MiamiHerald.com: Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade County street-light supervisor charged with taking bribes

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:08 EDT

A Miami-Dade County supervisor who oversaw street lighting projects is charged with accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from a contractor who cooperated with the FBI and Florida Office of Inspector General.

Celebrated University of Miami architecture dean, champion of traditional design, to step down

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:22 EDT

UM architecture dean Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk is stepping down after 18 years at the helm of the school, which she helped boost to national prominence as a center for traditional design and community service.

Miami turns to Jorge Perez, Stephen Ross to carry out long-stalled Watson Island redevelopment

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:15 EDT

High-profile developers Jorge Perez and Stephen Ross are pitching changes to the long-stalled Watson Island redevelopment plan that would make the project less like a plush resort and marina — and more like a mega shopping center.

Former UM student begins 3-year sentence in DUI death

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:58 EDT

A substance detected in a drug test turned out to be a prescription medication.

Miami-Dade property appraiser plans to sue county over office powers

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:55 EDT

The county has treated the property appraiser as an elected department head. But the appraiser thinks his office should be more independent.

Gay activists seek to reverse Florida’s 2008 same-sex marriage ban

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:50 EDT

Gay rights activists have launched an effort to reverse Florida’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

UM student in deadly DUI crash may get stiffer sentence

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:44 EDT

A 21-year-old UM student convicted in a drunk driving crash that left an elderly woman dead may get a stiffer sentence after she allegedly failed a drug test in court.

Toll hike remains on State Road 836

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:34 EDT

An effort to roll back tolls on State Road 836 failed late Tuesday when the board of directors of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) voted 7-5 to keep in place a higher toll rate approved in March.

German Consul General nostalgic on Obama Berlin visit

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:17 EDT

Eva Countess Kendeffy, the top German official in Florida who helped organize Obama’s previous visits to Germany, is nostalgic about Obama’s Berlin visit. She will retire at the end of June.

Miami Beach must pay attorneys’ fees in Urban Beach Week shooting

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:32 EDT

Judge pounds Miami Beach officials for ignoring court order to turn over records in 2011 Urban Beach Week shooting.

Miami-Dade unions call for health-insurance account audit

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:40 EDT

Union leaders say the county has been stockpiling money in its health-insurance trust fund. Miami-Dade says the money helps maintain employee benefits and insurance rates.

Miami Beach advisory board backs Portman-CMC plan to overhaul convention center

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:43 EDT

Miami Beach’s Convention Center Advisory Board voted to recommend the Portman-CMC plan to redevelop the city’s convention center site.

Grand Central Park is haven for skaters in downtown Miami

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:48 EDT

The Skate Park at Grand Central Park in downtown Miami is temporary, but that’s not stopping kids of all ages from enjoying their skateboards and creating dreams for themselves

Rapper Flo Rida, manager will be no-shows at Heat game tonight

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:31 EDT

Miami rapper Flo Rida and his manager, two of the Heat’s biggest fans, may not be at the game tonight.

Vixen Workout gets heart pumping in South Florida

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:23 EDT

A new workout has professional women finding their inner vixen

Miami-Dade commission OKs animal welfare plan

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:16 EDT

Next step is to create legislation for a personal property tax that would fund animal welfare program.

Police call off search for missing Hallandale Beach woman

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:30 EDT

Although they didn’t find any signs of her body or property that may have belonged to her, Hallandale Beach police said they won’t give up.

Gay activists seek to reverse Florida’s 2008 same-sex marriage ban

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:50 EDT

Gay rights activists have launched an effort to reverse Florida’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

German Consul General nostalgic on Obama Berlin visit

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:17 EDT

Eva Countess Kendeffy, the top German official in Florida who helped organize Obama’s previous visits to Germany, is nostalgic about Obama’s Berlin visit. She will retire at the end of June.

Hollywood considers shrinking parking spaces

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:46 EDT

Hollywood’s parking spaces could be getting shorter.

Davie council goes on summer break

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:32 EDT

Davie’s Town Council is taking a scheduled vacation break and will resume its regular meetings on July 17.

