Local Weather
Tuesday, Mar 9
Partly Cloudy
Currently: 72˚F
Feels Like: 72˚ F
Hi: N/A˚, Lo: 62˚
Tonight: 62˚
Sunset: 6:26 PM
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent
Wednesday, Mar 10
Hi: 78˚, Lo: 68˚
Thursday, Mar 11
Hi: 80˚, Lo: 70˚
Friday, Mar 12
Hi: 80˚, Lo: 66˚
Saturday, Mar 13
Hi: 76˚, Lo: 55˚
weather feed courtesy of weather.com - thanks!
Health Care Issues: The Public Insurance Plan
Writer: Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
A look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE:
Should Americans have the option of getting health insurance from a government plan that competes with private companies?
THE POLITICS: Many Democrats want to do away with private insurance and replace it with something resembling Medicare coverage for all, but that’s not politically feasible. Offering the choice of a government insurance plan was a compromise within the Democratic Party. Liberals’ preferred approach was to make the plan as cheap as possible for consumers and the government by tying payments to doctors, hospitals and other providers to the rates Medicare pays. But moderates feared that would result in ruinously low rates for providers, particularly in rural districts.
Headlines: November 9, 2009
HURRICANE IDA
The Florida Panhandle is potentially in harm’s way from Hurricane Ida. It is headed north from Mexico to the Gulf Coast with winds at 100 miles an hour. Residents in Pensacola and other parts of northern Florida have cancelled school. November storms are rare. The last one to make land this late in the season in the U.S. was Hurricane Kate in 1985.
STROLLER RECALL
More than a million McClaren strollers are being recalled. There is a problem with the hinges. They can cut off your child’s fingers. Do not use the stroller, until you get a plastic cover from McClaren. The company will make an official announcement tomorrow and provide information about how to get the hinge covers.
The recall affects every stroller the company made between 1999 and 2009.
NW 7TH AVENUE FLEA MARKET SHOOTING
Authorities are asking anybody who knows anything about the robbery at the Flea Market, NW 7th Avenue and 139th Street, to call Crimestoppers. One person, a customer, shot when the 3 gunmen stormed the flea market and opened fire.
LAWRENCE TAYLOR ARRESTED
NFL Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylro is free on bond. He was arrested last night in Miami Dade County for leaving the scene of an accident. Taylor’s mug shot is on TMZ. Taylor has had a history of run ins with the law. He was arrested four times between 1996 and 98 on: drug related charges and for not paying child support. The 10 time Pro-Bowler recently returned to the spotlight competing on Dancing with the Stars.
MIAMI GARDENS MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE
A Miami Gardens man, 38 year old Louis Bradshaw sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife’s lover, Kellon Wilson. It happened in March. His wife, Christina Bradsahw was convicted of accessory for helping her husband get away to Jacksonville. She’ll be sentenced, November 29th.
Broward raids: More than 100 arrested in Broward crime sweep — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Great work on the behalf of our local law enforcement agencies on their recent busts and seizures.
Detectives from local, state and federal agencies arrested more than 100 people in Broward County over the past few days on a host of charges ranging from prostitution to child pornography.
The two-day operation ended Saturday morning with 132 arrests, said Dani Moschella, spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The sweep included the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, state agencies and police from Hollywood, Lauderhill, Sunrise and Hallandale Beach.
Detectives targeted prostitutes, online predators and drug dealers, Moschella said. She said police seized four guns, 1,842 prescription pills, 407 pounds of marijuana, 3.4 kilos of heroin, 877 grams of cocaine, eight cars and more than $63,000 in cash.
In addition to the vice arrests, two men were arrested for possession of child pornography, Moschella said.
Broward raids: More than 100 arrested in Broward crime sweep — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Headlines: Ft. Hood Shooting Details Being Slowly Released
Soldiers wait for news of fellow soldiers after a shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
By Robin Abcarian, Ashley Powers and Josh Meyer of LA Times
Reporting from Ft. Hood, Texas, Washington and Los Angeles — An Army psychiatrist who was about to be deployed to Iraq allegedly armed himself with two guns and opened fire Thursday afternoon on the grounds of Ft. Hood, the country’s largest military base, killing 12 people and injuring 31 others.
Associated Press last reported at 2:30am that 13 are dead and 30 wounded in this horrific rampage that took place at Fort hood in Texas on Thursday. Suspected shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was shot four times, is on a ventilator and unconscious in a hospital.
