MiamiHerald.com: Florida

Concerns raised about spring training free-for-all

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:49 EDT

Officials in cities with MLB spring training fear state incentives may lead teams to move within Florida.

Rick Scott says budget sets record low for state workers per capita this century

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00 EDT

Gov. Rick Scott claims this year’s state budget is the leanest in years. PolitiFact Florida the claims “Mostly True.”

Sarasota lawmaker carves out legacy in Legislature

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00 EDT

State Sen. Nancy Detert is a hard-charging, 68-year-old Sarasota grandmother who championed three key bills.

Behind would-be Democratic candidate Charlie Crist, a loose-knit crew of advisers

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:56 EDT

If former Gov. Charlie Crist runs against Gov. Rick Scott as a Democrat, he will lean on a select group for political advice.

Pay phones: A thing of the past, or still serving a public purpose?

Sat, 25 May 2013 18:25 EDT

You may not see them, but they’re still there: pay phones. Most, though, in Miami are old and boring, with small ads for mineral water or a clothing line. Should they stay or should they go?

Hue and cry grows over deal for Scott donor

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:02 EDT

The list of lawmakers criticizing Citizens Property Insurance Corp. for a $52 million deal with a new insurance company continues to grow. The latest critic: House Speaker Will Weatherford.By Toluse OlorunnipaHerald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

Fabiola Santiago: Boy Scouts didn’t go far enough

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:36 EDT

It was a historic decision and we can call it progress — the right thing to do for the children — but that’s all.

Boxes of medical records missing from Jackson

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58 EDT

Medical records containing the personal health information of more than 1,400 patients are missing from Jackson Health System.

Lesbian, 18, rejects plea deal that would have kept her off sex-offenders registry; case headed to trial

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:04 EDT

A lesbian, 18, rejects a plea deal after being charged with having sex with a younger schoolmate.

Murder suspect’s death and accusations against him shock Kissimmee neighbors

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:42 EDT

Ibragim Todashev was killed by an FBI agent Tuesday. They say he turned violent after confessing to a triple murder in the Boston area and implicating one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.

Probe into Kendall boy’s death uncovers lie by DCF investigator

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:14 EDT

DCF says its investigator falsified a substance abuse screening of a Kendall mom. Her son later died in a sweltering car.

Weed, fights and guns: Trayvon Martin’s text messages released

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:52 EDT

Murder defendant George Zimmerman’s lawyers Thursday released texts from Travyon Martin’s phone that it plans to place into evidence. A judge will decide if they are relevant.

Forecasters: Thirteen to 20 storms expected in Atlantic this season

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:15 EDT

Hurricane season officially begins June 1, with forecasters predicting an extremely active” hurricane season.

Sweet deal for state taxpayers or Scott donor giveaway?

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:25 EDT

Critics see political donations and heavy lobbying by Heritage Property and Casualty as evidence that Citizens Property and Gov. Rick Scott are tapping the insurer’s $6.4 billion surplus for special giveaways to politically-connected companies.

Senate president, House speaker tout legislative accomplishments during tour

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:37 EDT

Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford hit the road to highlight what they see as success stories of their joint legislative agenda and the 2013 state budget.

Citizens OK’s deal for Scott donor

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:17 EDT

The board at Citizens Property Insurance approved a special $52 million deal for a startup insurance firm that contributed $110,000 to Gov. Rick Scott.

4-year-old, grandfather drown in Panhandle river

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:40 EDT

Authorities say a 4-year-old girl and her grandfather have drowned in the Apalachicola River in Florida's Panhandle.

Ex-Hialeah mayor pleads not guilty to tax evasion

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:15 EDT

Hialeah's former mayor has pleaded not guilty to federal tax evasion charges.

Man who killed longest python gets its snakeskin

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:36 EDT

The South Florida man who caught and killed the longest Burmese python ever found in Florida gets to keep the snakeskin.

2 Tampa Bay deputies shoot suspect several times

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:15 EDT

A man is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being shot in a confrontation with two sheriff's deputies in the Tampa Bay area.

No ticket wins Mega Money game; next jackpot $1M

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:00 EDT

No tickets matched all four numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Mega Money game so the jackpot rolled over to $1 million, the Florida Lottery said Saturday.

3 Fantasy 5 players win $76,438.04 top prize

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:56 EDT

Three winners of the "Fantasy 5" game will collect $76,438.04 each, the Florida Lottery said Saturday.

