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☆ I'm a Democrat who moved to Florida to be closer to my boyfriend. I was nervous about the politics and weather but have been most dismayed by the cost of living.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

David Maughan, 32, moved from Richmond, Virginia, to Oakland Park, Florida, last year. As a progressive, Maughan said he was nervous about Florida's culture war politics. Everyone says the weather in Florida is great, but they don't realize that Florida is hot hot. David Maughan and his boyfriend Brandon were long-distance for three years before David moved to Florida in August 2023. David Maughan said he's been able to make friends in the Florida LGBTQ community by joining an adult sports league.

Persons: David Maughan, Maughan, he's, —, David, Brandon, Richmond, I'm, They've, it's, I've, disenfranchisement, hasn't, David Maughan Florida, We've, It's, He's Organizations: Service, Sunshine State, Business, Democrat, Democratic, Oakland Park, Broward Young Democrats, Sunshine Locations: Richmond , Virginia, Oakland Park , Florida, Florida, South Florida, Central Pennsylvania, Virginia, Richmond, Oakland, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Wilton Manors

PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday is expected to tour the blood-stained classroom building where the 2018 Parkland high school massacre happened, accompanied by some victims' family members who are pushing for stricter gun laws and improved school safety. When Harris goes inside, she will see bullet-pocked walls and floors still covered in dried blood and broken glass. Schachter said while there is disagreement over gun laws, school safety brings the sides together. During Harris' visit, the White House says, she will announce a program to provide technical assistance and training to Florida and the other 20 states that have similar “red flag laws." Even officials who don't support stronger gun laws learn from the tours, leading to better discussions, Moskowitz said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Marjory Stoneman, Miguel Cardona, wilted, Nikolas Cruz, ”, Jared Moskowitz, Stoneman Douglas, Joe Biden, Linda Beigel Schulman, Scott Beigel, Beigel Schulman, ” Max Schachter, Alex, Schachter, ” Schachter, Cruz, Scot Peterson, Moskowitz Organizations: —, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Democratic U.S . Rep Locations: Fla, Parkland, Utah, Florida, Broward County

☆ Cruise Ship Worker Accused of Hiding Cameras in Bathrooms to Spy on Guests
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Rebecca Carballo | More About Rebecca Carballo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A former employee of the cruise ship company Royal Caribbean was accused of placing cameras in guests’ bathrooms and of hiding in their bedrooms and recording them when they took off their clothes, with one of his reported targets being as young as 10. It was not clear how the actions that led to the charges came to light. “We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior,” the company said in a statement. The cruise line alerted federal and state law enforcement agencies on Feb. 26, when the ship was still sailing on international waters. On Sunday, when it docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., law enforcement officers searched his devices, including a cellphone, camera, Apple Watch and a flash drive.

Persons: Arvin Joseph Mirasol, Mirasol Organizations: Royal, Court, Apple Watch Locations: Royal Caribbean, U.S, Southern Florida, voyeurism, Broward County, Fla, Fort Lauderdale

☆ A Royal Caribbean cleaner has been arrested over suspicions he hid cameras in ship bathrooms to film young female passengers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewAn employee working on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has been arrested on suspicion of placing secret cameras inside passengers' bathrooms and filming them without their knowledge. According to the affidavit, Mirasol admitted to hiding video cameras in passengers' bathrooms and told investigators that he would masturbate while watching the videos. The start of the footage "clearly" shows Mirasol placing the camera in the bathroom, according to the affidavit. Mirasol told agents that he had been placing cameras in passengers' bathrooms since he started working on the Symphony of the Seas in December, per the affidavit. Advertisement"We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told NBC News.

Persons: —, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, Mirasol Organizations: Service, Royal, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration, Customs, Business, Agents, Court, Southern, Southern District of, NBC Locations: Royal Caribbean, Port Everglades , Florida, voyeurism, Broward County, Florida, Southern District, Southern District of Florida

☆ Amid Florida’s Measles Outbreak, Surgeon General Goes Against Medical Guidance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As a cluster of measles cases grew in an elementary school in southern Florida, the state’s surgeon general sent a letter to parents that contradicted widespread medical guidance about how to keep the disease from spreading. Doctors and health officials typically recommend that children who are not vaccinated for measles isolate for 21 days after they have been exposed at school. However, the state Department of Health “is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance,” the letter, sent to parents at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, Fla., continued. Dr. Ladapo added that these recommendations might change in the future and stressed that children with measles symptoms should not go to school. As of Friday, there were six confirmed cases at the school, according to Broward County Public Schools.

