ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The defense for Casey Anthony is expected to rest Thursday after calling its final witnesses, though it’s still not known if the central Florida mother will take the stand to answer questions about whether she killed her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. On Wednesday, the defense may have been dealt a blow when [...]
Tag: Florida
July 1, 2011
June 30, 2011
Casey Anthony Blood Lust
It’s the story that demands breaking live coverage on not one but two, three cable news networks. “Another day of powerful testimony in the Casey Anthony murder trial,” resounded the anchors on cable news.“Another day of disturbing testimony in the Casey Anthony murder trial.”Mainstream media is reporting and analyzing every gory detail.“There were a lot [...]
June 30, 2011
June 26, 2011
Judge Adjourns Casey Anthony Trial Until Monday
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Casey Anthony trial is on hold until next week. Attorneys for the Florida mother charged with murdering her 2-year-old daughter were expected to continue calling witnesses on Saturday. But after meeting with lawyers from both sides in the morning, Judge Belvin Perry announced that court would adjourn until Monday. A “legal [...]
June 24, 2011
Jeb Bush: Public School Standards Inadequate
Current public school academic standards are too low, resulting in high-school diplomas that aren’t “worth the paper they are printed on,” former Florida governor Jeb Bush argued in an Op-Ed in The Wall Street Journal. Bush, along with co-author Joel Klein, former head of the New York City schools, called for the adoption of national [...]
June 23, 2011
June 22, 2011
Bank Deal May Give States Loan Writedown Options
States may have options for how to use any money from a nationwide foreclosure settlement with U.S. banks, including applying funds toward principal reductions for borrowers, Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens said. Including those choices may broaden support for any deal among the attorneys general who oppose requiring banks to fund principal writedowns, Olens said [...]
June 18, 2011
Unemployment Fell in Fewer than Half US States
WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates fell in fewer than half of U.S. states, evidence that slower hiring has affected many parts of the country. The unemployment rates in 24 states dropped, the Labor Department said Friday. Rates rose in 13 states and Washington, D.C, and were flat in 13. That’s a significant decline from April, [...]
June 12, 2011
Giffords’ Friend Says Congresswoman Makes Progress
WASHINGTON (AP) — One of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ closest friends in Congress is impressed by Giffords’ “remarkable progress” from her shooting in January. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that she had a “wonderful conversation” on the telephone with Giffords on Wednesday. Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, says Giffords spoke in full [...]
June 12, 2011
Dozens Jockey for Coveted Anthony Trial Seats
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Spectators trying to get one of the 60 courtroom seats available to the public in the Casey Anthony trial have created scenes reminiscent of the running of the bulls in Spain or a Walmart on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Those who have arrived as early as 1 a.m. to wait for [...]
June 12, 2011
States Weigh Relaxing Penalties for Teen Sexting
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A congressman who sends an X-rated photo of himself jeopardizes his reputation and his job. But in many states, teens caught doing the same thing can risk felony charges, jail time and being branded sexual offenders. That’s because a minor who transmits a sexually explicit photo of themselves according to many [...]
June 9, 2011
Florida’s Scott Still Spurns Fed Aid in Healthcare Fight
Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida has rejected $19 million in federal aid so far as part of his challenge to the national healthcare overhaul. And he is holding off on creating a statewide insurance-coverage exchange the new law mandates, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Scott’s approach differs sharply from that of other plaintiffs in [...]
June 8, 2011
June 7, 2011
Florida Couple Beats BofA at Own Foreclosure Game
A Florida couple whose home was foreclosed on wrongly won a cash settlement in court against Bank of America for the fiasco. When BofA continually blew off their efforts to collect the award, they decided to turn the tables, heading to the bank with moving vans and armed police officers to help them seize bank [...]