State
MONEY MATTERS
Bethune Cookman University alumni have given the school’s president, Edison O. Jackson, a deadline to have an independent forensic audit, or face a lawsuit. The alumni are questioning numerous irregularities suspected in the college’s finances.
Palm Beach County
PATIENT THEFT
Sherry Ramjattan Singh, a 49-year-old caretaker, has been arrested on charges she stole credit cards from the daughter of an Alzheimer’s patient. Singh then went on a $2,400 spending spree. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies obtained surveillance footage from the stores where purchases were made and they showed Singh purchasing the various items. Book’em Danno!
BODY CAMERAS
The movement to find answers in the police killing of musician Corey Jones is continuing. A contingent of family, friends and local leaders just returned from a trip to Washington, DC to lobby lawmakers to support “Corey’s Law” legislation. The proposed law would prohibit plain clothes police from making traffic stops and mandate body cameras for all police officers.
Broward County
LADY REFEREE
Sebrina Brunson, formerly of Deerfield Beach, is the first female to referee a Southeastern Conference men’s football game. Brunson, who now resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area, got her start officiating youth football and basketball games in South Florida. Congratulations!
WEAPONS THEFT
Thieves broke into a Boynton Beach home and made off with numerous, high-powered weapons. Among the guns stolen was an AR 15 semi-automatic rifle. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-8477.
THE SUSPECT
Hamilton Iraheta-Perdomo, 23, has been arrested and charged with nine smash and grab robberies in Davie. He is suspected in a number of similar crimes around the county. The culprits throw cinder blocks through the windows of businesses, grab cash and merchandise and then flee the scene.
NEW CHAIR
Congratulations to Broward School Board member Dr. Rosalind Osgood, who was voted the new chair of the Broward County School Board. Dr. Osgood is a tireless advocate in the community and on education issues.
Miami-Dade County
A LOCKA MESS
City of Opa-locka officials contemplated calling a special meeting to discuss “issues,” but several sources say the purpose of the meeting is to determine the fate of City Manager Steve Shiver, who inherited a mess. Hopefully they are planning to ask about the $16 million in unpaid water bills.
TEENS SHOT
Two males wearing hoodies walked by a home located at 2422 N.W. 57th Street in Miami and began shooting. When the shooting stopped, 15-year-old Shania Lowry, who lives there, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to both her legs. A friend, 16-year-old Dayton Davis who was outside with her, was grazed by a bullet.
Monroe County
STRANGE BURGLARIES
The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier was burglarized and more than $50,000 in equipment was stolen. It comes a week after the Center’s Executive Director Janeen Simon’s apartment was broken into. Police are investigating and trying to determine if the crimes are connected.
CUBA AGREEMENT
The United States and Cuba have reached an agreement to establish and link marine sanctuaries off the Cuban coast and those in the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas and the Everglades. The countries will cooperate on environmental research and preservation.
TOWER REJECTED
The Monroe County Planning Commission has rejected a plan to construct a 199-foot radio tower on Upper Sugarloaf Key. The tower would have served radio station signals and cell phones, much needed in the Keys. County land use regulations will not allow a tower of that height.
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