MiamiHerald.com: Florida

Capitol Buzz: Quiet day expected in Tallahassee

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00 EST

It’s a light-day at the Capitol: Both the House and the Senate are not in session, and there are no scheduled committee meetings.

Landmark settlement with mortgage lenders provides relief for some struggling home owners

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:48 EST

A landmark settlement with mortgage lenders over robo-signing and other abuses will give Florida’s struggling homeowners $8.4 billion in new housing aid.

South Fla. battle brews in case of fake cop who duped court

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:04 EST

Lebrak Morales Gomez is accused of claiming to be a Miami-Dade detective and securing the release of a man who belonged in jail

Polo magnate’s kids, adopted girlfriend, share $300M trust fund, court told

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:56 EST

Palm Beach County polo mogul John Goodman’s two natural children — and his newly adopted 42-year-old girlfriend — are the beneficiaries of a $300 million trust, it was revealed in court Thursday.

Before the ink dries on Florida’s redistricting maps, lawsuits fly

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:49 EST

Moments after legislators take the final vote in their congressional and legislative maps, the Democratic Party and a coalition of voters groups file lawsuits.

House approves $69 billion state budget

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30 EST

Amid complaint from Democrats, the Republican-dominated state House approved a $69 billion budget. Next up: the state Senate.

This Week in the Civil War

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:06 EST

-----

Fla. sheriff: 3 dead after RV park standoff

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:46 EST

Authorities say three people are dead and two critically injured after a hostage standoff at a quiet Florida recreational vehicle park.

Tampa teen shot by gun she found in bedroom

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:06 EST

Deputies say a 15-year-old girl is in critical condition after a handgun she found in her home went off while her mother's boyfriend tried to take it away from her.

Judge delays trial of suspect in NC hiker deaths

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:06 EST

A federal judge has again delayed the death penalty trial of a twice-convicted killer who's charged with killing a couple from Hendersonville in a national forest.

2 Tampa schools will close during GOP convention

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:21 EST

Officials at two Tampa schools say they'll be closing down when the Republican National Convention comes to town in late August because of potential protests and traffic concerns.

Saturday’s $310 million Powerball jackpot sets a Florida record

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:22 EST

Powerball’s recent price increase to $2 per ticket has sparked the richest lottery we’ve ever had a hope of winning in Florida.

More damp weather ahead, followed by a cool, sunny Sunday

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:55 EST

Although the Sunshine State has been murky for most of this week, the overcast skies and rain should give way to a nice cool-down by Sunday, with morning temperatures in the low- to mid-50s and afternoon readings in the upper 60s and low 70s.

Service for Patricia Stephens Due

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:49 EST

A memorial service for civil rights leader Patricia Stephens Due will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 at Florida A&M University’s Lee Hall Auditorium, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tallahassee.

Larger Coast Guard cutter prototype debuts in Miami

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:59 EST

A 154-foot prototype for the new generation of Florida Straits Coast Guard cutter steamed into Government Cut Thursday, a new white ship with an orange stripe designed to replace the smaller cutters folks on the coast typically see.

Board of governors at odds over making USF Polytechnic state’s 12th university

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:07 EST

Lawmakers are crafting legislation to split the Lakeland campus of the University of South Florida into the state’s 12th university, but the Board of Governors is not happy.

Passengers contract Norovirus on Princess ship for 2nd time

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:38 EST

A Princess cruise ship returned to South Florida for a second time after passengers and crew members contracted the Norovirus.

Fleeing thief in Boyton dragged by getaway car

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:29 EST

A woman could be suffering from a severe case of road rash after being dragged by a getaway vehicle while trying to flee a pursuing crime victim and witness.

Veterans Court headed to Broward County

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:46 EST

Chief Judge Peter Weinstein moves plans forward to open a Veterans Court in Broward as more troops head home from the wars.

Ex-South Florida politician to plead guilty to tax charges in federal corruption probe

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:52 EST

Former Fort Lauderdale legislator Mandy Dawson will plead guilty to tax-evasion charges stemming from secret payments she received from a Hollywood doctor at the center of a federal corruption probe.

Former state Sen. Mandy Dawson to plead guilty to income tax evasion

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00 EST

Former Broward state Sen. Mandy Dawson plans to plead guilty in a federal case that accuses her of income tax evasion, according to court records filed Monday.

Miami-Dade college president deems budget allocation process unfair

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:26 EST

The House budget proposal includes special allocations for a trio of colleges in north and central Florida.

Gov. Scott’s Facebook page draws praise and protests

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:58 EST

Gov. Rick Scott’s Facebook page is intriguing because the comments to a question about the Florida Legislature provides a snapshot of a divided state.

Bills to revamp high school sports spark debate

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:27 EST

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

Legislators reject attempt to clarify state’s regulation of slot machines

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:49 EST

While holes in state gambling laws threaten payments from the Seminoles, legislators rejected regulators’ bid for more powers.

Capitol Buzz: Biden visits Tallahassee to talk jobs

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00 EST

Here’s what we’re watching on Monday edition’s of the 2012 Legislature:

Debate on Florida private prisons hinges on cost

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:27 EST

Proponents say private prisons would save seven percent over state-run prisons, but opponents are skeptical.

Legislators propose shifting oversight of utility watchdog

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:26 EST

A proposal to move the office that represents consumers before state regulators gets mixed reviews, as some say it will make the job more political and others suggest it will insulate it from politics.

Charter schools seek construction money

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:45 EST

Florida school districts are fighting a bill that would require them to share construction dollars with charter schools.

As bill dies, future of mega-casinos remains uncertain

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:59 EST

The debate over Las Vegas-style casinos has ended in defeat for supporters, who now have to wait until next year to try again to revive the gambling legislation.

Mega-casino gambling is dead – or is it?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:21 EST

Time to exhale, at least a little, and take down names.

House okays new redistricting map

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:40 EST

The House approved new redistricting maps amid opposition from Democrats who said the political boundaries favor Republicans.

Death penalty sought for alleged cop killer

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:06 EST

Prosecutors say a 19-year-old man should be executed for killing a central Florida police officer in December.

2nd depo sought for convicted Fla. Ponzi schemer

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:06 EST

Convicted Florida Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein could be ordered to give a second round of sworn testimony about the inner workings of his $1.2 billion fraud.

Fla. police: 1 dead, gunman holed up with hostages

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:31 EST

Authorities say two men and one child are dead and a woman and another child are critically injured after a hostage standoff at a Deerfield Beach recreational vehicle park.

Former commissioner gets under 2 years in prison

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:41 EST

A former Orange County commissioner has been sentenced to almost two years in prison in a public corruption case.

Elderly woman dies in house fire

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:51 EST

Authorities say an elderly Tampa Bay area woman was found dead following a fire at her home.

Miss. lawmaker: 'Gulf of America' bill was a joke

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:01 EST

All the people outraged about the Mississippi bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" have missed its satirical intent, the sponsor said Thursday.

Fla. House approves $69.2 billion budget

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11 EST

The Florida House on Thursday voted along partisan lines in favor of a bare-bones $69.2 billion budget for the coming year.

Scientists say NASA cutting missions to Mars

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:06 EST

Scientists say NASA is about to propose major cuts in its exploration of other planets, especially Mars. And NASA's former science chief is calling it irrational.