Calif. man gets 26 years for crash that killed 11 - November 5, 2009 - COLUSA, Calif. -- A Northern California bus driver involved in a crash that killed 11 people last year has been sentenced to more than 26 years in prison.

Judge: Mich. man can sue store he robbed - November 4, 2009 - MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. -- A Michigan judge says a man who claims he was chased, shot and beaten by workers at a store he'd just robbed can sue the men. But only if he comes up with $10,000 within two weeks.

FBI tries to deport Muslim man for refusing to be an informant - October 25, 2009 - After Imam Foad Farahi declined to become a federal informant, the government tried to destroy him.

Rachel Maddow Show on bad government.

Oakland Park challenges chef over effort to feed homeless - September 16, 2009 - An executive chef was told to shut down his program providing meals to the homeless after Oakland Park city officials said he needed a permit.

Miami battles state over venue for lawsuit over causeway dwellers - September 16, 2009 - The city of Miami and the state are slugging it out over where to hear a lawsuit affecting the sex offenders who live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

Miami-Dade budget fight headed for Round Two - September 10, 2009 - Many are preparing for the second and final Miami-Dade County budget hearing on Sept. 17 to plead for their favorite social services or art program to be spared the ax.

DOC crackdown on sex offenders ruining mission - September 10, 2009 - You'd think that the supervision and discipline and therapy and strict curfews and drug testing and spiritual guidance and actual beds offered by the St. Francis Mission might be preferable to having jobless, homeless sex offenders prowl the streets and sleep under bridges.

Overtaxed homeowners will hit the road - September 2, 2009 - Tell us it was a misprint or perhaps a belated April Fool's joke. In a recent Home & Design's How Does Your Home Compare, the real-estate taxes on a home in El Portal that sold for $232,500 were listed at $11,866. Another home in North Miami sold for $595,000 with taxes at $21,264. But a home in Bal Harbour, which sold for $1.3 million, had taxes of $7,668. Bal Harbour gets, by far, superior services and schools than El Portal and North Miami, so why are the taxes so drastically different?

Miami-Dade's Dennis Moss gave aides raises hours after warning - September 1, 2009 - Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez has faced withering criticism for delivering hefty raises to key advisors only weeks after proclaiming the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression required everyone to ``do more with less.''

Carlos Alvarez said ``Make no mistake, we are in for some tough times, we are all in this together.'' Yea, Right, Carlos

Bad Judge, Teretha Lundy Thomas - August 8, 2009 - When you think the laws are correct then you have to get a judge to read them the way the law was meant to be read.  All of the Landlord/Tenant laws have been thrown in the thrash when it comes to Teretha Lundy Thomas.  Florida Statute 83.51  Landlord’s obligation to maintain premises.  Florida Statute 83.51 is what the landlord is suppose to do to maintain their apartment building up Florida Building Codes.  They are required to....

Is Judge Shelley Kravirtz Just PlainStupid - August 8, 2009 - Florida Statute 83.49 (2) The landlord shall, within 30 days of receipt of advance rent or a security deposit, notify the tenant in writing of the manner in which the landlord is holding the advance rent or security deposit and the rate of interest, if any, which the tenant

Madoff Tipster: SEC Ignored Me For Decade - February 4, 2009 - Whistleblower Set To Tell Story Before Congress

Magistrate backs Miami-Dade school district decision to deny teacher raises - January 30, 2009 - The Miami-Dade school district should not have to give teachers the raises guaranteed in their contract, a special magistrate said. The final decision is up to the School Board.

Homelessness surges as funding falters - January 30, 2009 - Providers to the poor try to stretch meager resources to meet growing need

Postmaster Gen'l: Mail Delivery Could Be Cut - January 28, 2009 - Agency Could Cut One Day Of Delivery

As inmate sits, slain man's family asks: Why has it taken 30 years? - January 25, 2009 - Paul Scott has been married and divorced twice. He's been memorialized in a country song. He's attracted the attention of religious figures worldwide.

Troubled Miami-Dade reform school may be forced to close main campus - January 24, 2009 - A troubled South Miami-Dade reform school could lose its main campus after the state announced it would lose its funding in March.

DCF admits it failed to prevent 15-month-old's death - January 23, 2009 - In August, the Department of Children and Families told Emmalee Fore that she was providing a "loving and safe" home for her two children.