Suspicious bag investigated at Tallahassee airport

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:56 EDT

Restrictions have been lifted at Tallahassee Regional Airport after authorities removed a suspicious bag discovered in one of the terminals.

Deputies: 22 dead cats found in Fla. man's home

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:11 EDT

A Tampa man has been charged with animal cruelty after authorities discovered 22 dead cats at his home.

Girl charged with library bomb threat

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:11 EDT

A12-year-old girl has been charged with making a bomb threat at a southwest Florida public library.

People can still fish at St. Pete Pier for summer

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:11 EDT

The St. Petersburg Pier is scheduled to close soon, but people will still be able to fish off the structure until later this summer.

Campaign touts alarms alerting kids left in cars

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:11 EDT

South Florida officials are partnering with a charity to help reimburse child care providers for installing alarms that alert a driver when a child has been left in the car.

Gov. Rick Scott to veto tuition hike

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:26 EDT

When he signs the state budget Monday, the governor is also expected to approve an extra $65 million for safety-net hospitals like Jackson and Broward Health.

AARP cancels Florida sweepstakes, blames new state gambling law

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:04 EDT

A new state law cracking down on gambling prompted the nation’s retirees association to eliminate its contests.

Analysts: Supermajority not needed on tax cut vote

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:42 EDT

Legislative analysts flip-flopped on whether lawmakers’ vote on Gov. Rick Scott’s manufacturing equipment tax cut was valid.

Gov. Rick Scott’s choice: to veto or not to veto?

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:36 EDT

Gov. Rick Scott, who campaigned on a pledge to shrink the size of government, has until next week to decide how to trim the largest budget in state history, $74.5 billion.

Fred Grimm: Boondoggle? Hey, it’s for the kids

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:12 EDT

Tallahassee has long resonated with talk about our precious, precious school children. Except lately the allusion has become quite literal.

Florida lawmakers pay peanuts for health insurance

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:24 EDT

The state House quietly kept members’ health insurance rates low. How low? Less than 9 bucks a month.

Miami Dolphins spent big bucks on campaign for canceled election

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:06 EDT

In six weeks, the political campaign for tax dollars to fund a Sun Life Stadium renovation became one of the most expensive in Miami-Dade history.

Fight over money for tutoring went down to the wire

Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00 EDT

South Florida lawmakers led the charge to give millions of dollars to private tutoring firms, even after revelations of fraud and lax oversight in the programs.

Pet projects may face Governor Rick Scott’s veto pen

Sat, 11 May 2013 19:43 EDT

From alligator marketing to rowing centers, the state budget has millions of dollars aimed at lawmakers’ pet projects. The governor has until May 24 to approve or veto them.

An attack on Gov. Scott that doesn’t add up

Sat, 11 May 2013 23:43 EDT

Florida’s Democratic chairman attacked Gov. Scott over his teacher pay promise. Unfortunately, her math didn’t make sense.

Bill would allow online vendors better access to public school funding

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00 EDT

Though the vote garnered little attention from outside observers, Republicans hailed it as among the year’s most important victories for school choice.

Agency puzzled over windfall for springs

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:00 EDT

Lawmakers approved spending $10 million to protect the state’s springs, but the Department of Environment Protection doesn’t know what to do with the money.

Governor expected to veto tuition hike

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:43 EDT

State universities say they aren’t counting on extra money the Legislature approved.

Hospital loses medical records for 1,400 patients

Sun, 26 May 2013 03:07 EDT

Free credit protection services have been offered to more than 1,400 Jackson Health System patients whose medical records have been missing since January.

Australian woman preps for Cuba-to-Florida swim

Sun, 26 May 2013 03:07 EDT

An Australian woman is getting ready to try swimming from Cuba to Florida.

Towns' HR lifts UVa past FSU, 7-4 in 12 innings

Sat, 25 May 2013 16:16 EDT

Kenny Towns' three-run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted Virginia past Florida State 7-4 on Saturday at the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament.

Texas authorities searching for escaped prisoner

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:16 EDT

North Texas authorities are searching for a prisoner who escaped from a van transporting him and others from Louisiana to Florida.

S Florida town puts unwanted bridge up for sale

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:36 EDT

For sale in South Florida: A brand-new but unwanted bridge that has never been crossed.