Florida

Florida voters propelled John McCain to the front of the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday with a breakthrough victory in a pivotal primary before next week’s Super Tuesday contests. “Florida has always been a special place to me, and it is all the more so tonight,” McCain told supporters at a celebration in Miami. “Our victory might not have reached landslide proportions, but it is sweet nonetheless.” The clear outcome of the suspenseful four-man Republican race crushed the hopes of Rudy Giuliani, who reportedly plans to drop out of the race and endorse McCain in California today. Related links McCain speaks after winning Florida Video Giuliani to endorse McCain Fla. (Read the full post about ‘Momentum: McCain has it, Romney won’t quit’…)

MIAMI - About 500 supporters were crammed into a small ballroom at the Hilton Miami Airport to celebrate John McCain’s victory Tuesday night in Florida’s Republican primary.

Flanked by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, Sen. McCain offered praise to fellow presidential contenders Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

He saved the best for former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani, whom he called “an American hero.” Giuliani is expected to withdraw from the race today and throw his support to McCain.

McCain’s 10-minute victory speech was silenced twice, first by a supporter yelling, “Thank you, Mr.

(Read the full post about ‘John McCain gracious in Florida primary victory’…)

Oakland Park - Supporters and opponents of the idea of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage were working the polls Tuesday.

The subject wasn’t even on the ballot — and may never make it before Florida voters.

But that didn’t stop activists on both sides.

Florida Red and Blue, one of the statewide efforts formed to fight the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, had volunteers and staffers at several Broward polling places urging people to vote “no” if the issue makes it to the November ballot.

The organization is also trying to recruit a force of more than 2,000 volunteers to work against the issue in the coming months.

In Broward, they were set up at polling places in parts of Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park and Wilton Manors that have lots of gay residents.

“Our campaign has been successful in letting voters across the state know the real and dangerous impacts of the Marriage Protection Amendment, and today lets us reach out to this active and energized group,” said Amy Rose, of Coconut Creek, field director of Florida Red and Blue.

Clipboard in hand, she was stationed at Oakland Park.

Besides the Broward locations, Red and Blue concentrated on metropolitan areas: Orlando, Jacksonville, Sarasota, St.

(Read the full post about ‘Gay marriage not on ballot, but still an issue at polls Tuesday’…)

South Florida water managers propose selling 3,000 acres of public land, at the same time that they are shopping for thousands of acres for water storage and Everglades restoration.

The South Florida Water Management District contends that these 10 properties, spread from Kissimmee to Palm Beach and Broward counties, do not fit into plans to build more reservoirs and water treatment areas.

The proposal anticipates raising $54 million from the land sales, which could help buy more land to store water for times of drought and build filter marshes to clean water that ends up in Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.

Selling the “surplus” land comes amid state-ordered budget cutbacks that have district officials looking for ways to cut expenses.

District Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann in a Jan.

(Read the full post about ‘Water district may sell 3,000 acres around S. Florida’…)

Little Bay, Barbados - St. Lucy’s hidden jewel There is a scenic area in the north-east of Barbados that few Bajans visit. The beach is not suitable for swimming, but there is a pool that you can sit in. Of course, there is a possibility that a big wave could come in and take you out. The pool may be dangerous. High winds may blow you off the cliffs. How to get there First get a road map and then ask a trusted source to mark the way. (There are some annoying panhandlers in the area so don’t ask for directions on the road. Don’t pick up hitch-hikers and don’t trust someone if they say the bridge/road is out.) You may click on the image below to see the Google map. (Read the full post about ‘Secret NE Barbados Beach and Pool’…)

TAMPA — A purse theft at a Chili’s restaurant led to the arrest of two people Sunday night on charges of credit card theft and counterfeiting driver’s licenses, authorities said.

Kenneth Blake and Theresa Hensle, both 39, were arrested when Tampa International Airport police responded to the restaurant, located in the C terminal, after a woman’s purse was stolen about 8 p.m.

The victim found the purse shortly after. Three credit cards and prescription drugs were missing.

Meanwhile, restaurant patrons pointed investigators to Blake and Hensle, who had been sitting in the area where the purse was recovered.

Investigators said the pair offered police counterfeit driver’s licenses as identification.

(Read the full post about ‘Purse theft leads to counterfeiting arrests at TIA’…)

TAMPA — Several elected officials from Tampa are endorsing Democrat Barack Obama this morning, on the eve of Florida’s presidential preference primary.

State Rep. Betty Reed and Tampa City Council members Linda Saul-Sena, Gwen Miller and Mary Mulhern will be throwing their support to Obama at a rally in Lykes Gaslight Square Park this morning. The candidate won’t be there to receive the accolades; all the Democratic presidential candidates pledged not to campaign in Florida after the state moved its primary to Jan. 29 in defiance of Democratic Party rules.

– Justin George, Times staff writer

BRANDON — A man wanted in a fatal shooting inside a Brandon nightclub in October turned himself in early this morning, authorities said.

Tyrone Lamont Grimes, 27, (left) is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Karen Williams, 36, a mother of three who was described as an innocent bystander.

The shooting started, authorities said, after Grimes got into an argument with some other men over a car. Earlier in the evening, he flashed his silver revolver at them, authorities said.

Williams "was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Hillsborough sheriff’s Capt. J.R. Burton said in October.

(Read the full post about ‘Murder charged in Brandon club shooting’…)

UPDATE

TAMPA — Rough weekend? You’re probably not alone.

But at least 107 people had it worse. Authorities say that’s how many people were arrested during Gasparilla events on Saturday. Early reports put the total at 84.

The new total includes 11 felonies and 96 misdemeanors. Nine of the latter were for boating under the influence.

– Casey Cora, Times staff writer

ST. PETERSBURG — Missing 18-year-old boater Thomas Broome Jr. was found safe by Eckerd College search and rescue personnel late Sunday, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

The Largo man was last seen between 4 and 6 p.m. boating alone in a 12-foot johnboat near the Fort De Soto Park area Sunday.  His father called officials when he didn’t return home.

Broome was found about 11:30 p.m.

– Casey Cora, Times staff writer