Director of Miami civilian review panel fired - January 23, 2009 - The voter-created Civilian Investigative Panel fired its executive director after she refused to accept a deep pay cut.

Budget Cuts Lead Schools To Offer Early Retirement - January 23, 2009 - The Miami-Dade School District is one of many looking to cut back on spending, and now they're looking to offering early retirement to offset the budget deficit -- something they haven't done in nearly two decades.

Florida job offices feel the squeeze, too - January 23, 2009 - Applying for unemployment benefits in Florida can't be done in person. Either go online, or do it by phone and wait.

Legislature Passed Over Loopholes When Working On Budget - January 21, 2009 - TAMPA - While the Florida Legislature slashed budgets for schools, children's health care and living assistance for the elderly in its recent special session, it ignored a couple of easy fixes – loopholes in corporate tax law -- that could have produced revenue to avoid some of the worst cuts.

Supreme Court Rejects Case On Bucs' Pat-Downs - January 21, 2009 - WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan who challenged the team's pat-down searches at Raymond James Stadium

Interest Rate Drop Has Dire Results for Legal Aid - January 19, 2009 - BOSTON — Scores of legal aid societies that help poor people with noncriminal cases — like disputes over foreclosures, evictions and eligibility for unemployment benefits — are being forced to cut their staffs and services, even as requests for help have soared.

Foreclosures up 81% in 2008 - January 14, 2009 - One in 54 homes entered foreclosure in 2008. Rising unemployment and sliding home prices have some experts expecting 2009 to be even worse.

Most Wanted' Mo. woman gets 3 years for shooting - January 14, 2009 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A purported Kansas City, Mo., gang leader who was briefly on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Florida Budget Cuts Hammer Schools & Healthcare - January 14, 2009 - State Senate Approves $2.8 Billion Budget Plan

Broward judge boots murder case prosecutors over taped calls - January 6, 2009 - Recordings of a defendant's phone calls with his lawyer from the Broward County Jail are at the heart of a dispute that has landed two prosecutors in hot water.

Phone exec says Pa. senator listed $50M in demands - January 5, 2009 - PHILADELPHIA -- The former president of Verizon Pennsylvania testified Monday that a powerful state lawmaker gave him a list of demands worth $50 million during negotiations over phone-industry deregulation.

Judge reinstates Islamic group's wiretapping suit - January 5, 2009 - SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge on Monday reinstated an Islamic charity's lawsuit challenging a Bush administration surveillance program.

Ex-SC trooper caught kicking suspect pleads guilty - January 5, 2009 - COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A former South Carolina trooper caught on video kicking a suspect in the head after a highway chase pleaded guilty Monday to violating the man's civil rights, according to federal court documents.

Jail shut after cops discover recliners in cells - January 3, 2009 - FORT WORTH, Texas - A jail has been closed and its nearly 60 inmates transferred as authorities investigate what they call dangerous conditions for jailers and those behind bars — including cells that locked from the inside or contained recliners.

Taxpayers say fire-fee refunds `should be more' - January 1, 2009 - Miami taxpayers have started receiving their fire-fee refunds. But many residents are grumbling about the amount of the payout.

Liquor, tobacco shielded from lawmakers' special session - January 1, 2009 - The Legislature meets for special session next week to figure out how to close a $2.3 billion budget hole in this fiscal year's $65 billion budget. House Speaker Ray Sansom and Senate President Jeff Atwater have proclaimed that any fix to Florida's sales-tax-dependent budget can't include increasing taxes on booze or cigs or even giving the nod to the governor's deal with the Seminoles to get more than $100 million from their casino operations. Read the actural order.

Federal Panel Pushes Big Bump In Gas Tax - January 1, 2009 - A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to finance highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.

States are selling off roads, parks, airports and lotteries to raise funds - December 28, 2008 - Ballooning budget deficits have prompted more U.S. states to sell off roads, parks, airports and lotteries to raise money.

Double dipping rises despite outrage - December 28, 2008 - TALLAHASSEE — This year some of Florida's public officials are giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "home for the holidays.''

Lawmaker: End tax money for candidates - December 27, 2008 - UMATILLA - State Rep. Alan Hays wants Florida to end the practice of giving public money to statewide candidates to help finance their campaigns.

Cafe ads draw $30K fine - December 25, 2008 - A former congressional candidate is fined for running afoul of election law when he ran ads funded through non-campaign funds about his bakery's pie and coffee.

