http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/index.html http://media.miamiherald.com/images/logos/rss_sitelogo.gif http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/index.html 140 25 News, sports and entertainment from MiamiHerald.com en-us Copyright 2009 MiamiHerald.com Florida 60 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:02:11 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys miamifeedback@miamiherald.com http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/844567.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/844567.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:01 EST In the deepest of sweeping cuts to environmental programs, Florida lawmakers plan to ax the state's premier land-buying program, Florida Forever. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/844562.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/844562.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer appears a slam dunk away from reelection, with endorsements from every top GOP official and facing only two token opponents who worked for fringe presidential candidates Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/843042.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/843042.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:42 EST Florida's legislators will vote Thursday on two plans to close the state's $2.3 billion deficit by slashing programs that, some hospital officials say, could set off a statewide healthcare system crisis. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/842600.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/842600.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:51 EST When Stacy Ritter shows up at Florida's official presidential inaugural ball in the nation's capital, she'll be wearing a gown she purchased eight years ago. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/842581.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/842581.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:51 EST Florida ranks 10th in the nation in overall quality of education, according to the annual report card released by Education Week on Wednesday. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/844740.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/844740.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Caught running a red light? You'll pay $208. Speeding 25 mph over the limit? Get ready to cough up $258. If you pay a fine late: Tack on an extra $16. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/844740.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/844740.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Caught running a red light? You'll pay $208. Speeding 25 mph over the limit? Get ready to cough up $258. If you pay a fine late: Tack on an extra $16. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/844567.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/844567.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:01 EST In the deepest of sweeping cuts to environmental programs, Florida lawmakers plan to ax the state's premier land-buying program, Florida Forever. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/843059.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/843059.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:40 EST The Florida Senate is considering halting the state's premier land-buying program, Florida Forever, to stave off more pressing budget cuts. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/843042.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/843042.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:42 EST Florida's legislators will vote Thursday on two plans to close the state's $2.3 billion deficit by slashing programs that, some hospital officials say, could set off a statewide healthcare system crisis. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/840728.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/840728.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Teachers are digging into their own pockets for school supplies. Identity-theft investigations are slowing down. And thousands of nursing-home workers are bracing for layoffs. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/839205.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/839205.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:01 EST House Speaker Ray Sansom reluctantly resigned a six-figure job at his hometown college Monday, succumbing to intense public criticism and questions about tens of millions in tax dollars he steered to the school. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/839178.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/839178.html Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:01 EST Florida lawmakers began a grim budget-cutting session Monday with more bad news: the state's deficit is likely $100 million bigger than expected and Florida leads the nation in food stamp requests. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/836787.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/836787.html Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Florida legislators will start the new year in familiar fashion: by cutting aid to schools and other programs, borrowing money, skimming cash surpluses and hiking traffic and court fees to patch a $2.3 billion hole in a leaky state budget. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/832122.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/832122.html Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:01 EST House Speaker Ray Sansom has hired a well-known Tallahassee lawyer to defend him against an ethics complaint filed in connection with his taking a $110,000 job at his local college. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/832117.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/832117.html Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:01 EST The state Legislature will give the public a fleeting chance to sound off next week before making deep cuts in programs to patch a $2.3 billion budget deficit. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844300.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844300.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:44 EST A former Miami police officer accused of providing protection for purported shipments of cocaine will spend nine years in prison. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844290.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844290.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:29 EST A caravan of jeeps and trucks rolled into Cuba's capital Thursday, cheered only by a smattering of school children - a subdued tribute to the 50th anniversary of the original wild street party that greeted Fidel Castro and his bearded rebels. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844136.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844136.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:34 EST Gov. Charlie Crist's experimental program to encourage business expansion with low-interest loans was on track for passage after getting approval Thursday from a Senate committee. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844080.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844080.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:49 EST The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday returned control of the Miami-Dade housing agency to the county, ending a temporary takeover that began more than a year ago. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844037.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844037.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:24 EST Florida lawmakers were split Thursday over spending cuts and fund shifts to resolve a budget deficit of at least $2.3 billion. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844017.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844017.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:09 EST An appellate court has upheld a $7 million judgment against a Tallahassee day care center for the parents of a 7-month-old toddler found with bites, bruises and swelling across her body. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844009.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844009.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:04 EST A Broward County judge has ruled that a teenager charged with fatally shooting a friend at a South Florida high school will soon undergo a psychiatric evaluation. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844004.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/844004.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:59 EST A former southwest Florida teacher will spend six months on probation for a battery conviction. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843959.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843959.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:25 EST Former Alabama first lady Cornelia Wallace, who threw herself over Gov. George C. Wallace when he was shot in a 1972 assassination attempt, died Thursday in Sebring, Fla. She was 69. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843845.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843845.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:29 EST The Florida House is debating a budget-reduction package that includes nearly $1 billion in spending cuts for schools, health care and other state functions. