MiamiHerald.com: Florida

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.

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.

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.

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.

Guardian contests polo magnate’s adoption of girlfriend, 42

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:28 EST

A guardian for Wellington polo mogul John Goodman’s teenage children is asking a judge in Miami to toss Goodman’s recent adoption of his 42-year-old girlfriend, saying the move defrauded the court, blindsided the children’s mother and shirked public policy on adoptions.

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.

Ethics bill left on cutting room floor of state capitol

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:17 EST

Senate President Mike Haridopolos and his staff effectively killed an ethics bill for 2012 by assigning it to five different committees before the beginning of the legislative session.

Judge excludes testimony from Gulf oil spill trial

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:41 EST

A federal judge has ruled out testimony about a deadly 2005 explosion at a BP PLC refinery in Texas from the first phase of a trial over the oil giant's liability for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida redistricting plans get final passage

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:06 EST

Democrats filed a lawsuit against a congressional redistricting map immediately after that plan and a second one redrawing Florida House and Senate districts received final approval Thursday from the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Man guilty of killing mother, stepfather

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:01 EST

A Tampa Bay area man has been convicted of killing his mother and stepfather.

Suspected mine spotted floating off coast

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11 EST

The U.S. Coast Guard has responded to a suspected mine floating about a mile off the coast of Port Everglades.

Remains identified as missing Knoxville woman

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:51 EST

Skeletal remains found last month in Loudon County have been identified as a Knoxville woman missing more than six years.

Teen gets 12 years for fatal shooting

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:41 EST

A north Florida teen has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fatally shooting another teen.

Fla. mogul, facing trial, adopts his girlfriend

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:41 EST

The story already had people's attention: A multimillionaire polo magnate was accused of causing a drunken-driving wreck that killed a young man. But now, with his criminal trial approaching, a strange twist has raised even more eyebrows: He has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend.

High court rejects stay in Spanish treasure case

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:26 EST

A U.S. Supreme Court justice has rejected an appeal by Florida deep-sea explorers who wanted to hold onto a trove of Spanish shipwreck treasure while the courts finish sorting out ownership rights.