Persons: Joseph Ladapo, of Health “, Ladapo Organizations: of Health, Manatee Bay Elementary, Broward County Public Schools Locations: Florida, Weston , Fla, Broward

☆ Girl Dies After Digging Hole at Florida Beach, Authorities Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A 7-year-old girl died on Tuesday after the hole she was digging with her brother at a Florida beach collapsed, burying the pair in sand, the authorities said — one of a few instances in which such an episode turns deadly each year in the United States. She says she could not see any part of the girl’s body. “Mom’s yelling, ‘My daughter’s in there,’” she says. Footage appeared to show other beachgoers crowded around the sand hole, trying to dig out the girl before rescuers arrived. Other 911 callers sounded distressed as they described the frantic scene.

Persons: Sloan Mattingly, Maddox, Mom’s, ‘, ’ ” Organizations: Broward County Sheriff’s, Sheriff’s Locations: Florida, United States, Indiana, Lauderdale, Miami, Broward County

Trump is aiming to wrest control of the RNC by muscling Whatley through in an orchestrated ouster of the organization's current chair, Ronna McDaniel. Yet for much of his professional life, Whatley's political sensibilities appeared to align far more closely with the party’s mainstream and corporate establishment. Later, he clerked for a federal judge in North Carolina before departing for Washington as Bush campaigned for the presidency. And a lot of people in North Carolina don’t think he was elected fair,” said Anderson Clayton, chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Art Pope, a North Carolina businessman and major conservative donor, said Whatley was well-equipped to lead the organization.

Persons: Michael Whatley, Donald Trump zeroed, Whatley, Trump, George W, Bush, “, ”, John Kane Jr, MAGA, muscling Whatley, Ronna McDaniel, Joe Biden, Sigal Chattah, Whatley's, Jesse Helms, ” Whatley, Sen, Elizabeth Dole, HBW, Anderson Clayton, Pope, Donald Trump's Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, North, North Carolina GOP, longtime Washington, RNC, Trump, McDaniel’s, Watauga High School, Notre Dame, Republicans, Conservative Political, Department of Energy, North Carolina Republican, Patriot, Resources, Keystone XL, U.S, Consumer Energy Alliance, Chevron, ExxonMobil, British Petroleum, North Carolina Republican Party, Republican Party, North Carolina Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee, Republican National Locations: North Carolina, Whatley's, Nevada, Notre, Washington, Broward County , Florida, Bush's, Alberta, Canada, Ohio , Wisconsin, South Carolina, Carolina

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A drug possession charge against South Florida rapper Kodak Black was dismissed Friday, two months after an arrest, though a drug trafficking case from 2022 remains ongoing. Kapri still faces a tampering with evidence charge related to the arrest, but his attorney, Bradford Cohen, hopes to get that dismissed, as well. Cohen hopes the drug charge being dismissed will prompt a federal judge to free Kapri. Kapri was arrested in 2022 on charges of trafficking in oxycodone and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. As Kodak Black, Kapri has sold more than 30 million singles, with massive hits such as “Super Gremlin,” which reached No.

Persons: Kodak Black, Barbara Duffy, Bill Kapri, Kapri, Bradford Cohen, Cohen, Donald Trump Organizations: South Florida, Broward County Circuit, Sun Sentinel, Kodak Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Broward County, Plantation, Miami

☆ 'Raël: The Alien Prophet': The story of the cult that claims to have cloned humans
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNetflix's "Raël: The Alien Prophet" is perhaps one of its most gripping docuseries yet. The show delves into the world of a controversial French cult known as the Raëlian Movement, which claimed that it created the world's first human clone in the early 2000s. The Raëlian movement was convinced that cloning humans would lead to immortality. In "Raël: The Alien Prophet," Boisselier maintains that Eve is doing well, although she has little contact with her. AdvertisementWhile Raël, Boisselier, and Clonaid all maintain that they have made successful human clones, there has been no evidence to prove that they ever produced anything other than a media firestorm.

