Video shows Hernandez dancing near gas pump before killing

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) – Ex-New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez ran up a $243 bar tab and smoked marijuana in the hours before the boyfriend of his fiancee’s sister was shot to death, according to testimony Thursday at his murder trial. Just over an hour before the killing of Odin Lloyd on June 17, […]

Jim Herman survives windy day to take Honda Classic lead

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – A strong wind welcomed the PGA Tour to Florida on Thursday. Jim Herman didn’t mind one bit. Herman saved par from the fairway twice and kept bogeys off his card for a 5-under 65 and the early lead at the Honda Classic at PGA National. He was one shot […]

Regulators OK ‘net neutrality’ rules for Internet providers

WASHINGTON (AP) – Internet service providers like Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile now must act in the “public interest” when providing a mobile connection to your home or phone, under rules approved Thursday by a divided Federal Communications Commission. The plan, which puts the Internet in the same regulatory camp as the telephone and […]

Study: parasite infecting Florida snails poses health danger

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A rare parasite found in snails and rats that can cause serious health problems in humans and animals is more pervasive in South Florida than previously thought, a new study has found. University of Florida scientists say the nightmarishly named “rat lungworm” has been found in multiple species of snails in […]

DC leaders legalize pot despite threats from Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defying threats from Congress, the District of Columbia legalized possession of marijuana for recreational purposes on Thursday, becoming the first place east of the Mississippi River with legal pot. The new law took effect at 12:01 a.m., despite last-minute maneuvers by Republican leaders in Congress and threats that city leaders could face […]

Man accused of calling 911 to check response time

STUART, Fla. (AP) – Authorities say a Florida man is accused of calling 911 and reporting a fake crime to check police response time. Police arrested 19-year-old Christopher Smith, saying he called 911 on Tuesday night to report a shooting. Responding officers found no signs of a shooting. But Smith approached an officer to ask […]

Sen. Nelson asks feds to investigate reform school deaths

MARIANNA, Fla. (AP) – Sen. Bill Nelson has asked the Department of Justice to look into the deaths and burials of boys at a now-closed reform school in the Panhandle town of Marianna. In letters sent Tuesday to Attorney General Eric Holder and to President Obama’s nominee to replace Holder, Loretta Lynch, Nelson asked the […]

Feds: 3 accused in Islamic State plot vocal about beliefs

NEW YORK (AP) – Two men arrested on charges of plotting to help the Islamic State group were vocal both online and in personal conversations about their commitment and desire to join the extremists, with one of them speaking of shooting President Barack Obama to “strike fear in the hearts of infidels,” federal authorities said. […]

Florida legislators under pressure to alter school testing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – For nearly 2 million Florida public school students, the next few weeks could be a crucial moment in their education. The state is undertaking one of the biggest changes in its classrooms since former Gov. Jeb Bush pushed through his signature A+ school grading system nearly 16 years ago. Students will […]

Several injured when Miami bus crashes into building

MIAMI (AP) – More than a dozen people were injured when a Miami-Dade Transit bus crashed into a building. The Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/17AZIYe ) reports the crash happened around 7 a.m. Thursday near Miami Jackson Senior High. Some of those on board the bus were students on their way to school. Witnesses told police the […]