Report on GOP shindig to remain sealed

TALLAHASSEE --
Floridians will have to wait a little longer for details of that golf cart full of prostitutes.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal on Friday ruled in favor of anonymous petitioners who want to block the release of investigative reports about a gathering in the Bahamas sponsored by the Republican Party of Florida when Jim Greer was chairman.

Greer faces trial in February for allegedly defrauding the party of about $200,000. Reports of the party and prostitutes surfaced during a pretrial hearing in the summer.

Orlando Judge Marc Lubet declared the reports public record in July after hearing objections from Orlando lawyer Richard E. Hornsby who said he wanted to spare his clients from being embarrassed.

Hornsby said the four-page police report is “defamatory’’ and “salacious and basically harassing in nature.’’ He would not identify the clients who want to keep it sealed.

Lubet read the report and then asked prosecutors if GOP lobbyist Brian Ballard, former party finance chair Harry Sergeant III, former party executive director Delmar Johnson and Dane Eagle, a former aide to Gov. Charlie Crist who was elected to the Florida House in November, would be called as witnesses in Greer’s criminal trial.

When Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Michael Williams said all but Eagle are slated to be witnesses, the judge ordered the report released because it is part of the evidence turned over to defense attorneys in the criminal case. Under Florida law documents given to a defendant are public record.

But in a brief unsigned opinion Fifth District Court of Appeal Chief Judge Richard B. Orfinger and Judges Thomas D. Sawaya and Bruce W. Jacobus said “the documents should not be disseminated and should remain confidential at this time.”

They did not address the use of the report at trial, saying they would leave that up to the trial judge.

Johnson was Greer’s top assistant but has been granted immunity in return for his testimony against Greer. In a deposition released last month, Johnson said prosecutors asked him about the Bahamas event.

Johnson described a golf cart filled with women he presumed to be prostitutes.

Other witnesses questioned in the Greer investigation say the former GOP chairman often had parties for men only and refused to allow women unless they were “paid.’’

Ballard and Eagle have denied knowing about prostitutes at the gathering, which was designed to thank donors who helped support a property tax amendment the party supported.

Read More..

4 Hofstra basketball players busted for burglary: report

Four Hofstra University basketball players were busted for multiple burglaries in Uniondale, according to a local report.

The burglaries allegedly occurred between Oct. 4 and Nov. 5, News 12 reported.

Detectives told the news channel that six burglaries occurred in the Hofstra dorms.

Police said the men entered the unlocked rooms and took laptops, headphones and other Apple products, according to the station.

Cops said Shaquille Stokes, 22; Kentrell Washington, 18; and Jimmy Hall Jr. were charged with multiple burglary counts. Dallas Anglin, 18, was charged with one burglary count and tampering with physical evidence.

Starting clockwise in the top left: Shaquille Stokes, Kentrell Washington, Jimmy Hall Jr., and Dallas Anglin.

All four are set to be arraigned today.

Read More..

California Pizza Kitchen brings prototype to Sawgrass Mills

The restaurant chain that took barbecued chicken pizza mainstream is ready to push the culinary envelope again. How about a pizza topped with roasted Brussels sprouts and applewood smoked bacon or a Korean barbecue pizza with pork loin and spicy kimchee salad?

Innovative menu items are just one piece of what’s unique about California Pizza Kitchen’s new flagship restaurant unveiled Thursday at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise. The first of its kind, the Sawgrass location aims to reinvigorate the brand that started in 1985 in Beverly Hills.

“The whole idea is about taking the best of what put us on the map and making it relevant for 2012 and beyond,” said G.J. Hart, who took over as chief executive officer of the chain just over a year ago. “Over the years the brand morphed from being a leader and it became a follower of food trends. We want to bring back the hip, cool feel.”

The changes are obvious from the moment you walk into the restaurant, which opens to the public Monday. The new look is all about focusing on the chain’s California roots. Very little of the bright yellow and chrome remains. The design is California-casual with earth tones and reclaimed wood everywhere from the walls to the floor and tables. An outdoor terrace with couches and fire pits is designed to encourage lingering. Large windows and glass doors let in lots of natural light and fold open to enjoy the weather.

Pizza is center stage with the kitchen designed so diners can watch the pizza makers at work. At the Sawgrass location — and by mid-2013 at all restaurants — pizzas will once again by hand-tossed. Currently the chain uses a pizza press to make the dough more uniform.

The new focus is on upping the culinary quotient across the board with dishes like a roasted beets and whipped goat cheese salad, plus a sweet pea carbonara featuring pea-filled pasta purses tossed with Italian pancetta and a Romano cream sauce. These are some of the unique items only on the Sawgrass menu, which also features a specialty menu of hand-crafted cocktails.