Officials said that soldiers and civilians ripped apart their clothes to make bandages for fallen colleagues, many of whom were waiting at the base’s Soldier Readiness Center for medical and dental exams before deployment. The attack shocked the country and raised questions about base security.
Headlines: November 5, 2009
MIAMI MAYOR WANTS POLICE CHIEF FIRED
Miami Mayor elect, Thomas Regalado doesn’t officially take office until next Wednesday, but he’s already promising to shake things up. His first order of business is apparently to fire police chief, John Timoney. Reglado has already talked to the City Manager about it and says he’ll keep talking to him about it every day. Timoney says he has no intention of resigning.
FORMER MIAMI DADE JUDGE CONVICTED
A former Miami Dade judge, Phillip Davis, is now felon, convicted of fraud and money laundering for stealing money from a program he started to help inner city residents get jobs. He could get up to 30 years. He’ll be sentenced January 8th. In 1991 Davis was acquitted of bribery charges stemming from the FBI sting, “Operation Court Broom”.
Fort Lauderdale police involved shooting leaves two injured
By Alexia Campbell and Sofia Santana, South Florida Sun Sentinel
November 4, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE – Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that has sent two people to the hospital, officials said.
The shooting happened about 1 p.m. in the 100 block of Northwest First Avenue, behind a downtown McDonald’s.
None of the officers involved were seriously injured, said Fort Lauderdale police spokesman Sgt. Frank Sousa. He did not know to what extent the two people hospitalized were injured.
Sousa said he did not immediately have additional information about what may have happened, but police officials plan to make a statement later this afternoon.
Suzanne Nation, 47, who works at the administrative offices of the Jerk Machine restaurant, next to crime scene, said she heard four gunshots. She then heard sirens and went out to see about 10 police cars and four fire trucks.
"It was just a sea of fire trucks, police officers – oodles of them," Nation said.
Headlines: November 4, 2009
MIAMI MAYOR ELECT, THOMAS REGALADO
The longest serving Miami City Commissioner, Thomas Regaldo waking up as Miami Mayor- Elect, after a landslide victory over Joe Sanchez. Regalado won 72 percent of the vote. He campaigned on a platform of change, among other things, getting rid of police chief, John Timoney. Regalado is not a supporter of the Marlins Stadium and does not believe major expansion is in Miami’s best interest. Regalado officially takes office November 11th.
SPENCE-JONES RE-ELECTED TO MIAMI COMMISSION
Miami Commissioner, Michelle Spence-Jones re-elected to the Miami City Commission and in North Lauderdale, incumbent Mayor, Jack Brady re-elected and in Homestead, former City Council member, Steve Bateman is the new Mayor.
SLOTS AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
Miami Dade Commissioners taking a gamble on money to help finance expansion at Miami International Airport. They’ve agreed to apply for a permit to install slot machines at MIA. Some local gaming operations fear it will hurt their business. Commissioners say they don’t think so, saying the slot machines would be beyond security checkpoints.
Netflix: Coming soon to PlayStation3, Reserve your FREE disc to instantly stream movies Now!
We have seen Netflix dominate the movies at home business and they are about to take the next step in providing streaming services to gaming consoles. The Instant Streaming Disc offered by Netflix will allow you to connect to your Watch Instantly Queue on your Playstation 3 console. I would personally prefer to see a add-on download as they did with the Photo Album and Playstation Home features but this will be a great option either way.
Best Buy to go digital download from home videos
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Best Buy Co. is trying to nudge consumers away from its stores’ DVD aisles by making it easier for them to rent and buy movies over high-speed Internet connections.
The largest U.S. retailer of consumer electronics is setting up its digital delivery service in partnership with CinemaNow, which has deals with the major movie studios.
The software making it possible to shop CinemaNow’s video library will be included on all the Web-connected devices sold in Best Buy’s more than 1,000 U.S. stores. That means consumers who buy flat-panel TVs, Blu-ray players, personal computers and mobile phones from Best Buy would be able to get downloads of videos the same day they are released on DVDs.
Expect a $44 credit from FPL in January 2010
State regulators directed Florida Power & Light (FPL) to issue a one-time refund to customers for lower than expected fuel cost in 2009. Just as FPL is in the process of holding out its hands to asks the state to allow a price increase. The Public Service Commission unanimously voted to speed up returning $365 million to customers and also approved the utility’s request for $4.8 billion in fuel fees, environmental costs and other expenses next year. So save that $44 because you will most likely be giving it back with interest to the power giant.