Police call off search for missing Hallandale Beach woman

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:30 EDT

Although they didn’t find any signs of her body or property that may have belonged to her, Hallandale Beach police said they won’t give up.

Police search Opa-locka area for body of Hallandale Beach missing woman

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:11 EDT

Witnesses who had been afraid of retaliation have come forward now that main suspect is behind bars for another crime.

Broward “boiler room” sold $2 million in fake precious metals; two arrested

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:34 EDT

Two men have been arrested for operating a Hollywood boiler room operation that allegedly sold fake precious metals totaling more than $2 million to investors across the country, many of whom were senior citizens.

On Hollywood’s menu: Food truck or sit-down restaurant?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:22 EDT

The weekly food truck event attracts 1,800 to Young Circle every Monday night. But city leaders want to make sure they’re not taking business away from restaurants and shops.

Bored no more: Here are ways to have fun this summer

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:52 EDT

School’s been out less than a week, and already it’s started:

Viewing on Monday for 4-year-old who died during visit with mom

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:14 EDT

A viewing and wake will be held Monday for a four-year old Coral Springs boy who was found dead in his mother’s apartment last week.

Business coalitions warn Florida’s failure to expand Medicaid will hurt them

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:31 EDT

The groups argue that businesses may flee the state if lawmakers refuse to accept billions of Medicaid dollars.

With tuition rising slightly, Gov. Rick Scott asks board to be tough on fees

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:33 EDT

Gov. Rick Scott asked the Florida Board of Governors to carefully consider fee hikes for college students next year.

Fred Grimm: Vigilante justice? It’s OK now

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:58 EDT

If justice were based on a homicide victim’s virtue, it would be inarguable — Bryan Antonio DeJesus deserved no justice.

Justin Lamar Sternad says he was duped by campaign manager

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:57 EDT

The political newcomer said he was “manipulated” by campaign manager Ana Alliegro, who promised to find “Democratic donors” for his longshot campaign.

Miami-Dade property appraiser plans to sue county over office powers

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:55 EDT

The county has treated the property appraiser as an elected department head. But the appraiser thinks his office should be more independent.

Gay activists seek to reverse Florida’s 2008 same-sex marriage ban

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:50 EDT

Gay rights activists have launched an effort to reverse Florida’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Potential Zimmerman jurors questioned as a group

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:54 EDT

SANFORD Lawyers began questioning a group of 40 finalists Wednesday who could serve as jurors in the trial of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman accused of murdering Trayvon Martin.

Poll: Sen. Marco Rubio’s support is steady, but still trails Hillary Clinton

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:38 EDT

If a presidential election were held today, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would easily defeat Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Cape Coral toddler dies under suspicious circumstances

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:35 EDT

State welfare workers come under scrutiny in Cape Coral’s toddler’s death

Amazon doesn’t need tax incentives, but localities offer millions in tax breaks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:28 EDT

One Florida county is considering a package of up to $7.5 million in local and state tax breaks for online retailer Amazon to build a new warehouse, creating 1,000 local jobs.

Business coalitions warn Florida’s failure to expand Medicaid will hurt them

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:31 EDT

The groups argue that businesses may flee the state if lawmakers refuse to accept billions of Medicaid dollars.

Fred Grimm: Rush to privatize is all about bucks

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:42 EDT

Our governor was deeply offended by a burst of unkind aspersions after an insurance company that didn’t exist 11 months ago finagled a $52 million deal out of the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Company.

Online ballot fraud marks the ‘e-boletera era of Miami politics’

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:41 EDT

A rash of computer-related absentee-ballot request irregularities has touched four Miami-area campaigns, led to police raids and exposed how election-fraudsters are harnessing the Internet.

One month later, Florida lawmakers no closer to Medicaid deal

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:38 EDT

Medicaid expansion, or some alternative, remains a long shot in Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott signs bill to speed up executions in Florida

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:14 EDT

Under the new law, Gov. Rick Scott could surpass other governors in the number of ordered executions.