Persons: —, Claude Vorilhon, Raël, Brigette Boisselier, Mark Hunt, Andrew, Hunt, Boisselier, Clonaid, Eve, Michael Guillen, Guillen, Brigitte Boisselier, SUSAN STOCKER, hadn't, John Frusciante, there's Organizations: Service, Raëlian, Business, ABC, CBS, PBS, CNN, Broward, Getty, Broward County Circuit, Raelian Locations: France, Scottish, Florida, Broward County, Israel

Local news footage shows a large crowd of students walking out of the school building and congregating outside on school property. “We will continue to follow state law and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation,” school district spokesman John Sullivan said in a statement. “We are committed to providing all our students with a safe and inclusive learning environment.”In 2021, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president as a Republican, signed a state law that bars transgender girls and women from playing on public school teams intended for student athletes identified as girls at birth. When questioned by reporters, Licata denied that the reassignments had anything to do with a lawsuit the student and her parents had previously brought against the school.

Persons: James Cecil, Kenneth May, Dione Hester, Jessica Norton, Alex Burgess, John Sullivan, Ron DeSantis, Peter Licata, Licata Organizations: South, volleyball, Monarch High School, Broward County ., Florida Gov, Republican, Broward Schools Locations: Fla, South Florida, Broward County, Broward County . Local, Florida

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (AP) — A GameStop clerk who police say fatally shot a fleeing shoplifter has been charged with manslaughter. Guerrero pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired one shot, hitting the man in the side, police said. The shoplifter dropped the cards and ran outside to a waiting pickup truck, where a woman called police. Police said store security cameras show the shoplifter never threatened Guerrero nor displayed any weapons. GameStop did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment Wednesday.

Persons: shoplifter, Derrick Guerrero, Violet “, Guerrero Organizations: GameStop, Police Locations: PEMBROKE PINES, Fla, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Florida, Broward

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida prosecutors have charged rapper YNW Melly with witness tampering ahead of his retrial on double murder charges even as his attorneys accused them of conspiring to hide evidence that the lead detective may have lied in a related investigation. Prosecutors charged Melly this week with making sure a key witness didn't testify at his first murder trial, which ended in July with a hung jury that voted 9-3 for conviction. Jury selection in the retrial of the 24-year-old rapper is set to start next week with opening statements anticipated in early November. Boutros said Moretti told Gorel that if anyone asked, “You need to say you were here when I served the search warrant.” She said Gorel didn't reply. She said Moretti told investigators he was joking — something she said wasn't true.

Persons: YNW, Prosecutors, James Benjamin, Daniel Aaronson, Harold Pryor “, Pryor, Kristine Bradley, John Murphy, Christopher “ YNW Juvy ” Thomas, Anthony “ YNW, ” Williams, Thomas, Williams, Bortlen ” Henry, ”, Benjamin, Aaronson, Bradley, Mark Moretti, Moretti, Michelle Boutros, Boutros, Melly's, Jamie King, King, Adam Gorel, Gorel, Moretti's Organizations: Prosecutors, Bloods, Associated Press, Broward, “ Young, Miramar Police Department, Miramar Police Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Broward County

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dallas, Florida and New York will host matches at next year's men's T20 World Cup, the governing body of cricket announced Wednesday. Venues in Grand Prairie outside Dallas and Broward County in Florida will be increased in size to expand seating, media and premium hospitality areas to enable them to host matches in the 20-team tournament, which makes it the biggest T20 World Cup yet. Florida also hosted recent T20s between India and the West Indies at Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill. The T20 cricket format is favored to be one of the sports added to the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with decisions by the International Olympic Committee scheduled at meetings next month in Mumbai, India. Problems in talks between the IOC and the Los Angeles organizing committee on commercial issues have stalled the process.

