Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPPOSES GAY COUPLE’S DIVORCE
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is opposing a bid by a gay South Florida woman to obtain a divorce from her former partner. Bondi’s office filed papers late Wednesday in Broward County Circuit Court saying a judge should not grant Heather Brassner’s petition for a divorce from Megan Lade. The couple was united in a 2002 civil union in Vermont but broke up several years ago.
BAIL HEARING FOR ALLEGED SUPPLIER IN MLB DRUG CASE
A South Florida man described by authorities as a chemist who made and supplied banned substances in Major League Baseball’s recent drug scandal has pleaded not guilty. Paulo Berejuk entered the plea Thursday to two conspiracy charges involving distribution of testosterone and human growth hormone. A judge ordered Berejuk jailed without bail after prosecutors said he might flee to his native Brazil and is a danger to the community.
PLEA DEAL OFF THE TABLE IN FAMU HAZING CASE
A plea deal that was contemplated by one of the four defendants facing trial next week for the hazing death of a Florida A & M drum major is off the table. An attorney for Benjamin McNamee told Judge Rene Roche on Wednesday that his client would consider a plea deal if it could be done before the judge who had handled the case previously. Judge Marc Lubet had the case before Roche took it over, but he nixed the idea and so it is now off the table.
CASINO MOGUL AND TRIAL LAWYER PAID LARGELY BY WEALTHY DONORS
A Las Vegas casino magnate and the founder of a well-known law firm are providing the bulk of money being spent on a measure to legalize medical marijuana. Florida’s battle over pot is the seventh most expensive in the nation according to data assembled by the Center for Public Integrity. So far $3.4 million has spent on more than 4,200 television ads, most of them encouraging Floridians to vote down Amendment 2.
TEEN DIES AFTER SKATEBOARDING ACCIDENT
A 17-year-old central Florida girl is dead following a skateboarding accident. Haley Hodge died Thursday, days after suffering a head injury while skateboarding in Merritt Island. Brevard County Sheriff’s officials say Hodge fell and struck her head about 9 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics found the girl breathing but unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital in Melbourne and then transferred to Arnold Palmer hospital in Orlando.
