Cardinals say Adam Wainwright to make 1st start Saturday

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – The St. Louis Cardinals say ace Adam Wainwright is to make his first spring training start on Saturday against Atlanta. Wainwright sustained a mild abdominal strain early in spring training. He has thrown a pair of bullpen sessions since the injury, including about 40 pitches in a simulated game Monday. Wainwright […]

Wheeler’s injury puts Gee back in Mets’ starting rotation

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) – This wasn’t how Dillon Gee wanted to regain a spot in the New York Mets’ rotation. New York’s opening-day starter last year, Gee was slated for a bullpen role before Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament that likely will sideline him until 2016. Mets manager Terry […]

Miami music teacher accused of having sex with teen student

MIAMI (AP) – A South Florida music teacher lost his job after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Miami-Dade police arrested the 28-year-old Palmetto High School teacher Friday and he spent the night in jail. He was released on a $75,000 bond Saturday. School administrators say he’s no longer employed […]

500 illegal gambling machines seized during sweep

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies say more than $117,000 and more than 500 illegal gambling devices were seized recently at multiple locations. The Bradenton Herald (http://bit.ly/1APcf1h) reports that since January, the sheriff’s office has been investigating illegal gambling operations throughout the county in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida […]

Miami airport bomb threat nets man 3 years’ probation, fine

MIAMI (AP) – A Pennsylvania man must serve three years of probation and pay a $1,000 fine for yelling that he would detonate a bomb last fall at Miami International Airport. U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga decided Monday not to add more prison time to the six months Joseph Rivera has already spent behind […]

GOP offers $3.8T budget that boosts defense, cuts elsewhere

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a $3.8 trillion budget plan for next year that effectively breaks tight budget limits on military spending while promising a familiar roster of big cuts to social programs such as food stamps and Medicaid. The plan by Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, R-Ga., pads Pentagon and State […]

Publix on shopping spree to add property across Florida

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – Publix supermarkets are going on a shopping spree, buying up property across Florida. The Herald-Tribune of Sarasota (http://bit.ly/1CqSrZd ) reports the Lakeland-based grocery chain purchased $86 million for six shopping centers in southwest Florida over the past year. Publix also has earmarked $1.3 billion to buy more property, build new stores […]

Broward judges dismiss 24,000 red-light camera cases

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Two Broward County traffic court judges dismissed some 24,000 pending red-light camera ticket cases totaling more than $6.3 million. The judges ruled Monday that the program violates Florida law. Attorney Ted Hollander of Ticket Clinic told the South Florida Sun Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1bdkteF ) his office argued for more than four […]

5 Fantasy 5 players win $43,947.02 jackpot

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Five “Fantasy 5” players have selected all five winning numbers to win a jackpot of $43,947.02 each. The Florida Lottery said Tuesday the winning tickets were purchased in Bonifay, Punta Gorda, Miami, Tamarac and Lantana. A total of 418 tickets matching four numbers won $84.50 each. Another 11,433 tickets matching three […]

Middle school student accused of attacking girl

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) – A 14-year-old middle school student is accused of felony battery after an attack on another student left her in the hospital. Officials say the girl grabbed another 14-year-old by the hair and slammed her head against the floor during class change at Merritt Brown Middle School near Panama City last […]