Persons: —, Geoff Allardice, ___ Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Los Angeles Games, West Indies, The International Cricket Council, ICC, Major League Cricket, Washington —, Indian Premier League —, Central Broward, International Olympic, IOC, Olympics, Brisbane Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, — Dallas, Florida, New York, United States, Eisenhower, Nassau County , New York, Grand Prairie, Dallas, Broward County, San Francisco , Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas , New York, India, Lauderhill, Mumbai, Angeles, Australia

☆ JetBlue agrees to sell Spirit assets in Boston, Newark to Allegiant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Airplane model is placed on displayed Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos in this illustration taken, June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustrations/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 11 (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) said Monday it had agreed to sell all of Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N) assets at Boston and Newark Liberty airports to Allegiant (ALGT.O), as it works to win approval for its tie-up with Spirit. JetBlue said it had agreed to transfer two gates in Boston, two gates in Newark, and 43 takeoff and landing authorizations in Newark to Allegiant. JetBlue said in July it would not challenge a U.S. judge's May order that it end an alliance with American Airlines. JetBlue argued terminating its alliance with American renders "entirely moot" the government's objections to its deal to buy Spirit.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Robin Hayes, judge's, David Shepardson, Mehr Bedi, Anil D'Silva, Mark Potter Organizations: Airlines, jetBlue Airways, REUTERS, JetBlue Airways Corp, Spirit Airlines, Newark Liberty, Spirit, JetBlue, Hollywood International Airport, Broward County Aviation Department, The Justice Department, U.S, American Airlines, US Airways, Thomson Locations: Boston, Allegiant, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Massachusetts, New, LaGuardia, Frontier, U.S, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Fact Check-Video on impending COVID crisis in Florida dates to January 2021
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A video from 2021 of a purported “Florida nurse” describing plans for a “COVID crisis” expected at her Broward County hospital and implying that it was staged for political reasons is recirculating in August 2023, with some users sharing it as a sign of imminent lockdowns. nurse say they have been instructed to prepare for the COVID crisis starting next week,” reads a Facebook post sharing the clip on Aug. 28 (here). Covid Lockdowns are coming back and it’s all because they want to win in ’24” (here), archived (here). The video, however, dates to at least January 2021, when it was shared on X (here) by an account affiliated with Sovereign Nations, a self-described conservative website. Video warning about COVID crisis dates to January 2021, and is not recent footage.

Persons: ”, Covid Lockdowns, Read Organizations: Twitter, ’, Sovereign Nations, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Florida’s Department of Health, Reuters Locations: Florida, Broward County, “ U.S, Broward County , Florida

☆ Alex Collins: Former NFL player dies in motorcycle accident at age 28
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former NFL running back Alex Collins, who played with the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens, died in a motorcycle accident on Sunday night, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Alex Collins this morning,” Collins’ family said in a statement via the Seahawks on Monday night. In his first season with Baltimore in 2017, Collins finished with 973 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Overall, Collins played across five seasons in the NFL, tallying 483 carries for 1,997 yards and 18 touchdowns, with an additional 467 receiving yards in 50 career games. Most recently, Collins played with the United States Football League’s Memphis Showboats this past season.

Persons: CNN —, Alex Collins, Collins, ” Collins, “ Alex, John Harbaugh, “ I’ll, ” Organizations: CNN, NFL, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Broward County Sheriff’s, West Oakland, Seahawks, University of Arkansas, Seattle, Ravens, Baltimore, United States Football, Memphis, ” Ravens Locations: Broward County, Lauderdale Lakes Florida, Baltimore

☆ An AP Psychology teacher in Florida says she's afraid to say the wrong thing in class for the first time in her career
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One Florida teacher told Insider she feels like she has to be careful about what she says for the first time in her 15-year career. "I think it kind of puts any kid in Florida at a disadvantage," the teacher told Insider. A day later the Florida teacher's union accused DeSantis of using an "extremist agenda" to censor the AP Psychology course. the AP Psychology teacher in Broward asked. The teacher said AP Psychology also helps students get mental health information they wouldn't have access to otherwise.

Persons: wasn't, Shel Silverstein, Peter Licata, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, it's, I've Organizations: Board, Service, College Board, AP, The Washington Post, AP Psychology, Florida Florida Gov, Florida State, of Education Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Broward County, The Washington Post . Broward County, Florida Florida, Broward