Chain-wide the company has actually slimmed the menu from more than 100 items to 74 in order to improve execution. But there are also more healthy choices like quinoa and arugula salad or a fire-roasted chile relleno stuffed with chicken, cheese, mushrooms, spinach and eggplant that dishes up at only 380 calories.

“As we grew, we didn’t keep up with the creativity on the menu and we tried to be all things to all people,” said Brian Sullivan, senior vice president of culinary innovation, who has been with the company for 24 years. “We’re always going to be pizza-centric. But we’ll continue to push the envelope with these specialty items that resonate with who we are. We don’t want items that you are going to see in other restaurants.”

The chain chose Sawgrass to unveil its new flagship location because of a combination of the area’s diverse demographic base and the influx of international visitors. South Florida has already been a strong market for the brand, which has seven locations in the tri-county area stretching from Coral Gables to Palm Beach Gardens.

The opening is the culmination of a new vision that began to take shape when Golden Gate Capital purchased California Pizza Kitchen in July 2011 for $470 million, taking the company private and bringing in Hart as the new chief executive.

“They saw a brand that was undervalued,” said Hart, who has an ownership stake in the chain. “This is an iconic brand with so much brand equity. If we can bring the excitement and enthusiasm back we’re only going to see it go up.”

Industry experts say the changes make sense because the brand still has a loyal following, although it has not kept pace with the competition.

“It’s a good time for them to go back to what were the fundamental things that made the brand so intriguing,” said Dennis Lombardi of WD Partners, a restaurant industry consultant. “The difficulty is going to be getting the word out to consumers that this is different. The devil is always in the details in these kind of evolutions.”

Based on consumer reaction, the plan is to take pieces of the Sunrise concept and introduce it into the chain’s other 268 existing restaurants. Some restaurants could be completely remodeled, but most will only get elements of the new prototype, which cost $2 million in Sunrise, Hart said. The company’s Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton locations could be strong candidates for remodeling next year or early 2014, he said.

Community and business leaders, who got a first look at the restaurant on Thursday, were impressed.

“This is phenomenal,” said Luanne Lenberg, general manager of Sawgrass Mills. “We’re so excited to have this caliber of restaurant and to be their test for the rest of the world.”

Read More..

Tips for staying safe during holiday travel season

This week many of you are starting to plan for that great holiday trip. Therefore, I am going to share some do and don’ts when traveling. Some of these recommendations come from the National Crime Prevention Council and hopefully they will help you in NOT becoming a victim.

At the Airport

Stay alert and watch your bags and computer carefully at all times. Don’t let anyone but uniformed airline personnel handle or watch your bags.

Always carry proper identification such as a state issued driver’s license or passport. Keep your airline ticket and identification close to you at all times.

Do not bring anything on board for another person unknown to you or not traveling with you, however innocent or small the package or item may appear.

It is important that you report any unattended items or suspicious activity in the airport or aircraft to the nearest airport or airline official as well as local law enforcement.

Carry your purse close to your body, men place your wallet in an inside front pocket. Better yet, use a money pouch under your clothes.

Watch out for staged mishaps, like someone bumping into you or spilling a drink. Often it’s a ploy to divert your attention from your valuables.

Keep a separate record of the contents of checked luggage in case your luggage is lost or tampered with. And keep anything of value in a carry-on that stays with you.

On the Road

Become familiar with your travel route before you start your trip. Get a map and study it before you leave.

Contact the police department of the city you are visiting, asking them about the area and what area you need to be concerned about.

Make sure your rental car is in good operating condition. Learn how to operate all windows, door locks, and lights, as well as other equipment, before you leave the rental lot.

Keep maps and rental agreement concealed, not lying on the seat or the dashboard. You don’t want others to know you are a traveler or it’s a rental car.

Keep car doors locked while you are driving. Store luggage in the trunk. I

Park in well-lighted areas only, close to building entrances and walkways. Remember to lock the car when you leave and store all valuables out of sight.

Have car keys ready when approaching your car so you don’t have to fumble through your purse, becoming distracted.

When getting gas, please make sure you keep the passenger window closed and the car locked (if you are by yourself). Do not be on the cell phone while pumping gas, pay attention to your surroundings, and use the pump closest to the building.

If you are bumped by another car, think before you get out. If you are in doubt or uncomfortable, signal the other driver to follow you to a busy, well-lighted area where it’s safe to get out — a good place is a gas station. If you have a cell phone call the police, 911 works everywhere and don’t get out of the car.

Have a safe week and be vigilant!

Read More..

Kris Humphries Kicked Off Court For Fighting

Kris Humphries is battling both on and off the court. The NBA star, who is still going through divorce proceedings with estranged wife Kim Kardashian, was kicked off the court Wednesday night after a fight broke out.

Going up against the Boston Celtics on their home turf at TD Garden, the Brooklyn Nets player, 27, fouled Celtics player Kevin Garnett, who fell to the floor, and then went up against Rajon Rondo, who has a history of brawling with Humphries.

