REPUBLICAN DECLINE
After the Republican Party wrapped up its national convention, its hapless presidential nominee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, lost four points in national polls.
Meanwhile, incumbent President Barack Obama and the Democrats completed their convention and he widened his lead by four points in battleground states over Romney.
It’s no wonder. The Republicans have allowed a bunch of extremist crackpots to take over the party and it smells. Romney is a flip-flopping liberal who has used his money to fake being a conservative. This week, he admitted for the first time that he supports healthcare reform and would keep some portions of the president’s Affordable Healthcare Act.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Prebus is often seen on television snickering like a school girl while hurling racially tinged insults at President Obama and making ridiculous claims and accusations. They are the face of the new Republican Party and it’s an ugly one. The demographics in this country are changing faster than most predicted and the Republican Party needs new leadership that can present its views and advocate for conserative positions without the racial undertones, insults and outrageous claims being made by the likes of Romney and Prebus.
Palm Beach County
OFFICER DOWN
Officer Bruce St. Laurent, a 20-year veteran with the Jupiter Police Department, was killed while manning a blockade for President Barack Obama’s campaign bus during a stop in West Palm Beach. Laurent was setting up a barricade at the Interstate 95 exit ramp to 45th Street when he was hit by a truck. He was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Services are pending. The investigation is ongoing.
LEADER RESIGNS
The Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel has resigned after remarking that Christians really want to kill Jews. His inflammatory statement was met with outrage from Christians and Jews alike.
GIRLFRIENDS IN TROUBLE
Two women, in separate incidents, are facing criminal charges after allegedly using their cars as weapons during disputes with their boyfriends. Lovetta McGrady, 22, used her car to ram the vehicle of her ex-boyfriend at his Boynton Beach home and caused $1,500 worth of damage, police said. At the time, she had her two children in the car. She is charged with child neglect and criminal mischief.
Cei Jay Connolly, 22, was arrested after allegedly threatening and then trying to run over her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend at his Delray Beach home. Police said Connolly accelerated toward the woman, who was not able to escape and was struck in the right leg. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Connolly, of Pompano Beach, who had her 1-year-old child in the car at the time, was arrested.
Broward County
FORCED BANKRUPTCY
Four employees and one company filed papers in federal court seeking to force the Coral Springs-based pharmaceutical company Nutra Pharma Corp. into bankruptcy. Paul Reid, Marc Proulx, Lawrence Raymond and MLB Marketing say they are owed more than $1 million and doubt the company can pay up without being forced into bankruptcy where it can sell off its assets. Nutra Pharma’s main product is a pain reliever, Nyloxin, that is made from cobra venom.
WILTON MANORS MESS
The Wilton Manors Police Department is dealing with an anonymous letter placed in the mail slot of Officer Scott Jordan. The letter claims that Chief Paul O’Connell asked members of his command staff to write memos to City Manager Joe Gallegos opposing Jordan’s return to work following a long illness. Jordan is a former BSO deputy who was fired after admitting he falsified reports after being ordered to do so by higher-ups in a crime statistics scandal. Whoever wrote the letter has caused a major disruption within the department because the claim is false and you will be surprised by who was behind it.
MANAGER’S PAY
Pembroke Pines City Manager Charles Dodge’s contract is up for renewal in February and some commissioners are recommending between $215,000 and $285,000 a year. The city contracts with Dodge’s company to provide management services, which have included hiring Assistant City Manager Martin Gayeski. Some commissioners want to hire a traditional manager to bring transparency to what taxpayers are paying their managers.
BAD ALLEGATIONS
Mark Lynn, a 55-year-old elementary school custodian, was arrested at his Coral Springs home after a 12-year-old child spotted him standing naked outdoors. Lynn was arrested and charged with exposing himself to a minor. Last year, a different neighbor reported him to police and accused him of walking around his yard in the nude. School officials have suspended Lynn and barred him from returning to the school pending resolution of the allegations.
Miami-Dade County
ABSENTEE BALLOT MESS
Anamary Pedrosa, an aide to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo, is accused of asking absentee ballot brokers to collect ballots for Manny Díaz Jr., Eddy González and José Oliva, who were running for seats in the Legislature. This comes as James Bush III, also candidate for the District 39 seat, filed a lawsuit challenging the results based on the certification of questionable absentee ballots. It’s a mess and will only get worse.
AUTO FRAUD
Miami Beach Police Officer George Navarro is among 10 people accused of participating in an organized car theft ring. He was arrested along with Tomas Manrique, Todd Javon Smith Jr., Shanovia Maria Smith, Nicholi O'Neil Smith, Alexandra Olivera, Francis Elizabeth Hannan, James Paul, Dennis Esther and Matos Torres, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
One other person, Shannon Reid, remains at large. They are accused of providing fake documents and posing as wealthy customers to buy or lease high-end vehicles. Police say they received thousands of dollars in kickbacks after turning the vehicles over to the ringleader, convicted drug dealer Marlon Mayoli, who allegedly sold them without ever paying for them.
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