Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
JUDGE: TAINTED EVIDENCE NOT ENOUGH TO FREE INMATE
A federal judge’s decision won’t change a 24-year prison sentence for a drug conviction being served by a South Florida man, despite use of tainted evidence from a former police officer. U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard refused to throw out the main conspiracy conviction for 47-year-old Elroy Phillips even though prosecutors and his defense lawyer urged that his sentence be vacated.
KEYS REFUGE WILL FINE OWNERS OF CATS FOUND ROAMING
Officials at a federal wildlife refuge in the Florida Keys are going to start issuing fines to the owners of cats repeatedly found within its boundaries. U.S. wildlife officials have partly blamed cats for the dwindling populations of endangered species, such as the Key Largo wood rat in the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
GAY-STRAIGHT CLUB LAWSUIT TO BE MOVE FORWARD
Students fighting to have a gay-straight alliance club at their middle school in central Florida have won a partial victory for the time being. A federal judge on Thursday denied an attempt to throw out the students’ lawsuit against the School Board of Lake County, just northwest of Orlando. But the judge also refused to issue a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the club to meet immediately at Carver Middle School.
RESEARCHER SUSPENDED AFTER DOLPHIN MOVED TO POOL
Federal officials have suspended a central Florida dolphin researcher for allegedly putting a sick dolphin in a resort community’s swimming pool without permission. The regional administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service says Steve McCulloch was being suspended for “egregious violations.”
PRINCIPAL CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STAFFER
The former principal of a South Florida charter high school has been charged with sexually assaulting a female employee in October. The Broward Sheriff’s Office reports that 55-year-old Peter Nicholson was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery. He was released Thursday on $5,000 bail. Accelerated Learning Solutions Inc., which operates the school, said in a letter to parents Thursday that Nicholson has resigned.
Source: Associated Press