The players ended up falling into the crowd and were later ejected from the game along with Nets forward Gerald Wallace. Nevertheless, Nets won the game, 95-83.

RELATED: 10 Biggest Divorce Payouts

Following the fight, Humphries posted a shirtless pic of himself with scratches on his back and a caption that read: "Anyone know where I can get a quick Tetanus shot in Boston?"

This altercation falls on the same day as the athlete's lawyers met with Kardashian's to discuss a divorce trial. "Ms. Kardashian is now handcuffed to Mr. Humphries," Kim's lawyer, Laura Wasser, complained to the judge. Humphries is seeking an annulment of the marriage based on fraud. "I don't think his client has a fraud cause. I think there's a fishing expedition going on here. I'm asking the court to give us some core deadlines when my client can expect to stop worrying about this. We need the courts help to set a cut off."

Read More..

NJ allows menorahs in prisons for Hanukkah

TRENTON — Jewish inmates in New Jersey state prisons will be allowed to use menorahs for Hanukkah this year.

The state Corrections Department unveiled a Hanukkah policy this week. Corrections spokesman Matt Schuman says this is the first time there's a uniform policy.

Previously, most prisons were uncomfortable with allowing real candles. Now, authorized volunteer religious leaders or prison staff will light candles with inmates present.

Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum of the Rabbinical College of America-Lubavitch is praising the new policy, saying it shows the Corrections Department is sensitive to inmates' religious needs.

Hanukkah begins Dec. 8 this year.

Read More..

City National Bank of Florida and its Spanish parent have four years to evaluate the Miami bank’s future ownership

City National Bank of Florida, the Miami bank purchased by Bankia (formerly Caja Madrid) of Spain in November 2008, said Wednesday that its parent has a “four-year window to evaluate alternatives” for the bank’s future ownership and will work closely with management in Miami during the process.

The Spanish government has reached and agreement with the European Union related to Spain’s financial system problems, which will result in a recapitalization of Bankia and other institutions, the bank said. The agreement calls for Bankia to sell non-core assets and its holdings outside of Spain so that Bankia will emerge with a solid capital position and be more focused on its core domestic business.

“Because City National Bank is so well capitalized, profitable and well positioned in the marketplace, we are going to take our time to fully evaluate all of our strategic alternatives,” City National Bank President and CEO Jorge Gonzalez said in a statement. “This does not impact our ongoing strategy of profitable growth and diversification or our commitment to the markets we serve. Our focus continues to be taking excellent care of our clients and employees. ”

City National, founded 65 years ago, has $4.32 billion in assets and 26 branches from Miami-Dade County to the greater Orlando area.

INA PAIVA CORDLE

Read More..

Man shot and killed in police-involved shooting identified

The man shot and killed by police Tuesday afternoon in a West Miami-Dade apartment complex has been identified as Alexis Suarez Reyes, Miami-Dade police said Wednesday.

Reyes, 47, lived at the apartment complex at 1907 SW 107th Ave. Miami-Dade police detectives had gone to the complex to follow up on an investigation of a case from Miami International Airport when they encountered Reyes in the apartment.

According to a news release issued Wednesday, Reyes was armed when police confronted him. He was shot multiple times and subsequently transported to the Trauma Center at Kendall Regional Medical Center, where he died.

Reyes is the second person to be shot and killed by Miami-Dade police in the past week. It is unclear why police were investigating Reyes, and the circumstances that led to his shooting are under investigation.

Police said they found a ballistics vest in Reyes’s possession, though it is unclear if he was wearing it at the time of the shooting.

John Rivera, president of the Miami-Dade chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, said two police officers were involved in the shooting.

“They’ll take a couple of days off administratively,’’ he said. “When you shoot somebody, regardless of whether you kill them or not, it’s always a very traumatic situation.’’

Rivera, an advocate for the police, said he spoke with the two officers shortly after the shooting. Though he declined to divulge their conversation, Rivera said that he believes “the evidence” will prove their actions were justified.

“It was a clean shoot,’’ he said.

WPLG-ABC 10 reported that Reyes’s family said he was a security guard at Miami International Airport. Miami-Dade police said late Tuesday they also had received that information and were trying to determine whether it was true.

It was the second police-involved shooting this week. On Sunday, one man was killed and a second was hurt at Flea Market USA, 3015 NW 79th St.

In that shooting, Miami-Dade police believed the men may have been connected to a home invasion robbery earlier in the day.

When officers approached the van the men were in, police said the driver hit the gas and rammed a police vehicle. Officers fired, and the van tried to get away, hitting other parked cars before it came to a stop, police said.

Miami Herald staff writer Diana Moskovitz contributed to this report.

Read More..