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/842601.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/842601.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:01 EST House Speaker Ray Sansom's troubles deepened Wednesday when a North Florida prosecutor said he will ask a grand jury if it wants to investigate the lawmaker's dealings. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840728.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840728.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Teachers are digging into their own pockets for school supplies. Identity-theft investigations are slowing down. And thousands of nursing-home workers are bracing for layoffs. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840747.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840747.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Former Gov. Jeb Bush is taking a pass on Florida's up-for-grabs U.S. Senate seat in 2010, dashing the hopes of Republicans thirsting for a heavyweight champion and setting the stage for fiercely competitive primaries in both parties. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840727.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840727.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:01 EST A year and half after slipping $6 million into the state budget for an emergency facility at his hometown airport, House Speaker Ray Sansom led a hastily arranged meeting with local officials to explain how they might use it. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840691.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/840691.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:47 EST A rival sugar grower has filed a second legal challenge to the state's $1.34 billion land deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. Florida Crystals filed an administrative complaint against the South Florida Water Management District on Tuesday, the deadline to formally contest the actions of a state agency. The district's governing board, by a 4-3 vote Dec. 16, approved the purchase of 180,000 acres of U.S. Sugar land. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/839178.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/839178.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Florida lawmakers began a grim budget-cutting session Monday with more bad news: the state's deficit is likely $100 million bigger than expected and Florida leads the nation in food stamp requests. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/839172.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/839172.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Somewhere in the Texas border town of Brownsville, the bodies of Yessica Guerrero Escobedo, her husband, Jose Luis Escobedo, and their two sons lie in a cemetery. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/839171.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/839171.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:01 EST Barack and Michelle Obama's inauguration dance cards are getting filled up with 10 officially-sanctioned balls, including a Southern Inaugural Ball to which Floridians are invited. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/829415.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/829415.html Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:01 EST More than a year before accepting a controversial job with his hometown college, House Speaker Ray Sansom was regularly taking direction from the man who later would become his boss. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/824804.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/824804.html Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:01 EST To close a $2.3 billion budget hole, Gov. Charlie Crist asked lawmakers Tuesday to gamble a bit: Raid savings accounts and trust funds, avoid permanent spending cuts for now and hope for better times to come. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/824806.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/824806.html Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:01 EST Gov. Charlie Crist started to quiet criticism over a Cuban-American lawyer's nomination for a Supreme Court seat by saying Tuesday that he'll consider another candidate, Judge Jorge Labarga, for the seat as well. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/823582.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/823582.html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:32 EST Weston legislator Franklin Sands -- Democratic leader of the Florida House -- said Monday he and his wife Leslie Sands are among investment advisor Bernard Madoff's victims. He didn't specify their loss but said it's ''significant'' and that he is assessing his options for recovery. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/821328.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/821328.html Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:01 EST By taking a six-figure job at a state college, House Speaker Ray Sansom has focused attention on a pattern of behavior that has gone on largely unchecked for decades in Florida's higher education system. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/819026.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/819026.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:01 EST The state's top lawyer and a local parimutuel on Thursday began pursuing a two-pronged approach to staunch the spread of the Seminole Tribe's Las Vegas-style card games, such as blackjack, which the Florida Supreme Court nullified months ago. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/819028.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/819028.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:01 EST Florida lawmakers can fill a $2.3 billion budget hole by slightly trimming government spending, nearly emptying savings accounts and approving a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, according to a draft document approved by Gov. Charlie Crist. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/817460.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/817460.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:01 EST Fresh from cutting up to $123 million in spending, the Miami-Dade School Board has taken its case to the state Capitol to spread the word: Don't cut classroom spending any more. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843812.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843812.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:09 EST A judge agreed Thursday to some restrictions on how autopsy photos and X-rays of a toddler's remains can be viewed by the defense team for her mother, who is charged with killing her. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843740.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843740.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:19 EST A former O.J. Simpson co-defendant who was given probation after testifying against the fallen football star has been jailed and could be sent to state prison for failing a drug test, his lawyer said Thursday. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843670.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843670.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:39 EST The parents of a 23-year-old Florida woman killed during a botched police drug operation said Thursday they'll work with state lawmakers on legislation to better protect confidential informants like their daughter. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843664.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843664.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:34 EST The parents of Ashley Truitt, the Solon teenager convicted of dumping her newborn baby down a trash chute at a south Florida hotel, said they don't believe their daughter killed the infant. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843651.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843651.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:19 EST Charles Morgan Jr., a civil rights-era lawyer from Alabama who represented Julian Bond and Muhammad Ali and argued for the "one man, one vote" principle that redrew political maps, died Thursday. He was 78. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843621.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843621.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:59 EST Scientists in the Florida Keys discovered the first nonnative lionfish in the region that is home to the country's only living coral barrier reef. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843620.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843620.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:59 EST Authorities say police fatally shot a Sunrise man who was wanted on felony warrants after the 28-year-old dragged an officer through a parking lot while trying to flee in a car. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843604.html http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/843604.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:44 EST A wealthy businessman convicted of acting as an illegal Venezuelan agent in an attempt to cover up a political scandal involving a cash-stuffed suitcase is asking for a lenient three-year federal prison sentence.