Jury selection starts for former Florida congresswoman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jury selection is starting in the trial of a former Florida congresswoman facing fraud charges.

The jury selection process is expected to last two days, starting Monday, in the trial of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown.

The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/2omww4k ) reports that prosecutors and defense attorneys hope to seat 12 jurors by Wednesday when opening arguments are set to begin in federal court in Jacksonville.

Brown’s indictment states that she and others raised $800,000 through the charity One Door for Education. The indictment said the organization only gave out two scholarships for $1,200, and that the money was instead used for the congresswoman’s personal expenses.

Brown’s former chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, and former One Door president Carla Wiley already have pleaded guilty.

Brown has pleaded not guilty.


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Transgender woman fatally shot in Miami area

MIAMI (AP) — Authorities in Miami are investigating the fatal shooting of a transgender woman.

Authorities say Chayviss Reed was fatally shot at an intersection not far from the north campus of Miami-Dade College.

The Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/2oDxaWo ) reports that Reed is the ninth transgender woman reported killed in the United States this year.

Miami-Dade investigators weren’t releasing any details about the shooting.


Orlando airport shuttle s

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shuttle problems at Orlando International Airport caused headaches for travelers on Monday for the third time in a week.

One of the trams that connect the main terminal building to a section of gates was shut down for less than an hour Monday because of mechanical problems, airport officials said in a statement.

There were no passengers aboard the tram, and the affected gates primarily serve American, United and Spirit airlines, according to the statement, which also included an apology.

It was the third time in a week mechanical problems have shut down a tram at the airport, which hosts 41 million travelers a year. A tram was shut down for about 45 minutes on Sunday, and for about three hours on Wednesday. Buses transported some travelers to their gates, and the airport opened a walkway between the gates and the main terminal building.

The airport currently is undergoing a $3 billion construction project.

Orlando is the nation’s most visited city, with 66 million visitors last year.