Florida
Sexual Assault
A patient claims that, when she awoke from anesthesia at Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Fla., a male nurse’s “penis was inserted in her mouth,” in Palm Beach County Court.
Read moreEpstein Victims Ask Court to Nullify Florida Plea Deal
A lawyer for victims of Jeffrey Epstein claims in Florida federal court that the wealthy sex offender’s death in prison has removed a final obstacle to rescinding plea-deal protections that shielded conspirators in his teenage prostitution ring from prosecution.
Read morePolice Conduct
A federal judge dismissed without prejudice a claim that a Fort Myers, Fla., police officer used excessive force, because though the officer put a gun in the plaintiff’s face, he never touched him.
Read moreSugar Producer Sues Army Corps Over Lake Water Levels
The nation’s largest sugar cane producer filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over low water levels in Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, the main source of water for the company’s farming operations.
Read moreFlorida Declares Hepatitis A Public Health Emergency
Florida officials declared a public health emergency over the rapid spread of Hepatitis A across the Sunshine State, as thousands of vaccines are being handed out for free each week.
Read moreFlorida Appeals Court Backs Waiting Period for Abortions
A Florida appeals court reversed a ruling that struck down a law requiring women to wait 24 hours between being informed of abortion risks and having the procedure, finding that the lower court should have held a trial before declaring the law unconstitutional.
Read moreFlorida AG Fights Ruling in Favor of Local Gun Laws
Florida’s Republican attorney general has appealed a recent court ruling that struck down parts of a state law prohibiting local governments from enacting firearm regulations, a week after she asked the state’s high court to reject a ballot measure aimed at banning assault weapons.
Read moreScott Says He Wasn’t Told About Russian Hacking in 2016
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said Sunday that he was never told by Homeland Security officials in 2016 when he was Florida’s governor that Russian hackers had gained access to voter databases in two Florida counties ahead of the presidential election.
Read moreLimits on Felon Voting Rights Blasted as Modern-Day Poll Tax
As more states aim to tackle criminal justice reform, voting rights advocates contend the legal financial obligations of former felons continue to deprive them of the right to cast a ballot.
Read morePanel Blasts Florida County Over Invocation Choices
The procedure Brevard County, Florida, uses to choose who gives invocations during commission meetings is discriminatory and unconstitutional, an 11th Circuit panel ruled unanimously Monday.
Read moreAuthorities: Explosion at Florida Shopping Plaza Injures 21
A vacant pizza restaurant exploded Saturday in a thundering roar at a South Florida shopping plaza, injuring more than 20 people as large chunks of concrete flew through the air.
Read more7 Americans Killed in Helicopter Crash in Bahamas
A helicopter carrying seven Americans to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, crashed Thursday off Grand Cay island in the Bahamas, killing everyone aboard, Bahamian police said.
Read moreBattered Woman Charged for Giving Husband’s Guns to Police
A Florida woman’s effort to protect herself from domestic violence has become a flashpoint in the debate over gun rights and victims’ safety. Courtney Irby gave her estranged husband’s guns to police after he was charged with domestic violence-aggravated battery, only to find herself arrested for theft.
Read moreFlorida City Pays $600,000 Ransom to Save Computer Records
A Florida city agreed to pay $600,000 in ransom to hackers who took over its computer system, the latest in thousands of attacks worldwide aimed at extorting money from governments and businesses.
Read moreTrump Launches 2020 Campaign in Florida
President Donald Trump officially kicked off his 2020 campaign on Tuesday in front of a crowd of thousands in Florida, a key battleground state.
Read moreDrive-By Inspections
A class action accuses Ocwen Loan Servicing of charging homeowners for drive-by “inspections,” even when there was no report to show that an inspection occurred, in Palm Beach County Court.
Read moreFive States Investigate Racist, Violent Posts by Police
Police departments in at least five states are investigating, and in some cases condemning, their officers’ social media feeds after the weekend publication of a database that appears to catalog thousands of bigoted or violent posts by active-duty and former cops.
Read moreEx-School Deputy Pushes Back on Charges of Inaction During Shooting
Former Parkland, Florida, school deputy Scot Peterson’s attorney says state officials were engaged in a “veiled attempt at politically motivated retribution” when they slapped Peterson with child-neglect charges for not confronting an assault rifle-wielding teenager during his attack on a local high school.
Read more