Ahizya Osceola’s Father, Stepmother Charged in Boy’s Death (UPDATED)

Fort Lauderdale Police have arrested the father and step mother of three-year-old Ahizya Osceola, who was discovered dead and stuffed in trash bags in a box inside the woman’s laundry room last week, According the Fort Lauderdale Police, Osceola is being charged with aggravated manslaughter, and child neglect. Osceola is…

LGBT Discrimination Costs State Employers $362 Million a Year, Report Says

Despite some progress here and there, Florida has, for the most part, been pretty crappy about LGBT rights. Particularly in the workplace. But now, thanks to a new study from Equality Means Business, that discrimination has a dollar value. And it’s pretty steep. According to the study, discrimination against LGBT employees…

Ahizya Osceola Was Found Stuffed in Box and Covered in Bruises

Analiz Osceola, the step mother of deceased three-year-old Ahizya Osceola, stuffed the boy’s body inside a box in her home’s laundry room, say court documents. Osceola claims that she heard the boy making grunting sounds at 4:00 a.m. the night before he was reported missing. She said that when she…

Black Henna Tattoos Are Toxic, Florida Department of Health Warns

Spring Break is upon us. Which means booze, sun, surf, good times and countless people getting a swirly henna tattoo on their sunburned shoulder. But, the Florida Department of Health has issued a warning over black henna tattoos.  Black henna, contains a chemical known as P-pheylenediamine — or PPD — which…

Blind Dog Still Adoptable; Police Unlikely to Find Its Abuser

After being rescued March 10 from a vacant building, her eyes so infected they needed to be removed, Frances the dog is showing off a vibrant and affectionate personality. “She smiles from ear to ear. It’s almost like her eyes that are sewn shut are squinting when she smiles,” said…

Man Falls Overboard From Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship

Royal Caribbean has confirmed that a man fell overboard from their cruise ship Liberty of the Seas on Sunday. The ship, which often docks at Port Everglades, was about 20 miles off the coast of Marathon and returning to dock at Fort Lauderdale when a passenger reported seeing a man…

Patrick Murphy Gunning for Marco Rubio’s Senate Seat

Rep. Patrick Murphy has announced that he’s gunning for Marco Rubio’s senate seat, whether Rubio runs for reelection, or decides to run for president, according to a report by Politico. Murphy, represents the 18th district, which covers part of Palm Beach, has been a congressman since he defeated Allen West…

Will Florida Stop Sending So Many Kids to Adult Prisons?

Florida sends more kids to adult prisons than does any other state, largely owing to the state’s “direct file” law, which gives prosecutors — not judges — discretion over whether to charge children as adults. But this year, there are five separate bill proposals to reform the oft-criticized practice. This…

Walter Phillip Coleman, Ex-Priest, Sued Sixth Time for Sex Abuse

Snowbirds land in South Florida hauling all sorts of baggage. For one former Connecticut resident, that includes six lawsuits stemming from allegations of Catholic church sex abuse. The most recent allegations hit just last week. n the late 1970s and early 1980s, Father Walter Phillip Coleman was the priest at…

Fort Lauderdale Police to Reveal Internal Affairs Probe Findings

The Fort Lauderdale Police department has scheduled a 4:00 p.m. press conference regarding an Internal Affairs investigation. While police are not revealing which specific investigation is being talked about, a source tells New Times that it’s related to the abrupt termination and reassignments of four Fort Lauderale police officers last…

Same-Sex Adoption Discrimination Bill Passes Committee

Last week, the Florida House voted to repeal the state’s unconstitutional ban on gay adoption. But on Thursday, a bill that would allow both secular and faith-based adoption agencies that receive money from the state to turn down whatever groups of families from adopting that they see fit, passed a Florida…