VIDEO: South Florida mother fights off carjackers

HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN)- A mother fought off two men in an attempted carjacking at a Hialeah gas station. Surveillance cameras show how the masked men attempted to get into the car of one woman, but she locked herself in her vehicle. The men then moved on to another vehicle, but the woman inside fought back, fearing her kids would […]

Post’s Rezaian makes brief appearance outside hospital

LANDSTUHL, Germany (AP) – Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian made a brief appearance outside the U.S. military’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he’s being treated along with two other Americans who were just freed by Iran in a prisoner exchange. Rezaian looked upbeat as he posed with his wife, mother and brother for […]

Police: Sunrise man faces 102 sex charges involving child

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) – Police say a Sunrise man is facing more than 100 sex-related charges involving a young girl. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/1Rz3O82) 32-year-old Jack Ryan Kelly was arrested Friday. Online records show that Kelly is charged with two counts of sexual battery and 100 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation […]

95-year-old woman dies in house fire in Panhandle

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Fire officials say a 95-year-old woman died in a fire at her Panama City Beach home. An investigation continued Tuesday to determine what caused the fire at the duplex where Kirsten Bertolet lived. Bay County Battalion Chief Darrel Wise says the roof collapsed on one side of the duplex […]

Deputies: Man killed in dispute over touching truck

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Authorities in central Florida say a man was killed in a dispute over whether he touched another man’s pickup truck. Brevard County Sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Tod Goodyear tells the Orlando Sentinel that 67-year-old German Heredia was walking with his granddaughters and their dogs Jan. 5 when Warren Buchanan walked up and […]

Rape kits, gas pump skimmers, Iran among Cabinet priorities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Citrus, rape kits, credit card skimmers, synthetic drugs, life insurance, water, medical bills, racketeering and Iran. That is the short version of the legislative priorities for Florida’s three independently elected Cabinet members. While they can’t sponsor or vote on bills or sign them into law, the Cabinet members hold important leadership […]

Osprey Fantasy 5 player wins jackpot worth $219,526.50

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – One “Fantasy 5” player selected all five winning numbers to take home a jackpot of $219,526.50. The Florida Lottery said Wednesday that the winning ticket was purchased in Osprey. A total of 275 tickets matching four numbers won $128.50 each. Another 9,245 tickets matching three numbers won $10.50 each and 92,866 […]

Rubio betting on a long-haul strategy to win GOP nomination

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) – Under pressure to emerge as the Republican mainstream’s presidential contender, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is increasingly relying on a national strategy as he lowers expectations for February’s primary contests. He’s betting big that Republican voters across the political spectrum will ultimately coalesce behind his candidacy in the state-by-state slog for delegates […]

17 Burmese pythons caught so far in Florida’s public hunt

MIAMI (AP) – Officials say so far, 17 Burmese pythons have been caught during the hunt for the invasive species in Florida’s wetlands. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/1KqiBKB) the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the tally Tuesday. The state’s second public hunt for the exotic snakes started Saturday and ends Feb. […]