State

DRAWING THE LINES

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D, has filed a lawsuit against the State Legislature and Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner seeking a boundary map of her congressional district. Brown’s current district runs north from Jacksonville to the south. The most recently approved map redraws her district westward to Tallahassee. Brown contends the new district violates federal voting laws and diminishes the voting influence of blacks.

SOLAR WARS

Floridians for Solar Choice is pushing a ballot initiative seeking to allow solar panel manufacturers to sell electricity directly to consumers is moving forward, but has a ways to go. A competing measure by Consumers for Smart Solar is actually funded by the power companies. It wants increased restrictions on solar energy companies. Solar energy hurts the profits of the power companies and they do not want consumers to harness the power from the sun or anywhere else. It’s a shame that the legislature has not moved to make it easier for solar companies to operate in the state.

Palm-Beach County

BODY DISCOVERED

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of a body found in a canal in Boynton Beach. A passerby spotted it floating in the canal which is located in the 9000 block of Chrysanthemum Drive. Officials do not suspect foul play.

PROFESSOR

FACES FIRING

James Tracy is a media scholar, educator, political analyst and the operator of the Memory Hole blog. He is also a Florida Atlantic University Professor of Communications and Multimedia Studies. The college is considering firing Tracy over his controversial postings about the Sandy Hook school massacre, Boston Marathon bombing and more. FAU officials are now taking steps to terminate Tracy over his controversial positions.

ONE DEAD

An 18-year-old man was killed during a shooting at a block party in the 1200 block of NW Fourth Street. Party goers are not talking, but authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 800-458-8477.

Broward County

GUNMAN KILLED 

There are growing concerns about opportunities for blacks in the Broward Courts Administration. Chief Judge Peter Weinstein is dealing with how job opportunities are posted in his administration. The T.J. Reddick Bar Association, consisting of predominantly black lawyers, is questioning how a soon-to-be opening for a General Magistrate position will be handled. The coveted positions are normally posted for all lawyers to apply, but word has spread that this posting will be for current employees only. If that happens, black lawyers won’t have a chance at the job.

BIASED SYSTEM?

There are growing concerns about opportunities for blacks in the Broward Courts Administration. Chief Judge Peter Weinstein is dealing with how job opportunities are posted in his administration. The T.J. Reddick Bar Association, consisting of predominantly black lawyers, is questioning how a soon-to-be

STOLEN BIKES

A Broward Sheriff’s Office investigation led detectives to the home of 24-year-old Sebastian Blucher’s mother. They found numerous stolen motorcycles stashed in the backyard totaling more than $100,000. Blucher was not at home and when reached by phone, he told detectives to charge his mother because the bikes were found in her backyard. When he was finally caught, Blucher was out on bond for another motorcycle theft arrest.

Miami-Dade County

SUSPECT JAILED

Miami-Dade police have arrested 15-year-old Christopher Walker in the shooting death of a 17-year-old Noricia Talabert in Florida City. Walker pulled alongside the car three teens were driving and fired multiple shots. All three were hit. The driver Talabert, crashed into a tree and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Walker is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Walker was located in Brooklyn, New York and was returned to South Florida.

WOMAN KILLED

Joanne Hines, 22, was shot at 3:00 a.m. Tuesday in Oak Grove Park at 690 NE 159th St. Hines found suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered.

DINO APPOINTMENT

City of Miami commission candidate Teresa Sarnoff is being called a Democrat in Name Only (DINO). Sarnoff and her husband, former Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, supported Republican Gov. Rick Scott and received campaign donation from Republicans. She has now been appointed to the Florida Transportation Commission by Gov. Scott.

Monroe County

NEIGHBORLY HATRED

38-year-old Juan Ocampo Medina is charged after allegedly stabbing and hitting his guests with a shovel. Medina had invited them over to a backyard barbeque and attacked them as they entered his backyard. Medina was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

SPECIAL MEETING

Andy Griffiths, chairman of the Monroe County School Board, called a special meeting this week to hire a firm to conduct a forensic audit into $20,000 that is missing from a day care program at Horace O’Bryant School in Key West. The unaccounted for money was discovered more than a year ago and they are finally realizing it may have been stolen or misappropriated.

BOOKMAKER BUSTED

Joseph Patrick Clements, 55, a computer tech for the Monroe County School District, was arrested at his Big Coppitt Key home on gambling charges. Clements is accused of operating a gambling ring that took in bets on NFL and college football games. He is charged with felony bookmaking.