Palm Beach County
SHOOTING DEATH
One person was killed by gunfire at the Stonybrook Apartments in Riviera Beach. When police arrived on the scene, they found a teenager dead. A perimeter was set up, but no suspects were found. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-8477.
SHORT END
Gangsta rapper 50 Cent got the short end of a ruling when Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Peter Blanc upheld an arbitrator’s $16 million decision against him. Technology company Sleek and the rapper entered into an agreement to develop a new headphone, but 50 Cent withdrew from the deal and signed a contract with another company to produce the audio device. Sleek alleged in a successful lawsuit that 50 Cent stole their design and confidential information and used them to produce 50 Cent’s Sync By 50 line of headphones. They were awarded $11,693,247 in damages, plus $4,488,331 in attorney’s fees.
BURGLARY GANG
Four Deerfield Beach residents Brittany Foster, 24, Brandon Walker, 22, Bennie Harrison, 21, Deon Jackson, 19, along with Ron Gonzales, 22, of Delray Beach are facing multiple felony charges. Authorities say they burglarized a home in Delray Beach. A neighbor called police after seeing them loading items in a car that was parked in the driveway of a home before fleeing. A Delray police officer spotted the car and attempted to pull it over, but the suspects sped away heading south on Interstate 95. Boca Raton police joined the pursuit and the suspects bailed out of the vehicle in a restaurant parking lot. All were eventually captured, along with the victim’s jewelry, computers, video game system, checkbook, bank debit card and other valuables totaling more than $15,000. Home burglaries are a continuing problem and law enforcement agencies are urging people to report any out-of the ordinary situations immediately. Remember, if you see something, call 911 and say something.
SENIOR ON THE ATTACK
Ruth Flynn, 73, of Boca Raton is charged with several counts of battery after she allegedly attacked a pet store employee. According to police, Flynn was upset after the employee denied her request to see the store’s veterinarian. She allegedly attempted to barge into a room where the vet was tending a patient, and attacked the employee.
Broward County
IDENTITY THIEF
Krystal Williams, 29, of Coral Springs has been arrested after allegedly stealing a 79-year-old woman’s bank information and using it to pay her own car and insurance. Williams obtained the victim’s information from her job at an assisted living facility, where the victim was a resident. Williams admitted stealing the checks and told authorities she was in desperate straits.
GAME CHANGER
AT&T purchased affordable cell phone carrier Cricket Wireless earlier this year and now the company has introduced a new pricing structure that, from top to bottom, is arguably the best in the business. All of its plans come with unlimited calls, texting and data. But the company is now offering basic cell phone service for just $25 per month. This price includes all taxes and fees, but does not include any texting or data. It may be the perfect plan for seniors or people who only need phone service. This is a game changer and you can expect other wireless companies to follow suit, or lose out.
HUNGRY PEOPLE
Since taking office, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has closed most of the so-called ‘food stamp’ offices, forcing needy people to travel to a single location in each county that provides the service. Applications can be filed online, but this has created a burden for seniors and people who may not have means or patience to do so. In Broward, the loan office is located in the western portion of the county, in Sunrise where long lines and wait times are the norm. Was this by design or just a lack of caring?
Miami-Dade County
TICKET QUOTAS?
An internal email appears to confirm Miami Police requires its officers to write a certain amount of tickets for traffic violations per week. Such quotas are illegal in Florida and Chief Manuel Orosa has yet to comment on the brewing scandal. Stay tuned
NEW CENTER
Miami Dade College is developing a high tech animation facility. Wolfson Campus president José A. Vicente announced the facility will be called the Miami Animation and Gaming International Complex, and will focus on training, research and development. Vicente also announced plans to add gaming and animation programs to the college’s Emerging Technologies Center of the Americas.
FRAUD INDICTMENTS
Guillermo Delgado, 45, Gabriel Delgado, 42, and Emerson Carmona, 43, have been charged with conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and other federal offenses. All of Miami, they are accused of helping convicted pharmacy owner Jose Carlos Morales, 57, commit his $23 million Medicare fraud between 2006 and 2012. Morales is serving a 14-year federal prison sentence.
VERIZON EXPANSION
Wireless Zone, the largest Verizon Wireless franchisee in the country, is opening 10 stores in South Florida in the coming months. The new stores will be located in Miami-Dade County, Boca Raton and Delray Beach. It will mean jobs, but while Verizon service is good, its price plans will need restructuring again in order to keep pace with T-Moblie, AT&T, Sprint and the no-frills competitors.
GETTING CLOSER
After months of speculation about a possible merger, Baptist Health South Florida and Bethesda Health has entered into an affiliation agreement. This could lead to a merger, but not yet. They are the two largest non-profit hospital systems in South Florida, with Baptist serving Miami-Dade County and Bethesda in Palm Beach County. Bethesda President CEO Roger Kirk acknowledged the two organizations have been collaborating and discussing a merger.
Monroe County
CRAB SEASON
Stone crab season is underway and commercial fishermen are swarming all over Monroe County to take part in the harvest season, which runs through May 15th. Stone crabs have been in short supply in recent years leading to record prices. The shortage of crabs is believed to have been due to red tide algae blossoms in the Gulf of Mexico.
IGUANA ATTACK
Amy Russell, a 39-year-old tourist, called police to report being attacked by an iguana at a Key West resort. She told police she was bitten on the toe and feared contracting a disease. Several witness said they saw Russell pushing her foot toward the reptile and harassing it.
EBOLA CONCERNS
Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly, head of the U.S. Southern Command, has expressed concern about the ebola virus. Kelly warns that the southeastern U.S. could be in for a serious influx of refugees if the ebola virus reaches and spreads in the Caribbean.
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