South Florida PI: Former Commander, FHP LT. Florida State Police

Preview: MiamiHerald.com: Breaking News

MiamiHerald.com: Breaking News

Robber hits woman, shoots man, steals a backpack
Hollywood police are looking for a thief who shot a man during a robbery Sunday night. The incident happened just before 8:40 p.m. in the 800 block of South 17th Avenue.

Elderly man disappears from South Miami-Dade home
An 89-year-old man who suffers from memory loss went missing two days ago from his home in South Miami-Dade County, and police have yet to find him.

Suspicious bag blown up near Miami-Dade School Board building
The Miami police bomb squad blew up a black duffel bag Monday morning after the abandoned package was discovered on a ramp near the Miami-Dade County School Board building entrance.

Broward College basketball player collapses, dies
Shayla Llanos fell first to her knees, and then collapsed onto the hardwood. The Broward College freshman guard felt dizzy before losing consciousness late in her team's home game against Onondaga (N.Y.) Community College on Dec. 29.

Miami Dolphins' Joey Porter a finalist for defensive award
Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter did not receive any votes for the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, which was given Monday to Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison.

'Captain' Ryan turns focus to 2009 for Falcons
Mike Smith says Matt Ryan's rookie honors grow more prestigious all the time.

L.T. could be sidelined Sunday by 'tough' injury
There was the strained groin in 2004, the lingering rib injury in 2005, a jaw injury in 2006, the knee injury in last year's playoffs and then his jammed right big toe earlier this season.

Bengals, Jaguars staffs to coach in Senior Bowl
The coaching staffs for the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars will lead the two sides of the Senior Bowl later this month.

Eagles clicking at just the right time
All the ingredients are there for the Philadelphia Eagles to go deep in the playoffs except for home-field advantage.

Gimme a D: Sooners, Gators make defenses disappear
Enlighten us, Brandon Spikes: Did you really mean to call Big 12 defenses an embarrassment?

Suns guard Richardson cited for DUI in Phoenix
Suns guard Jason Richardson is facing charges of driving under the influence in an American Indian tribal community in metropolitan Phoenix.

Chargers' Bennett, former teammate sued in Fla.
A Florida man is suing San Diego Chargers running back Michael Bennett and a former Tampa Bay teammate, saying they attacked him at an International House of Pancakes.

South Florida business bankruptcies highest since at least 1990
More South Florida businesses headed to bankruptcy court last year than at any time since at least 1990. There were 1,403 business bankruptcy filings recorded in 2008 in the U.S Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, which encompasses nine South Florida counties. That's an 80 percent increase from the 778 business bankruptcy filings in 2007 and the most since 1,138 were filed in 1992, the previous high. Figures prior to 1990 are not posted on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's website.

NY Times debuts front-page ad; new revenue source
The New York Times, facing falling ad revenue like other newspapers, on Monday became the latest paper to run graphical advertising on its front page.

Airlines sue FAA over crew rest rules
Several of the nation's largest airlines have joined in a lawsuit to block stronger federal rules on crew rest during the longest international flights.

Spain's 2008 inflation drops to 1.5 percent
Spain said Monday its inflation rate for 2008 was 1.5 percent, the lowest rate in a decade.

A guide to mutual fund fees
In a tough investing climate mutual fund investors should take note of what investing fees they're being charged. Costs associated with an individual investor's transactions and account are listed in a fee table, located near the front of a fund's prospectus, under the heading "Shareholder Fees."

Germany works on euro50 billion stimulus
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition agreed Monday to give Europe's biggest economy an extra stimulus of up to euro50 billion ($70 billion) in an effort to cushion it against a deepening recession, senior officials said.

Researchers focus on bringing missing bees back
Scientists in the field and the lab are trying to solve a mystery critical to the future of American agriculture: Why are honeybee hives failing at a disturbingly high rate?

Tyson Foods CEO resigns effective immediately
Tyson Foods Inc. said Monday that its president and chief executive, Dick Bond, will step down immediately and be replaced by a former CEO as the world's largest meat processor continues to weather a downturn in the industry.

Fla. corrections officer dead after punch in Ala.
A Florida corrections officer has died after being punched in the face at a football party at his home in southeast Alabama.

Chargers' Bennett, former teammate sued in Fla.
A Florida man is suing San Diego Chargers running back Michael Bennett and a former Tampa Bay teammate, saying they attacked him at an International House of Pancakes.

4 indicted in $1 billion insurance fraud scam
Four men are facing federal charges in a $1 billion Miami life insurance fraud first exposed in 2004.

Free beer at Busch parks run dry
There are no free lunches in life, but one could always count on free beer samples at Anheuser-Busch theme parks. Until now.

Baby killed in central Fla. traffic crash
Authorities say a 6-month-old child is dead after a traffic accident in central Florida.

Disney opening American Idol Experience Feb. 14
An attraction inspired by the "American Idol" TV show offically opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios Feb. 14.