☆ Florida's political climate is driving away thousands of visitors and millions of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Nobody knows.”Construction of an 801-room Omni hotel alongside the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 22, 2022. Broward County, which invested $1.5 billion in the expansion and renovation of its convention center, has not seen the future bookings it anticipated. In Tampa, the city’s largest convention center hasn’t seen any events cut bait. National Society of Black Engineers members attend the first day of the organization's 49th Annual Convention, which took place from March 22-26 in Kansas City, Missouri. The NSBE recently announced plans to move its 50th annual convention from Orlando, citing the political climate, travel advisories and recently passed laws.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, ”, Stacy Ritter, “, Ritter, Rebecca Blackwell, Grace Hopper, AERA, Tony Pals, Phelan M, Mark Tester, ” Juan Lopez, Jeremy Redfern, ” Redfern, Janeen Uzzell, Bill, Laxmi Ramasubramanian, Petra Doan, Doan, ” Doan, Jack Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr, Bill ”, we’ve, ” Johnson, Glenn Ross, Johnson, Lauderdale’s Ritter, Nadine Smith, ‘, ” Smith Organizations: Minneapolis CNN, Republican Florida Gov, Sunshine State, Lauderdale, Democratic, Omni, Broward County Convention, Orlando’s Orange County Convention, Society of Black Engineers, Research, of periOperative, Global, CNN, Orange County Convention, AP, AORN, Tampa Convention, Tampa, Comic Convention, “, Math Association of America, MAA, National Society of Black Engineers, NAACP, National Urban League, Black Power, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Florida State University, Destinations International, Arizona, Indy, Associated, Getty, Equality Locations: Minneapolis, Florida, Lauderdale, Broward County , Florida, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Broward, Orlando’s Orange County, United States, Orlando after Florida, Orange County, Orlando, Tampa, Orlando , Florida, Kansas City , Missouri, “, Miami, Maine, Arizona , Indiana, North Carolina, Indiana, Associated Press, California, Tennessee, Texas, Equality Florida

[1/2] The "1200 building" at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the crime scene where the 2018 shootings took place, is seen in Parkland, Florida, U.S. August 4, 2022. Scot Peterson, the school resource officer on duty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2018, was armed but never went inside the building as the shooting unfolded, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office and surveillance video. Friday's re-enactment is part of a civil case against Peterson in which victims' families and survivors are seeking unspecified damages. In June, Peterson was acquitted by a Florida jury of criminal charges of child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury connected the shooting. It has remained largely unaltered since the 2018 shooting, with bloodstains and bullet holes still visible.

Persons: Marjory Stoneman, Amy Beth Bennett, Scot Peterson, Peterson, Friday's, Michael Piper, Piper, David Brill, Carol, Lisa Phillips, Phillips, Nikolas Cruz, Julia Harte, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Broward County Sheriff's Office, Broward, Broward County Public, Thomson Locations: Parkland , Florida, U.S, Florida, Broward County, Broward

[1/2] The "1200 building" at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the crime scene where the 2018 shootings took place, is seen in Parkland, Florida, U.S. August 4, 2022. The re-staging of the school shooting, one of the deadliest in U.S. history, was part of a civil lawsuit against Scot Peterson, a police officer who was stationed outside the Parkland, Florida, high school when the gunfire began on Feb. 14, 2018. In June, Peterson was acquitted by a Florida jury of criminal charges of child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury connected the shooting. The nonprofit group defines a mass shooting as four or more people shot or killed, not including the shooter. Ahead of the re-enactment, nine members of Congress and family members of victims toured the school building.

Persons: Marjory Stoneman, Amy Beth Bennett, Scot Peterson, Peterson, Tony Montalto, Gina, Michael Piper, Carol, Lisa Phillips, Nikolas Cruz, Julia Harte, Cynthia Osterman, Leslie Adler Organizations: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Broward, Sun Sentinel, U.S . Congress, Thomson Locations: Parkland , Florida, U.S, Florida, Broward County, Parkland

[1/2] Judge Elizabeth Scherer reads the verdict in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S., October 13, 2022. Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoJuly 25 (Reuters) - Florida's top court has publicly reprimanded the judge who presided over the trial of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018, for appearing partial to the prosecution. Monday's decision by the Florida Supreme Court came after the 15-member Judicial Qualifications Commission concluded in June that Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated judicial conduct rules during last year's trial. Her decision to hug members of the prosecution and the victims’ families in the courtroom after sentencing Cruz in November prompted the Florida Supreme Court to remove her from another death penalty case involving a different defendant, Randy Tundidor, in April. Scherer admitted her treatment of defense lawyers was times not patient or dignified, though she said she offered to embrace defense counsel too, according to court records.