Florida officials use onset of storm season to blast Washington

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:50 EDT

Florida Republicans warned that federal budget cuts could harm the state’s ability to prepare for storm damage this hurricane season.

Gov. Scott signs abortion law

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:59 EDT

The law requires doctors performing an abortion to offer emergency care if a baby is somehow born alive.

Judge denies injunction sought by senior arcades

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:48 EDT

A federal judge refused Tuesday to block enforcement of Florida’s new video gambling law, rejecting arguments by the owners of two Broward senior arcades that the measure is unconstitutionally vague and violates the First Amendment rights of their elderly customers.

Gov. Scott signs mortgage-relief law

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:06 EDT

The law aims to protect homeowners from foreclosure abuses.

Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants’ kids vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:42 EDT

Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a measure Tuesday that would have allowed undocumented migrants’ children to get temporary driver’s licenses.

Feds: Prison for Ohio woman who buried mom in yard

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:08 EDT

Authorities say an Ohio woman who buried her mother in her yard and cashed the dead woman's Social Security checks for 14 years has been sentenced to 30 days in prison.

Man gets 35 years for killing former landlady

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:58 EDT

A Tampa Bay area man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for strangling his former landlady and setting fire to her house.

Authorities: OH woman buried mother, cashed checks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:49 EDT

Authorities say an Ohio woman who buried her mother in her yard and cashed the dead woman's Social Security checks for 14 years has been sentenced to 30 days in prison.

5 things to know in Florida for June 20

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:23 EDT

Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.

Hillsborough County approves incentives for Amazon

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:43 EDT

Hillsborough County is giving financial incentives to Internet retailer Amazon.com to build a distribution center.

US and Cuba agree to resume migration talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:23 EDT

The United States and Cuba have agreed to resume bilateral talks on migration issues next month, a State Department official said Wednesday, the latest evidence of a thaw in chilly relations between the Cold War enemies.

OfficeMax, Office Depot pit Ill. v. Fla. for HQ

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:08 EDT

OfficeMax Inc. and Office Depot Inc. want Illinois and Florida to compete to be the home of their combined headquarters if their proposed merger is approved by offering the best package of tax breaks that they can.

Colo. voter citizenship checks yield few responses

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:58 EDT

The latest round of letters questioning the citizenship of some Colorado registered voters has 63 out of 298 people affirming their right to vote, and most recipients are ignoring the May letters altogether.

Correction: Board of Education story

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:33 EDT

In a story June 18 about school district officials speaking to the state Board of Education, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a bill that school districts fear will cost them millions involves high school advanced placement courses. It involves high school students enrolling jointly in college classes.

Tighter security coming for prescription database

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:24 EDT

State health officials said Wednesday they were beefing up security of the statewide prescription drug database to protect patient information, a week after the American Civil Liberties Union said patients' personal information was leaked.

Murder case dropped against North Miami-Dade teen who fatally shot unarmed burglar

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10 EDT

A teen waited outside a Northeast Miami-Dade apartment building for an unarmed burglar to leave and then shot him to death.

Miami-Dade County street-light supervisor charged with taking bribes

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:08 EDT

Bankruptcy judge removes obstacle to American-US Airways merger

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:02 EDT

A federal bankruptcy judge sided Tuesday with American Airlines, overruling a U.S. trustee’s objection to the company’s plan to pay its chairman and CEO a nearly $20 million severance package.

First lawsuit filed against owner of Shuckers

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:36 EDT

The 14-paged complaint was filed Tuesday in Miami Dade Circuit Court alleging the bar and grill was not properly maintained.

With tuition rising slightly, Gov. Rick Scott asks board to be tough on fees

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:33 EDT

Gov. Rick Scott asked the Florida Board of Governors to carefully consider fee hikes for college students next year.

Business coalitions warn Florida’s failure to expand Medicaid will hurt them

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:31 EDT

The groups argue that businesses may flee the state if lawmakers refuse to accept billions of Medicaid dollars.

Celebrated University of Miami architecture dean, champion of traditional design, to step down

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:22 EDT