Miami Herald

MiamiHerald.com: Breaking News
Copyright 2009 MiamiHerald.com
News, sports and entertainment from MiamiHerald.com

Judge in Anna Nicole Smith case cleared of bribery allegations.
Former Broward County Judge Larry Seidlin has been cleared of any wrongdoing, after an attorney claimed he bribed Seidlin to get appointed to court cases, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said Tuesday.
Judge: Government hiding evidence in Gitmo case
A federal judge on Tuesday accused the Bush administration of hiding evidence in the case of a Yemeni man who has been held as a terror suspect at Guantánamo Bay for six years.
Circus manager juggles job and family life
I always thought joining a circus sounded glamorous. It seemed a way to see the country, meet interesting people, be a part of something that aims to make kids happy. But I also envisioned it as a lifestyle that was in no way conducive to a family life. Until I met Mike Stuart.
SUV smashes through front of Hialeah adult day-care center
A large SUV drove through the front window of a Hialeah adult day-care center Tuesday morning, Hialeah Fire Rescue said. Officials said two elderly people were treated on the scene for minor injuries and two others were taken to a local hospital. One had a laceration on the face and the other had a shoulder injury.
State attorney general's help sought in Broward murder case dispute
The Broward State Attorney's Office plans to call on the help of the Florida attorney general after a judge kicked the entire office off a murder case because of the conduct of two prosecutors during trial.
Two missing Miami-Dade men are found safe
Two men who went missing on separate occasions last week have been found, according to police. Pedro Manuel Soto Labrada, a 75-year-old who suffers from memory loss, went missing on New Year's Day after he left home in South Miami-Dade for a nearby restaurant.
2 unmarked police cars, SUV set on fire in West Kendall
Detectives are searching for an arsonist who burglarized and set fire to two unmarked police cars and an SUV late Sunday night as they were parked in front of a couple's West Kendall home.
Pedestrian hit by car in Sweetwater
A pedestrian received serious injuries Tuesday morning when a car slammed into him before dawn in Sweetwater, according to paramedics.
Store clerk robbed at gunpoint in North Miami-Dade
A clerk closing a North Miami-Dade shop for the night was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday, police said. The man approached the clerk and demanded money. He fled from the Family Dollar Store at 14512 W. Dixie Hwy. with cash. The woman was not injured.
TradeStation Group reports increase in trade volume
Plantation-based TradeStation Group, a provider of an electronic trading platform, said Tuesday daily average revenue trade volume increased 22 percent in December.
Burst pipe leaves Lauderdale Lakes homes without water
Dozens of residents in Lauderdale Lakes woke up Tuesday to find they didn't have running water. A pipe burst on Northwest 36th Terrace and 32nd Avenue north of Oakland Park Boulevard and left a sinkhole and gallons of water gushing up from the ground.
Wolski, Avs slip past Predators
Wojtek Wolski scored both goals for the Colorado Avalanche in a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Free throws lead URI to 86-77 win over Toledo
Kahiem Seawright had 16 points and went 4-for-4 on free throws as Rhode Island beat Toledo 86-77 Tuesday night at Savage Arena.
Conklin, Datsyuk, lead Red Wings past Blue Jackets
Ty Conklin made 23 saves for his eighth career shutout and Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and two assists, sending the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Panthers top Leafs 4-2
Stephen Weiss, Ville Peltonen, Michael Frolik and Gregory Campbell scored goals to lead the Florida Panthers to a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Sykora's 2 goals lead Pens past Thrashers 3-1
Petr Sykora ended Pittsburgh's seven-game drought without a power-play goal while scoring twice and Evgeni Malkin came out of a slump with three assists, leading the Penguins to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday night.
Colgate beats NC Central 68-58
Ben Johnson scored 18 points to lead Colgate in a 68-58 win against North Carolina Central on Tuesday night.
Panthers top Leafs 4-2
Stephen Weiss, Ville Peltonen, Michael Frolik and Gregory Campbell scored goals to lead the Florida Panthers to a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Capitals beat Flyers 2-1 in shootout
In a statement game against a "we don't like them" rival, the unusual happened as Washington Capitals red overcame Philadelphia Flyers orange - on the ice and in the stands.
North Carolina jobless claims overwhelm Web site
Unemployment is up so much in North Carolina that the state's Internet site for benefits crashed twice this week under a rush of claims.
Developer hopes to bait big fish with Bentley
If you build it, they will come. If you want them to buy it, throw in a free $200,000 Bentley.
Hong Kong's key stock index falls 0.4 percent
Hong Kong shares fell modestly Tuesday, as investors sold Chinese telecom companies that had gained recently after Beijing approved next-generation mobile licenses.
German mogul kills self over financial meltdown
German billionaire Adolf Merckle threw himself in front of a train after his business empire, which included interests ranging from VW cars to pharmaceuticals to cement, ran into trouble in the global financial crisis, his family said Tuesday.
Latin American stocks rise on commodity, US surge
Latin American stocks rose Tuesday as prices for most of the region's commodity exports climbed and U.S. stocks rallied to a two-month peak.
Europe's services sectors shrank in December
Europe's services sector continued to contract sharply in December while the jobs outlook looked increasingly bleak, closely watched surveys showed Tuesday.
Last Woolworths stores turn out lights in Britain
Bankrupt department store chain Woolworths, a stalwart of British retailing for 100 years, turned out the lights at the final 200 of its 807 shops on Tuesday.
Reports: Chinese tycoon's wife detained in probe
The wife of billionaire Chinese appliance retailer Wong Kwong-yu has been detained as police investigate Wong for possible financial offenses, according to news reports.
