VERIZON STRIKES BACK
Verizon has taken several hits in the hot wireless wars and now has responded by reducing some customers’ bills by $10 per month. It is a reaction to stiff competition and the continuing exodus of subscribers. It’s better than nothing but they will have to do better than this. Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T still have comparable wireless plans at lower costs.
Palm Beach County
BATTERY CHARGE
Alyssa Sheets, 24, of Boca Raton was charged with one count of domestic battery and one count of simple battery. Police said she was in a fight in which she allegedly “punched, kicked and ripped the victim’s hair out.”
SAYING GOODBYE
American Media Inc., parent corporation of several tabloids, including the National Enquirer, announced it will relocate the National Enquirer to New York. The Globe and Examiner will remain in Boca Raton but nearly 200 jobs will be gone. Affected employees have been offered other positions.
NEW RAIL STATION
The Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization will spend $8.5 million in federal funds to help build a new Tri-Rail station near Glades Road in Boca Raton. At present, there is only one Tri-Station in the city. The Florida Department of Transportation has already put forth $10 million for the project.
Broward County
HOT RACE
McKinley Williams, a stock broker, is considering a run for the Fort Lauderdale District III city commission seat. Incumbent Bobby DuBose is resigning to run for the state house. Williams joins developer Robert McKenzie and funeral director and mortician John Hill who are also seeking the seat.
BOY MOLESTED
Frank Gamba, 52, of Davie has been charged with allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old boy he met on the Internet. Authorities said the child’s mother noticed he was missing at 4:30 a.m. and called police. She said she noticed a strange number on her home phone and when she called it, Gamba answered. Police were able to track the number back to Gamba and used GPS tracking on the child’s cell phone to locate him. Gamba is accused of luring the boy to his apartment for sex.
OFFICER KILLED
Miami police officer Carl Patrick, 52, was found shot to death in his Pembroke Pines home. Police went to his home after relatives became concerned about his whereabouts. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
SCHOOLS BOND
The Broward School District is considering another construction bond measure, this time for $880 million. Superintendent Robert Runcie said the money would be used for repairs and technology upgrades. It would be repaid over 30 years through property taxes.
Miami-Dade County
WIRELESS JOBS
AT&T is calling for 225 new hires in Florida from Key West to Vero Beach. The open positions, which are among 500 AT&T is seeking to fill statewide, include sales, customer service and consulting jobs for bilingual residents. More than half of those positions are in call centers, with 145 positions in a Miami and the others in Sunrise.
MAN MISSING
Robert A. Garcia-Esquerro, 43, of Miami, who is charged with Medicare fraud, went fishing this week in a 28-foot boat and has disappeared. The U.S. Coast Guard is asking anyone with information to call 305-415-6800.
Monroe County
JUDICIAL GOODBYE
Monroe County Chief Circuit Judge David Audlin spent his last day on the job after announcing his resignation in April. It came after the courthouse website JAABlog posted details about an ad Audlin posted on a gay website seeking sex. Audlin said it was an invasion of privacy but quit his $145,000 a year job.
POACHING CHARGES
Serguei Perez-Perdomo, 37, of Marathon was charged after allegedly killing a protected sea turtle for its meat and being caught with 200 out-of-season lobsters and 12 undersized stone crab claws. He is facing one felony charge related to the turtle butchering and multiple misdemeanor fishing-related charges.
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