Jane Lynch Glee Interview Elfbot

With countless commercials and animated movies (including 2012's sublime Wreck-It Ralph) to her credit, Jane Lynch's voice has been gracing the airwaves for more than two decades. Now she's lending those perfect pipes to a new Nook book called Elfbot, which finally reveals how Santa Claus is able to produce so many presents a year!

Lynch not only got to work with her best friend on the project, but also her stepdaughter Chase, who makes her voice-over debut with the children's book. ETonline caught up with the Emmy winning actress to talk about this family affair, the significant change her Glee character has undergone and why voice over acting will always have her heart.

ETonline: What appealed to you about working on Elfbot?

Jane Lynch: The first thing that appealed to me is that my very best friend in the world, Jeannie Elias, directed it. This brings together all of my friends from the ICM voice department, who I hung out with for 20 years, sitting in that [recording booth]. We never worked together, so when they asked me to be a part of this, I said yes.

VIDEO REWIND - At The Glee Series Premiere Party

ETonline: Once Elias told you about the story, what did you think?

Lynch: The story is so sweet. What I love about it, and think kids will love about it, is you always wonder how Santa makes toys for everybody because the population is so huge. Now, we find out he's created Elfbots – and we have one Elfbot, who is voiced by Kenny G, who wants to become more than an Elfbot. It's like a Pinocchio story. I think it could become one of those Christmas stories you tell over and over again.

RELATED - The Evolution of Amber Riley

ETonline: And you got to work with your stepdaughter on this!

Lynch: I know! It's her first acting job. She went into the studio and just knocked it out of the park. She has a natural acting vibe. I met her when she was 7, and even before I met her, she was doing plays and in an improve group from the time she was five years old. We always say, Lara [Embry, Lynch's wife] gave birth to her, but she's really my daughter.

ETonline: Are you and Lara in favor of her pursing an acting career?

Lynch: I have a funny thing about it. I started from nothing and faced adversity, so...It will become clear if she really, really wants to do this and I won't stop her if it's something she feels strongly about. We're not going to take her out of school or anything – she does plays at school and this is her first voice over thing, so we'll see.

VIDEO - Kate Hudson Dishes On Glee Role

ETonline: You also supplied the voice of Sergeant Calhoun in Wreck-It Ralph. What did you think of your animated incarnation?

Lynch: Oh my God, she was like the hottest version of me you could come up with. It's what I might have looked like in days gone by if I had a good haircut ... and a trainer.

ETonline: You've been doing voiceover work for years -- what is it about that artform you love?

Lynch: When I was doing voiceovers and radio commercials and TV narration, I was so happy. I love sitting in a booth and making something out of just your voice. I look at it as an opportunity to kick back and relax and create because it's one of the most low-stress, purely creative thing you can do ... and it's great to roll in wearing sweatpants [laughs]. I could have done it forever and ever, but I'm glad my acting career took off.

VIDEO - Jane Lynch On Sue's "Evil" Minion, Becky!

ETonline: The last four years have been particularly busy for you between the insanity of Glee and getting married. Has it been a whirlwind?

Lynch: So much has changed, and some of it's been heady and exciting, but I definitely think it helped that I was close to 50 when this all happened. And creating a homebase for my family was a real priority for us at that time, so all of that was going on while hosting The Emmys and doing this great television show. It was insane, but I love to be busy, I love to be active, I don't like sitting around, so the last four years have kept me very, very happy.

ETonline: There have also been a lot of changes at Glee this year -- what do you like about Sue's interactions with the new characters?

Lynch: These kids are fresh meat for Sue Sylvester, but you see how she's softening a bit in the fact she can't come up with a mean nickname for Marley. I really like that Sue's redemptions have actually stuck. I'm not just randomly mean like I was before. I had a nice arc that made her more comfortable in where she is, so Sue's not using her powers for evil as much any more.

To purchase your copy of Elfbot, click here! And if you live in California, the voice cast (Lynch, Mark Hamill, Kenny G & more will be at the Barnes & Noble at the Americana in Glendale on December 7 at 7 p.m.

Read More..

Nokia sues RIM for breach of contract over cellular patents

HELSINKI — Nokia Corp. is suing Research in Motion, the maker of the Blackberry, for breach of contract in Britain, the United States and Canada over cellular patents the two companies agreed on nine years ago.

The struggling cellphone and RIM agreed in 2003 on a "cross-license for standards-essential cellular patents." Since then, RIM has sought to amend the deal, claiming the license should also have covered patents for non-essential parts. A Swedish tribunal earlier this month ruled against RIM's claims.

Nokia says Wednesday that it is now filing a lawsuit to enforce the tribunal's latest decision against RIM's claims. According to that decision, RIM is not entitled to manufacture or sell WLAN products, used widely in smartphones, without first agreeing royalties with Nokia, which is based in Finland.

Read More..