8 dead, 1 hurt after chopper crashes in La. marsh
Authorities searched a southern Louisiana marsh by boat Monday for clues that might determine what caused a helicopter crash that killed eight people bound for an offshore oil platform.

Manatee deaths up slightly from 2007
State wildlife officials say 337 manatees died in Florida last year, a slight rise from 2007 but still below the five-year average.

Fewer reporters died in 2008; Iraq still deadliest
The Committee to Protect Journalists says Iraq remains the most lethal place for working media members despite a two-thirds decline in deaths there in 2008.

Kaine says he'll limit time spent as party leader
Gov. Tim Kaine said Monday he will manage a Virginia budget crisis $3 billion and growing and head the Democratic National Committee in his spare time, largely as "an electronic gig."

Search begins for Kansas boy missing 10 years
A missing Kansas boy's adoptive parents, who failed to report his disappearance for nearly a decade, are considered "people of interest" in the case as authorities expand their search nationwide, a sheriff said Monday.

Foundation won't disclose Bush library donors
Donors to President George W. Bush's presidential library probably will remain a mystery, said the foundation overseeing fundraising.

Wash. state police find baby's remains in trash
Authorities combing through 60 tons of trash, searching for the body of a baby allegedly dumped by his 16-year-old mother, found a dead infant in the garbage Monday.

11 Eastern states agree to low carbon standard
Eleven Eastern states have agreed to adhere to a new fuel standard that they hope will reduce greenhouse gases.

Sheriff: Man arrested in Ohio mother's slaying
A man was arrested in the shooting death of a woman whose 4-year son was abducted and left unharmed at a highway rest area, authorities said Monday.

Ill. woman charged with voter registration fraud
An Illinois woman has been charged with submitting false information on voter registration cards, including turning in cards from nursing home residents without their knowledge.

India asserts Mumbai attackers were supported within Pakistani state
India confronted Pakistan on Monday with a detailed dossier that it said showed that "elements from Pakistan" were behind the November terrorist assault on Mumbai and said it was inconceivable that no one in the Pakistani government knew of the plans.

Israelis watch bombardment of Gaza town
A tower of white smoke rose from the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun after another Israeli bombardment Monday morning, and a half-dozen Israelis, perched on a dusty hilltop, gazed at the scene like armchair military strategists.

Wanted: Border monitors to oversee Gaza truce
The contours of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas are emerging, with diplomacy focusing on international guarantees, including foreign border monitors to oversee any agreement.

Pirates attack French vessel off Nigerian coast
Pirates hijacked a French boat and took its nine crew members hostage in the latest attack in some of the world's most dangerous waters off oil-rich southern Nigeria, the boat's owner said Monday.

Mammoth new U.S. Embassy a symbol of a ‘new era' in Iraq
The U.S. flag was raised Monday over the mammoth new American Embassy in Iraq, symbolizing a new era of restored Iraqi sovereignty and reduced U.S. power, despite the fact that it's the biggest American mission on Earth.

France tries accused 9/11 plotter in Tunisia blast
A European convert to Islam allegedly caught on camera beside Osama bin Laden denied Monday any role in a 2002 suicide attack on a Tunisian synagogue allegedly ordered by the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.

Police: Mexican woman in wheelchair flees on foot
Police say a woman who begged from a wheelchair was caught running from a crime scene on foot in Monterrey, Mexico. Police spokeswoman Sidlayin Robles says 30-year-old Ana Victoria Perez fled on foot after she and her husband allegedly threw a stone through the front window of a furniture store.

Turkey restores citizenship of celebrated poet
Turkey restored the citizenship of its most famous poet Monday in a symbolic step meant to show it was addressing criticism of its human rights record in hopes of joining the European Union.

`Marley' digs in at No. 1 spot with $24M weekend
Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson's family dog tale "Marley & Me" nuzzled its way to another top finish at the box office, pulling in $24.3 million over its second weekend.

QVC will sell memorabilia at Obama inauguration
QVC is traveling to Washington to mark President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration this month - and is bringing along plenty of coins, stamps, jewelry and even a small handbag to sell.

New `Bachelor' Jason Mesnick says he's engaged
Though he wasn't picked in the finale of "The Bachelorette," Jason Mesnick isn't just giving love another shot - he says he's found it.

`Dark Knight' vies for Producers Guild best pic
The Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight," slighted in earlier Hollywood honors, was among best-picture nominees Monday for the Producers Guild of America Awards.

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell have twin girls
Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell are new parents - times two.

Death certificate: Travolta son killed by seizure
Jett Travolta's body shows no sign of head trauma and his death certificate says he was killed by a "seizure," an undertaker said Monday, as the 16-year-old's celebrity parents prepared for a Florida funeral.

Bon Jovi to sing at NYC Hillary Clinton fundraiser
The final note of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign may very well be sung by Jon Bon Jovi.

Scribner to publish first lady Laura Bush's memoir
First lady Laura Bush, among the most reserved and enigmatic public figures of recent times, will, at last, tell her story.