This Hour: Latest Florida news, sports, business and entertainment:
Member Center:
Fla. Gov. vetoes nearly $400 million from budget
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida Gov. Rick Scott is vetoing nearly $400 million from the state's new budget.
Scott on Monday signed the $74.1 billion budget into law.
But he also axed a whole line of project sprinkled in the budget including millions for college buildings, health care programs and even money for supplemental programs for veterans.
Scott also vetoed a 3% tuition hike for college and university students and $50 million for a multi-use trail that would cross the state.
The Republican governor still praised the overall budget, by noting it boosts spending on education.
This year marked the first time in years that legislators had a budget surplus to work with.
Some of Scott's vetoes took aim at fellow Republicans including Senate President Don Gaetz.
Fla. Powerball winner hasn't come forward
ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) - So far the winner hasn't come forward to claim the highest Powerball jackpot in history.
The lucky ticket was bought at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., a city of about 13,000 people about 30 miles northeast of downtown Tampa.
The winner will have up to two months to claim the estimated $590.5 million jackpot.
Under Florida law, lottery winners in the state cannot remain anonymous; their names and city of residence must be made publicly available to anyone who asks, according to the state's lottery website. No one had come forward as of Monday morning.
Lottery spokesman David Bishop says that winners of big jackpots usually don't rush to claim their prize. They typically contact an attorney or accountant to get their affairs in order.
Long-term care Medicaid patients start enrolling
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Phone counselors are now available to help long-term care Medicaid recipients choose their health plans.
State health officials say the call centers went live Monday. Long-term care Medicaid recipients can call the hotline and ask questions about what doctors and medications are covered in different plans.
The counselor can also enroll them in a plan. Recipients have until July 18 to decide. Residents in Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties will be the first to enroll and will begin receiving services August 1. The state is enrolling groups by regions.
Florida obtained tentative permission from the federal government to move 3 million Medicaid patients into managed care programs where insurers are given a set amount of money to decide what doctors, tests and medications to cover.
Ex-NFL WR Johnson arrested in probation violation
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has been arrested for a probation violation stemming from an altercation with his now ex-wife, TV reality star Evelyn Lozada.
Broadcast reports say a Broward County judge ordered Johnson jailed until he posts a $1,000 bond. Another hearing was set for June 3. An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month when Johnson failed to meet his probation officer.
The 6-time Pro Bowl player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco is serving a year's probation for head-butting Lozada during an argument last August. She quickly filed for divorce. They had only been married since July 4.
Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins after the incident. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.
Lozada is on the "Basketball Wives" TV show.
Miss. probationer caught in central Florida
OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Florida Highway Patrol officials have arrested a probation violator from Mississippi. They also arrested the woman they say helped him flee.
Trooper Shane Crawford stopped to help what he thought was a disabled vehicle in central Florida on Saturday. He ran a computer check on the car's tags and found the vehicle was from Mississippi.
Authorities said the suspect gave a fake name and birthdate. After contacting the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the Ocala Star Banner reports the suspect was identified as 32-year-old Gary Sneed. The MDOC says Sneed was sought for not reporting to his probation officer.
Authorities said Holly Morrison stole a car to help Sneed escape.
The couple had numerous warrants out for the escape, including manufacturing of methamphetamine and grand theft auto charges.
Man's body found after north Fla. home explodes
YULEE, Fla. (AP) - The body of a man was found following an explosion inside a north Florida mobile home.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper told the Florida Times-Union a neighbor called 911 about 1:20 a.m. Sunday after hearing an explosion.
Leeper says there were multiple propane tanks around the house. Some of them exploded.
The sheriff's office and the state fire marshal's office are investigating.
The name of the dead man has not been released.
4 rescued from burning boat off St. Pete Beach
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Four people are safe after their boat caught fire off St. Pete Beach.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the fire Sunday afternoon near Egmont Key.
The Tampa Bay Times reports nearby boaters gave refuge to the boaters.
The names of the boaters haven't been released.
Cargo ship worker rescued after injury at Fla port
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A worker on a cargo ship docked in South Florida is recovering from injuries after officials say he was struck by a cargo container.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials said the 52-year-old man was working on the upper deck of a ship at Port Everglades when he injured his leg in Sunday's accident. Officials had to stabilize him on the upper deck before carefully lowering him to safety from the cargo containers stacked dozens of feet in the air.
Broward Sheriff's spokesman Mike Jachles said officials used a tower ladder to bring the victim to the ground roughly one hour later.
The unidentified victim was transported to the hospital.
Fla. woman charged with Haitian visa fraud
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A South Florida woman has been charged with visa fraud after authorities say she falsely promised 143 Haitians and told the federal government there were jobs waiting for them in the U.S.
Prosecutors say 59-year-old Jetta McPhee of Tamarac prepared a fake contract claiming a U.S. company needed construction workers under the H-2B guest worker visa program. The workers agreed to pay fees to McPhee and another woman after they were promised jobs and the possibility of permanent U.S. residency.
Authorities say those claims were not true and the jobs did not exist.
McPhee pleaded not guilty last week to conspiracy and visa fraud charges. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Co-conspirator Marie Dorval pleaded guilty in 2011 and cooperated with prosecutors.
Long-term care Medicaid patients start enrolling
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Phone counselors are now available to help long-term care Medicaid recipients choose their health plans.
State health officials say the call centers went live Monday. Long-term care Medicaid recipients can call the hotline and ask questions about what doctors and medications are covered in different plans.
The counselor can also enroll them in a plan. Recipients have until July 18 to decide. Residents in Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties will be the first to enroll and will begin receiving services August 1. The state is enrolling groups by regions.
Florida obtained tentative permission from the federal government to move 3 million Medicaid patients into managed care programs where insurers are given a set amount of money to decide what doctors, tests and medications to cover.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 | 
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices |
