Miami-Dade fugitive shot dead in Texas

The manhunt for escaped convict Alberto Morales ended early Saturday in a hail of gunfire as the fugitive was cornered by police and shot and killed in a small town in Texas.Authorities said Morales, who had somehow slipped out of his handcuffs since escaping police Monday, lunged at the officers with wooden sticks, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Morales, 41, had...

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Oscars Flashback: Drew Barrymore 1983

Considering that Drew Barrymore turns 38 today, it's fascinating to think that she attended her first Oscars thirty years ago. At the 1983 Oscars, the charming, young actress is adorable as ever as she is interviewed on the red carpet.Although she had won a Young Artist Award for best actress for her performance in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Barrymore didn't receive a nomination for an individual...

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Playgrounds to honor Newtown massacre victims being built in communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy

TRENTON, NJ — The state's largest firefighter union is remembering the 26 victims of December's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre in Connecticut by building a playground to honor each one in a community recovering from Superstorm Sandy.New Jersey and New York will get 10 playgrounds each, and Connecticut will get six. Each playground will link...

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Sign up for Feb. 21 Miami Herald Small Business Forum

Prepare your best pitch for the Miami Herald’s Small Business Forum, Feb. 21 at the south campus of our sponsor, Florida International University.In addition to how-to panels and inspirational stories from successful entrepreneurs, our annual small business forum will include interactive opportunities with experts to learn about financing options and polish your personal...

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Boss of alleged Miami-Dade pot ring plans to plead guilty to conspiracy charges

Derrick Santiesteban, the boss of an alleged marijuana growhouse ring that authorities say made millions off selling potent pot between Miami and New York, faces his reckoning Friday afternoon. He plans to plead guilty to conspiracy charges along with his wife, Yadira, in Miami federal court, according to public records.Raul Ramirez, a growhouse caretaker for the Santiesteban...

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Nicole Sullivan Talks Wendell and Vinnie

Certain actors have locked in lifetime loyalty with me based on previous projects or their general fabulousness. In the case of Nicole Sullivan, both apply, and my enduring love for the comedian is leading my TV to new pastures. Namely, Nick at Nite!Starting this Saturday, Sullivan stars alongside iCarly's Jerry Trainor on Nick at Nite's newest series, Wendell & Vinnie. The two play siblings whose...

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Month-long school bus strike could end as soon as tonight: sources

The embattled school bus drivers’ union could call off its month-long strike as early as tonight — during a member-wide conference call with top union officials, sources said.Amid several significant setbacks, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 President Michael Cordiello is expected to tell the 9,000 striking bus drivers, matrons and mechanics...

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In Key West, women earn more than men

Key West is one of just four cities in the United States where the median income for women exceeds that of men, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.The American Community Survey, which goes beyond population figures and analyzes comparative social, economic and educational data, found that nationwide, men older than 16 working full-time and year-round...

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Crime Watch: Steer clear of these latest email scams

Today I want to share with you some interesting scam emails shared by readers. We truly need to be super-careful and not open or respond to any of them.I personally got the one from Kabul and had to laugh because this was a new one for me. I am not showing the email address, but trust me it looked very official especially when I do have friends that are stationed in Kabul....

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3 NYers plead guilty in Nazi reparation case

Three people have pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to participating in a scheme that defrauded a Holocaust reparations organization of more than $57 million.Prosecutors said Moysey and Dora Kucher and Genrikh Kolontyrskiy pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to defraud programs administered by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against...

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American Airlines, US Airways announce merger

After a nearly yearlong courtship, the union became official Thursday: American Airlines and US Airways have formally announced plans to merge.An early morning announcement by the airlines confirmed reports widely circulated after boards of both companies approved the merger late Wednesday.The move brings stability to one of Miami-Dade County’s largest private employers more...

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Former Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that...

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Lena Dunham Defends Patrick Wilson Girls Episode

Lena Dunham is getting a lot of backlash after Sunday night's episode of Girls, titled Another Man's Trash, featured her character Hannah Horvath in the throes of passion with big-screen heartthrob Patrick Wilson, a.k.a. Dr. Joshua. Many critics are calling the episode a "fantastical, implausible story," but these writers may be surprised that Dunham sort of agrees with them.The episode begins with...

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John Thomas Financial CEO Belesis facing disciplinary action

Tommy Belesis, the founder of Wall Street brokerage firm John Thomas Financial, is facing disciplinary action from the industry’s watchdog. Belesis disclosed today that he has received a so-called Wells Notice from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the brokerage industry’s self-regulatory body. The notice, which was sent to Belesis on Jan....

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Former Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that...

