former Florida House speaker

Investigations into the dealings of former House Speaker Ray Sansom continue, despite his indictment.

STATE SENATE

Gov. Charlie Crist's veto was payback for lack of support, state Sen. Steve Oelrich says

A senator suspects Crist's veto of his student transportation bill was a form of retaliation.

GAMBLING

Seminoles balk at Florida's new casino legislation

The gambling legislation awaiting Gov. Charlie Crist's signature isn't likely to win the Seminole Tribe's c...

FLORIDA PRISONS

Florida Legislature gives OK to ship inmates out of state

Sending criminals to out-of-state prisons is a 'safety valve' for Florida's overpopulated prisons.

Crist's high court pick puts him in political center

Charlie Crist seated his fourth Supreme Court nominee, burnishing his reputation as a center-leaning governor

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Senator criticizes Florida's privatization initiatives

A state senator is renewing his criticism of privatization over a no-bid contract.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Many students, not enough room at South Florida community colleges

Demand is soaring at Miami-Dade and Broward community colleges, but the cash-strapped schools can't add eno...

BROWARD SCHOOLS

Some laid-off teachers to be rehired

Some laid-off Broward teachers can expect job offers from the school district this week, mere days after lo...

NORTH MIAMI HIGH | UNICEF'S JUNIOR 8 SUMMIT

Teens to get leaders' ears at global summit in Italy

Four North Miami teens will represent the United States in a global meeting to discuss world problems such ...

EDUCATION

Frank Brogan may leave Florida Atlantic University

FAU President Frank Brogan may apply to become chancellor of the state university system.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Florida Atlantic University professors challenge layoffs

Four tenured FAU faculty members are fighting their layoffs, saying their union contract does not allow that.

EDUCATION

7 South Florida schools on troubled list

Seven South Florida schools will have to make major improvements this school year under a federal mandate.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FIU students oppose renaming campus for Maidique

Some FIU students are upset about the university's decision to rename its main campus for its departing pre...

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Spirits fall as FIU plans to cut cheerleading squad

Citing a tough budget year that has included layoffs and cuts to academic programs, FIU plans to eliminate ...

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Broward teachers bargain for raises in hard times

Experts say teachers unions will have to get creative in negotiating a contract for the upcoming school year.

EDUCATION

Miami-Dade teachers try again to win pay raises

Experts say the Miami-Dade teachers' union will have to 'get creative' in negotiating a contract for the up...

BROWARD SCHOOLS

Broward teachers are losing hope as layoffs loom

Broward School Board members will make the layoffs of nearly 400 teachers official at a meeting Tuesday, th...

WEATHER

South Florida water shortage ended

Another wet month has erased water supply concerns across South Florida, but all the rain will raise floodi...

What better way to declare America's independence than by declaring energy independence

On Independence Day, 2009, America finds its economic future tied to the whims of unstable, and sometimes, ...

Rain barrels turn into art

Rain barrels are good for the Earth, but they're not always easy on the eye. So a group of young artists ha...

Gleaning network hopes to grow

Nine months ago, John Walker's summer plantings of tomatoes, okra, eggplant and beans had played out, and h...

Boom in wood stork numbers sparks debate over endangered status

The wood stork, an ungainly duckling among the Everglades' elegant wading birds, has been breeding in numbe...

California otter population dips after years of recovery

The California sea otter, whose numbers have only recently begun to rebound from the devastating fur trade,...

California gets OK to set tougher regulations on emissions

In a major victory for environmentalists and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Obama administration on Tuesda...

EPA relents, discloses list of high-risk coal ash sites

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday released a list of 44 coal-fired power plant waste sites in 1...

Sulfate-free hair care for colored hair

Hair-care experts say that sulfates, ingredients commonly found in shampoos and conditioners, can be damagi...

Urban agriculture has enormous potential

A year ago, Erik Lindberg rented a boom lift with a bucket and hoisted 15 cubic yards of dirt to the roof o...

Top 10 green U.S. cities

Although the EPA has not established official criteria for ranking the greenness of a city, there are sever...

HEALTHCARE

Say, doc: I'll trade (fill in blank) for a root canal

Doctors who for years have accepted small fractions of their business in barter say they have seen a spike ...

LEGISLATURE | SANSOM CASE

Sansom case exposes lawmakers' culture of secrecy

The reluctance of legislators to pass reforms following the Ray Sansom scandal highlights long-standing fla...

SPORTS

Hall of Fame exhibit 'Viva Baseball' focuses on Hispanics in baseball

Sports writers no longer fixate on the temperament or accent of Hispanic players. But other, newer stereoty...

TO OUR READERS

Our writers learning new ways to cover Iran's difficult story

At one point, while correspondent Warren Strobel was interviewing a group of young voters in Tehran, govern...

HEALTHCARE

Say, doc: I'll trade (fill in blank) for a root canal

Doctors who for years have accepted small fractions of their business in barter say they have seen a spike ...

LEGISLATURE | SANSOM CASE

Sansom case exposes lawmakers' culture of secrecy

The reluctance of legislators to pass reforms following the Ray Sansom scandal highlights long-standing fla...

SPORTS

Hall of Fame exhibit 'Viva Baseball' focuses on Hispanics in baseball

Sports writers no longer fixate on the temperament or accent of Hispanic players. But other, newer stereoty...

TO OUR READERS

Our writers learning new ways to cover Iran's difficult story

At one point, while correspondent Warren Strobel was interviewing a group of young voters in Tehran, govern...

KILLING AT HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

Lessons of anti-Semitism

With anti-Semitism coming back to light in America, Europe and the Middle East, it's time to resist all thr...

One way to help failing car industry: Junk gibberish in names

What exactly is a Cadillac DTS or a CTS and how is a Mercedes CLK different from an SLK? More to the point,...

GOP blind to its race problem

The modern GOP was created in 1965 with a stroke of Lyndon Johnson's pen. If that is an exaggeration, it is...

Illinois cabbie uses deodorant to disarm attacker

Police in suburban Chicago say a taxi driver who didn't have Mace handy when he was attacked by a knife-wie...

Calif. students get X-rated version of class DVD

A Northern California elementary school teacher sent her students home for the summer with a video of class...

NYPD rookie makes arrest moments after graduation

Va. woman rides to landfill in trash bin

Workers at the Frederick County Landfill were surprised by what they found in a large trash bin trucked in ...

Inmate uses toilet paper 'bomb' to attempt escape

The Iron County sheriff's office said an inmate tried to escape from a correctional facility by fashioning ...

Conn. woman's encounter with 'Big Foot' a hoax

A Connecticut woman's close encounter with the mythical beast, Sasquatch or Big Foot, turned out to be noth...

Man says bear mugged him for his Italian sandwich

A northwestern New Jersey man said he was mugged in his driveway by a sandwich-craving bear. Henry Rouwenda...

New Swiss firefighting tool: TV remote control

It must rank among the easiest fires ever to put out. Zurich authorities say police and firefighters were c...

Cops zap pastor protesting traffic stop at church

Police used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray to disperse his congregants Wednesday after the pastor all...

Flight diverted after passenger undresses in seat

A passenger stripped naked during a US Airways flight and resisted a flight attendant's efforts to cover hi...

Mont. Judge rules on case _ 24 years later

The wheels of justice grind slowly, but this is pushing the envelope. In Montana's Toole County, retired Di...