Fla. congressman asks Pelosi for football break
Thursday's championship football game between No. 2 Florida and No. 1 Oklahoma is obviously a big game, but big enough to shut down Congress?
Fla. man, daughter charged with incest
A Florida man and his daughter have been charged with incest after eyewitness statements that they were having a sexual relationship, authorities said Tuesday.
Welcome centers, Fla. tourism ads may be axed
Florida may shut down its welcome centers that serve free orange juice and could also sharply curtail television ads that beckon snow-weary Northerners to the Sunshine State.
Anna Nicole Smith judged cleared of wrongdoing
Authorities say the former Broward County judge who presided in the dispute over Anna Nicole Smith's remains has been cleared of any wrongdoing, after allegations that he accepted bribes.
Officials: SUV drives into elderly facility window
Authorities say a large sport utility vehicle drove through the front window of an adult day care center.
Justices asked to resolve judge election dispute
Gov. Charlie Crist has asked the Florida Supreme Court whether a suspended lawyer can take office as a judge in Palm Beach County.
Fla. Supreme Court hears lobbyist gift ban case
A lawyer for Florida lobbyists told the state Supreme Court on Tuesday that it should throw out a three-year-old ethics law because lawmakers don't have the authority to impose fines they created.
McCain cellmate to lead public defender office
At age 83, Ret. Air Force Col. Bud Day, a former Vietnam cellmate of John McCain's and a recipient of a Medal of Honor, is taking on a new job.
Judge indicted on additional sex charges in Texas
A federal judge who was indicted last year for allegedly making unwanted sexual advances toward his court case manager was accused Tuesday of fondling another former court employee.
NY adopts clean air rules, stricter than EPA's
New York environmental regulators adopted stricter air pollution rules on Tuesday to prevent power plants and factories from belching out more smog and soot.
Fla. congressman asks Pelosi for football break
Thursday's championship football game between No. 2 Florida and No. 1 Oklahoma is obviously a big game, but big enough to shut down Congress? Rep. Cliff Stearns hopes so.
Busy Gupta performs brain surgery, reports for CNN
If Barack Obama wants a surgeon general with visibility to promote health issues in his administration, it can't hurt to hire a CNN correspondent called one of People magazine's "sexiest men alive."
AP Exclusive: Calendar shows key Ill. gov meetings
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's official calendar shows he met with a top union official in his Chicago office the day before Barack Obama was elected president - just as federal prosecutors say the governor was scheming to trade Obama's Senate seat, possibly for a cushy union job.
Gov. Schwarzenegger rejects latest budget proposal
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed an $18 billion deficit-cutting package Tuesday that legislative Democrats characterized as the only "game in town."
Obama plays food critic on Chicago public TV
Barack and Michelle Obama are known for nights out on the town in Chicago, dining at some of its poshest restaurants with the smartest chefs. But who knew the president-elect was a food critic?
2 men, teen charged in gang rape of Calif. lesbian
Two men and a teenager were charged Tuesday in the alleged gang rape of a lesbian in the San Francisco Bay area.
NKorea to hold parliamentary election in March
North Korea announced Wednesday it will elect new members of its rubber stamp legislature in March, following months of delay amid speculation about the health of leader Kim Jong Il.
Drop in oil prices seen threatening Venezuela's ambitions
High oil prices allowed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to spend freely to spread his socialist gospel and challenge the U.S. role as the dominant player in Latin American and the Caribbean.
Aruba prosecutor: End is near in Holloway case
Aruban prosecutors said Tuesday their investigation into the 2005 disappearance of U.S. teenager Natalee Holloway is nearing the end and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
As Israeli offensive continues, Gazans feel abandoned by the world
For 11 days, life has kept getting worse for Saladin Sultan and his family.
40 feared dead in Israeli strike on Gaza school
In the deadliest attack of its intensifying war in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military struck a United Nations-run school Tuesday where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge from the fighting. As many as 40 people were killed, many of them children, and 55 were wounded, U.N. officials said.
10 countries cut off as Russia-Ukraine gas dispute spreads
The Russian-Ukrainian dispute over natural-gas supplies took a dramatic turn for the worse Tuesday as supplies were reduced or cut off to at least 10 European countries.
Palestinian working for Iran media held in Israel
A Palestinian working for an Iranian television station was held for questioning by Israeli police Tuesday on suspicion of violating censorship rules.
Egypt and France propose plan to end Gaza conflict
The presidents of Egypt and France have proposed a plan to end the escalating Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday.
Lisa Marie Presley defends Scientology
Lisa Marie Presley is expressing her condolences over Jett Travolta's death and defending Scientology, the religion that Presley, John Travolta and Kelly Preston follow.
Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck welcome 2nd daughter
It's another girl for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.
Anna Nicole Smith judge cleared of wrongdoing
Authorities say the former judge who presided in the dispute over Anna Nicole Smith's remains has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Best-selling "God" author faces plagiarism claim
Neale Donald Walsch, best-selling author of "Conversations with God," said Tuesday that he unwittingly passed off another writer's Christmas anecdote as his own in a recent blog post.
Actress Alyssa Milano to wed Hollywood agent
Who's the fiance?
Pixar Animation pioneer Catmull earns Oscar
One of the digital wizards behind such cartoon smashes as "WALL-E," "Ratatouille" and "Finding Nemo" is getting an Academy Award.
New `Idol' judge says male contestants hold edge
Kara DioGuardi was fretting about being the new face of "American Idol," and she put the blame on hungry mosquitoes.
Small Fla. town embraces Travolta during tragedy
This small central Florida town is about as far from Hollywood as you can get. Maybe that's why actor John Travolta moved his family here.