Persons: Elizabeth Scherer, Marjory Stoneman, Nikolas Cruz, Amy Beth Bennett, Cruz, Scherer, Randy Tundidor, Nate Raymond, William Maclean Organizations: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida Supreme, Broward, Circuit, Parkland, Thomson Locations: Broward, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, U.S, South, Parkland, Florida, Boston

☆ Jury Awards $800,000 to a Girl Burned by a Chicken McNugget
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Chang Che | More About Chang Che | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Florida jury awarded $800,000 in damages to a 7-year-old girl on Wednesday for the suffering and mental anguish caused when a Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh, causing a second-degree burn. The jury in Broward County awarded the girl, Olivia Caraballo, the damages for pain, suffering and other forms of mental anguish — $400,000 for the pain she endured and an additional $400,000 for any future suffering resulting from the injury, according to court documents. Lawyers for the family had asked for $15 million. The suit was brought in state court by Olivia’s parents, Philana Holmes and Humberto Caraballo Estevez, against McDonald’s and Upchurch Foods, the franchise operator in Tamarac, Fla. In May, a separate jury determined that the two companies were liable for failing to provide reasonable instructions or warnings — on the packaging, for example — about the risks of injuries that could result from a Chicken McNuggets meal, which comes with pieces of white chicken meat.

Persons: Olivia Caraballo, Philana Holmes, Humberto Caraballo Estevez Organizations: Broward, McDonald’s, Upchurch Foods Locations: Florida, Broward County, Tamarac, Fla

☆ As the climate crisis intensifies, insurers will likely reshape where people live — leaving desperate homeowners in the lurch
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Nick's dilemma illustrates how the climate crisis is touching even the most mundane aspects of owning a home. That's been stagnant because of strict state regulations on what insurance companies can charge. She's one of many homeowners who for years have bought policies from companies that aren't approved by Florida's insurance regulators. Houses that would cost $1 million or more to rebuild are not covered by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, leaving them vulnerable to a disaster. Now he's not sure whether he — or anyone — will ever get the chance to live in his former neighborhood again.

Persons: —, Nick, hadn't, McKinney, Hurricane, Madelyn Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Ian, Rodriguez's townhome, Bob Stephens, Stephens, It's, he'd, he's Organizations: Service, California FAIR, Insurance, Institute, State Farm, Allstate, Insurance Information Institute, Property Insurance, Los Angeles Locations: Klamath, Forest, Oregon, McKinney, California, Florida, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Broward County, Marathon , Florida, —, Marathon

☆ Jury acquits former Florida deputy of failing to protect students in Parkland school shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 29 (Reuters) - A Florida jury on Thursday acquitted a former sheriff's deputy accused of failing to protect students during the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. After the verdict, Peterson told reporters at the courthouse that he would like to talk to the parents of students who lost their lives in the shooting. Peterson was armed but never went inside while the shooting was underway, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office and surveillance video. A jury in October spared Nikolas Cruz, the gunman in the Parkland shooting, from the death penalty, instead calling for life in prison without possibility of parole. In May, the United States marked the one-year anniversary of the deadliest U.S. school shooting in nearly a decade, in which a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 children and two teachers and injured 17 others.

Persons: Parkland's Marjory Stoneman, Scot Peterson, Peterson, Tony Montalto, Gina, Montalto, Nikolas Cruz, Julia Harte, Deepa Babington Organizations: Parkland's, Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Broward State Attorney’s Office, Broward County Sheriff's Office, Police, Texas Department of Public Safety, Thomson Locations: Florida, Broward County, Parkland, United States, Uvalde , Texas

☆ Jury Acquits Deputy Who Failed to Confront Parkland Gunman
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Patricia Mazzei | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A former Florida sheriff’s deputy who failed to confront the gunman at a Parkland high school five years ago, and instead backed away from the building while the students and teachers inside endured a deadly barrage, was found not guilty of child neglect and other crimes on Thursday. When Mr. Peterson’s behavior was revealed after the shooting, critics — including some fellow police officers — painted him as being too scared to face a heavily armed gunman. His actions outraged the Parkland community, and Mr. Peterson was cast as the central character in a morality tale about cowardice and law enforcement’s duty to protect children. The gunman was sentenced last year to life in prison. Mr. Peterson was the lone armed resource officer assigned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre.

Persons: Scot Peterson, —, Peterson, Marjory Stoneman Organizations: Broward County sheriff’s, ”, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Locations: Florida, Parkland, Broward County, Broward

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