BORROWERS BETRAYED

Bad mortgage brokers ran wild, Florida admits

In a stinging critique of the state's oversight of the mortgage industry, top Florida investigators found that state regulators failed to alert police agencies to crooked mortgage brokerages, ignored citizen complaints and allowed hundreds of people with criminal histories to peddle loans.

The report released Tuesday to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet criticized the Office of Financial Regulation, saying the agency broke down in key areas, including screening brokers and shutting down shoddy operations, while the state grappled with the nation's worst home loan fraud crisis.

The investigation, carried out by the Inspectors General of the State Cabinet Offices, concluded the state's regulatory system was ``insufficient to protect the people of the state of Florida.''

Palin helps McCain's numbers in Florida

In Florida and other battleground states, Sarah Palin's exuberant following has helped John McCain take the lead or narrow the gap with Barack Obama.

SEPT. 11 | SEVEN YEARS LATER

9/11 justice: Tribunals don't engage public

On Sept. 11, the trials at Guantánamo designed to get justice seem remote, military-run affairs that don't capture the imagination of the American people.

DEERFIELD BEACH

Biden talks to chorus of supporters

Voters at a North Broward condominium said they support Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden because of his foreign policy experience and blue-collar roots.

CAMPAIGN 2008 | SOUTH FLORIDA

Broward vote tally delays raise fears about Nov. 4 election

Delays in counting the primary vote in Broward are raising concerns about the county's handling of the ballot tally on Election Day in November.

BROWARD ELECTIONS

Cash had big role in 3 narrow Broward races

Large campaign war chests might have cast the deciding vote in three hotly contested Broward races.

MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL BOARD

Dade School Board members hint at Rudy Crew's exit

A shake-up on the Miami-Dade School Board is bad news for embattled Superintendent Rudy Crew, who lost one of his loyal supporters when Evelyn Greer lost her seat.

HURRICANE GUSTAV

Hurricane Gustav dips to tropical storm, expected to strengthen

Hurricane Gustav was blamed for at least one death in Haiti, and it could affect gas prices before the Labor Day weekend.

Tropical Storm Gustav churns toward Haiti

First it was Fay. Now, keep an eye on Gustav, which is headed in our general direction, forecasters said.

Low turnout possible in key races in Miami-Dade, Broward.

Political junkies are watching key races for mayor, sheriff and school board, but voters turnout is expected to be low

CAMPAIGN 2008

Storm's wind, rain upstage McCain, Obama campaigns

Tropical Storm Fay trumped politics as both presidential candidates arrived to campaign in Florida.

BORROWERS BETRAYED

Florida's top mortgage regulator steps down

Under fire for weeks, Don Saxon resigned after the Cabinet expressed renewed concern over his agency's oversight of the state's troubled mortgage industry.

PUERTO RICANS

Recession drives educated Puerto Ricans to South Florida

As a salesman for a health club in a suburb outside Puerto Rico's capital, Frank Oquendo saw up close how his earnings and the gym's membership base tanked along with Puerto Rico's economy.

BORROWERS BETRAYED

Regulator now seeks reform of mortgage industry

Embattled state mortgage regulator Don Saxon -- who previously defended his agency's licensing practices -- is now proposing sweeping changes.

VOTER REGISTRATION

Voting drives alter landscape

Democrats are excited over the gains in new-voter registration across the state, but it's hard to forecast the impact Republican Gov. Charlie Crist will have.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Cruise giant is sued over toxic gas

Royal Caribbean is being sued by a former captain who said he was injured in a 2005 accident in which poisonous gas escaped onboard a ship.

Bin Laden's former driver gets 5 more months in prison

In a surprise decision, a U.S. military jury sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver to 5 ½ years in prison, knowing that with time served he could be free by New Year's Eve.

War court convicts first detainee

A Guantánamo military jury convicted Osama bin Laden's driver of some war crimes but not as an overarching 9/11 al Qaeda conspirator.

FLORIDA'S ECONOMY

Real estate bust cost to Florida: $153B

Florida's tailspinning real estate industry is in a market correction, with all properties declining by an unprecedented 6 percent in total value statewide.