Miami-Dade poor defendants face court delays - December 25, 2008 - Miami-Dade's poor defendants will face longer court delays in most cases, as the public defender tries to cope with high caseloads and shrinking budgets.

Alleged misconduct in Ted Stevens trial - December 23, 2008 - An Alaska FBI agent has accused fellow agents and at least one prosecutor of misconduct and unethical behavior in the public corruption investigation in Alaska and the trial of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

Madoff investor found dead of suicide. - December 23, 2008 - Founder of hedge fund discovered dead at his Manhattan office

Open and Shut Cases - December 22, 2008 - Dick Cheney's unique gift for making hard questions easy and vice versa.

Some South Florida elected officials exploit loophole in law to live outside districts they represent - December 21, 2008 - Vague residency rules for elected officials make the question hard to answer

Even critics say prosecution of Bush officials for war crimes would be difficult - December 21, 2008 - WASHINGTON -- Emboldened by a Democratic win of the White House, civil libertarians and human-rights groups want the incoming Obama administration to investigate whether the Bush administration committed war crimes. They don't just want low-level CIA interrogators, either. They want President George W. Bush on down.

Lawmakers cash in with campus jobs - December 21, 2008 - Former and current lawmakers are finding employment at community colleges and state universities, even in times of cutbacks and curbs on enrollment.

Tax money inflated salaries, overtime - December 21, 2008 - It was Nov. 1, 2002, four days before a historic election aimed at reshaping the transit landscape in Miami-Dade County, and a backroom deal was quietly being cemented at County Hall.

$1.6 billion went to bailed-out bank execs - December 21, 2008 - Records show bonuses, chauffeurs, health club benefits, financial planning

Miami vigil honors the memory of 121 dead homeless people - December 19, 2008 - Several dozen people paid tribute to the 121 homeless people who died in Miami-Dade County in the past year.

DeFede: Hooray, Florida Still #1 For Corruption - December 18, 2008 - Ever since Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested, there has been a lot of talk about whether Illinois is the most corrupt state in the country.

Miami International Airport contractor found guilty of grand theft - December 18, 2008 - A Miami-Dade jury convicted a corporation and an individual, and found a second man innocent, after fuel was stolen from Miami International Airport.

Police: Deerfield Beach Mayor Used Office For Personal Gain - December 12, 2008 - Deerfield Beach Mayor Albert Capellini surrendered Friday at the Broward County Jail on a charge that he unlawfully used his official position for personal gain while helping developers get project approvals.

Indicted US Rep. Loses To Newcomer In La. - December 7, 2008 - Republican Anh 'Joseph' Cao Becomes 1st Vietnamese-American In Congress

SEC seeks part of foreclosed estate - November 27, 2008 - The U.S. attorney's office in Miami may be foreclosing on the Fort Lauderdale home of a deceased principal of life-settlement company Mutual Benefits to collect more than $1 million in taxes, but now the Securities and Exchange Commission is getting involved.

Feds extend total payment for Ike debris removal - November 26, 2008 - AUSTIN, Texas -- The federal government will pay Hurricane Ike debris-removal costs in Texas for six more months, but Gov. Rick Perry's office said the extension is inadequate.

Fraud case may be delayed - November 26, 2008 - Carlos and Jorge de Céspedes, owners of bankrupt medical distribution firm Pharmed and convicted of fraud for their part in a kickback scheme, could face longer sentences than they bargained for.

Frequent Hialeah candidate convicted of election fraud - November 26, 2008 - Nilo Juri, a frequent Hialeah political candidate and former state lawmaker, was convicted Wednesday by a Miami-Dade jury on charges that he used illegal contributions to boost the campaigns of his political allies.

Florida ban on gay adoptions ruled unconstitutional - November 25, 2008 - A Miami-Dade circuit judge Tuesday declared Florida's 30-year-old ban on gay adoption unconstitutional, allowing a North Miami man to adopt two foster kids he has raised since 2004.

Withheld evidence frees Texas man jailed for life - November 18, 2008 - DALLAS -- A man serving a life sentence for two sexual assault convictions while he was in high school was freed Monday because prosecutors withheld evidence that might have cleared him

City of Miami

Miami-Dade County

State of Florida

Us Federal Government

Alaska senator convicted on all counts