RAIL DEADLINE
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has given Gov. Rick Scott another week to reconsider his decision not to accept $2.4 billion in federal money for a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando. If the money is not accepted by Friday’s deadline, it will likely go to another state and potential jobs with it. Governor Scott, take the money and run … with the rail line.
Palm Beach County
SUSPECT ARRESTED
Richard Johnson, 34, has been arrested over an incident that left an unidentified man in critical condition from a gunshot wound to the head last week in Delray Beach. He is being held without bond on charges of attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and auto theft.
Broward County
DEERFIELD BEACH FORUM
A forum was held at a church in Deerfield Beach for the District 2 City Commission candidates. Incumbent Commissioner Sylvia Poitier and challengers Ben Preston and Gloria Battle attended. Annette S. Woods, who is also in the race, did not participate. Preston was grilled over his lack of community involvement within the district but he handled himself well. Battle and Poitier, who are relatives, were polite and had few exchanges. Some residents have expressed a desire for change, but Poitier will likely win re-election due to the three challengers dividing the anti-incumbent vote.
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
A grand jury has returned scathing findings about the hapless operations of the Broward School District. Last week, School Board members stood defiantly with Superintendent Jim Notter who said he has no plans to resign. The grand jury found corruption, lack of oversight and ridiculous mismanagement in the district but Notter says he’s staying put. The jury even thought about recommending that the school system be dissolved but the state constitution does not allow for it. School Board members are ultimately responsible and many of them will likely face challengers in the next election. The grand jury report confirms the district is a dysfunctional school system that has deteriorated into a breeding ground for uneducated youth that will only increase the prison rolls. School Board members say they will review the report’s finding and then address them. This is totally unacceptable — and we’ve had enough reviews.
TROUBLED MAN
Jason Hemans, 27, of Hollywood was arrested and charged with 10 counts of possessing child pornography on his home computer. He had been under investigation since December when a Martin County Sheriff's Office detective tracked the activities to his home computer, according to police. Hemans confessed during questioning to downloading the videos, police said.
Miami-Dade County
ATTEMPTED RAPE
Miami-Dade Police are looking for the man who abducted and attempted to rape a woman on Monday, Feb. 21. The woman was getting into her car at the CVS pharmacy at 19198 S. Dixie Hwy when a man jumped in and overpowered her about 7:30 p.m. The man drove her car to the nearby Village Commons Shopping Plaza and after trying to rape her, he ran off. He is described as a white male, possibly Hispanic, between 20 and 30 years old, about 5-foot-7 and weighing about 160 pounds. He wore a black ski mask and gloves during the attack. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 305- 471- 8477.
VICTIM SUING POLICE
Attorneys with the Cochran Firm and the Amarantos Legal Team have been retained to represent Kareem Williams, who was injured in a police shooting on Feb. 11 that took the life of his cousin Travis McNeil. His lawyers say they will sue the city of Miami, Police Chief Miguel Exposito and the officers involved. Williams was a passenger in a car driven by McNeil when police pulled them over. Some reports said police began shooting inside the stopped vehicle. No weapons were found at the scene.
BUSTED BY ACCIDENT
Florida Chief Financial Office Jeff Atwater and Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced that 25 people were arrested for allegedly staging car crashes. The suspects then tried to collect from the insurance companies by claiming injuries. The state Division of Insurance Fraud was also involved.
No Comment