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Chinese New Year rings in at St. Thomas University

A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration was held at St. Thomas University on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Miami Gardens. The free event was open to the public and also featured an ancestral-veneration ceremony, lion dances and a reception. ...

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Faith Hill Becomes a Brace Face

Faith Hill has been rocking a new accessory that garnered lots of attention when she hit the Grammy Awards red carpet on Sunday. The country crooner stepped out wearing clear braces, which led us to ask: What was wrong with her teeth in the first place?Never mentioning that she's been wearing veneers for decades, Hill, 45, explained the mouth metal to radio station KNIX at the Country Music Awards,...

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Career thief accused of burglarizing Anne Frank Center claims he wanted to look at exhibits

Burglar? Try Holocaust aficionado. A career thief charged with burglarizing the Anne Frank Center last winter is insisting to a Manhattan jury that he had just gone inside because he wanted to look at the exhibits.Michael James, 53 -- who has 30 theft and drug sale arrests on his rap -- is accused of swiping the executive director's wallet after sneaking...

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U.S. Century to OK details of new deal

U.S. Century Bank is expected to sign off on Monday on its letter of intent — the framework for a plan to recapitalize the bank.Under the deal, a local group of investors, led by Jimmy Tate of Tate Capital and Sergio Rok of Rok Enterprises, will bring in fresh capital and wipe out the Doral bank’s bad loans, while allowing it to operate independently.The investor group is...

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Carnival ship fire quickly extinguished as ship wallows in Gulf awaiting tug

The Carnival Triumph, a Galveston, Texas-based passenger cruise ship with the theme “Great Cities Around the World,” might have been better off sitting at port, as a court initially ordered. As of Monday morning the 14-year old ship was going nowhere, operating on emergency generator power after a fire Sunday in one of the diesel generators killed its propulsion. The fire...

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Kerry Washington Channing Tatum Independent Spirit Awards Presenters Exclusive

Given their host (Joel McHale, Rainn Wilson, Seth Rogen, John Waters, Andy Samberg) and nominee track record, The Film Independent Spirit Awards have long been one of my favorite award shows -- and don't even get me started on the sublime singing! RELATED - Who's Presenting at The OscarsThis year's ceremony is set to be their most star-studded to date. Not only are Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConaughey,...

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Doctor slapped with 55-count indictment for allegedly selling pain killers to drug dealers

A doctor was slapped with a 55-count indictment today on charges he allegedly sold prescriptions of oxycodone and other highly addictive pain killers to drug dealers from his Manhattan and Rockland County offices, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced.The indictment also charges Dr. David Brizer with illegally possessing controlled substances...

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Green cards for sale at a South Beach hotel: Competition is on for EB5 investment visas

If David Hart gets his way, South Beach’s 42-room Astor Hotel will be on a hiring spree this year as it adds concierge service, a roof-top pool, an all-night diner, spa and private-car service available 24 hours a day. New hires will be crucial to Hart’s business plan, since foreign investors have agreed to pay about $50,000 for each job created by the Art Deco boutique....

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Two Fantasy 5 tickets sold in Broward take $92,069 jackpot

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Three tickets, two purchased in Broward County, matched all five Fantasy 5 numbers to collect a jackpot worth $92,069.38 each, the Florida Lottery said Sunday. The winning tickets were bought in Plantation and Tamarac and in Homosassa, lottery officials said. The numbers drawn Saturday night were 1-3-16-18-25 The 463 tickets matching...

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Chris Brown Car Collision

ET has learned that Chris Brown was involved in a solo, non-injury traffic collision in Beverly Hills at noon today, blaming the paparazzi for losing control of his Porsche and colliding with a wall. Pics: Remembering Whitney Houston A statement from Lieutenant Lincoln Hoshino of the Beverly Hills police details the incident: "On February 9, 2013 at approximately 12:03 p.m., entertainer Chris Brown...

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'Identity Thief' steals No. 1 spot at weekend box office

APMelissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman in a scene from "Identity Thief"LOS ANGELES — "Identity Thief" has turned out to be the real thing at the box office.The comedy starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy debuted at No. 1 with a $36.6 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday."Identity Thief" opened solidly despite the winter storm...

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Mega mansion frenzy: Buyer snaps up Pat Riley’s $16M home to level it, rebuild

Miami Heat President Pat Riley sold his spectacular bayfront mansion in gated Gables Estates for $16.8 million last March.The 12,856-square-foot Mediterranean-style dream house at 180 Arvida Parkway has a theater, wine cellar, library, and a sprawling pool with waterfalls and an aqua bar.But that’s all coming down. Turns out the lure was the lot: a rare...

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