Archive for the 'Florida' Category
A Florida School District is Taking Attendance by Scanning Students’ Fingers
October 7th, 2011Via: Popular Science: Roll call is going high-tech in Washington County, Fla. Rather than the usual name calling and response, students are now checking into class with finger scanning devices. And to keep better track of students from the minute they come under district supervision until they are delivered safely home again, the scanners are […]
State of Florida Sells Personal Driver Information for Profit
July 21st, 2011Via: Local10: The state of Florida made $63 million last year selling what many think is personal information. Local 10 has learned the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is selling people’s names, addresses, dates of birth, a list of the vehicles they drive, and it’s legal. “Per federal mandate, there are companies that […]
Florida: Condominium Association Requires DNA Database for Dogs
June 29th, 2011Via: AP: A Florida condominium association hopes dog DNA samples will help them determine which pet owners aren’t picking up after their pooches. … Starting Aug. 1, residents in the Jupiter community must each pay a $200 fee to keep the dogs’ genetic information on file at the DNA Pet World Registry. Dog droppings found […]
Florida: Deputies and Movers Show Up at Bank to Seize Property for Homeowner
June 4th, 2011Via: WINK News: The couple took their case to court and after a year and a half nightmare the foreclosure was dropped. A Collier County judge said Bank of America has to pay the couple’s $2,534 legal fees for the error. After more than five months the bank still hadn’t paid up. So, the homeowners’ […]
Miami Police Smashed Mobile Phones Belonging to People Who Witnessed Shooting; One Witness Hid His Phone’s Memory Card in His Mouth
June 4th, 2011Update: Narces Benoit’s Video —End Update— This is a pretty timely development, coming just a day after the news about Apple’s iCensor technology. Via: Miami Herald: On Thursday, The Miami Herald spoke to the couple that saw the end of the 4 a.m. police chase on Collins Avenue, then watched and filmed from just a […]
Miami Shootout
May 30th, 2011Via: Miami Herald: Three police officers are in the hospital Monday after emptying several rounds of bullets on a driver who opened fire on South Beach. The driver was killed; four bystanders were injured. The police officers involved are in non-life-threatening condition, said Miami Beach Police Sgt. Alejandro Bello.
Florida: State Investigates Campaign to Provide Superhero Capes to Jobless People
April 19th, 2011Via: Orlando Sentinel: State labor officials asked their inspector general Monday to investigate why a Central Florida agency wants to spend public money to furnish the unemployed with capes. Dubbed the “Cape-A-Bility Challenge,” a $73,000 public-relations campaign by Workforce Central Florida features a cartoon character named “Dr. Evil Unemployment” and includes handing out about 6,000 […]
Naked Man Shoots SWAT Robot with AK-47
April 8th, 2011Via: WFTV: A Brevard County man was naked when he opened fire on a SWAT team robot and it was all caught on video, according to deputies. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said the robot was sent into the West Melbourne home last week because the homeowner had called his family and said he was […]
Florida: Proposed Legislation Would Make Photographing a Farm Without Permission a Felony
March 10th, 2011Via: New York Times: Photographers — perhaps including some ghosts from Farm Security Administration days — are astir at news of a bill introduced by State Senator Jim Norman of Florida that would make it a felony to take a picture of a farm without the owner’s permission: A person who photographs, video records or […]
Private Contractor Detains Drivers on Florida Turnpike if They Pay a Toll with a $50 or $100 Bill
March 7th, 2011I wonder if anyone has ever called the police, using a mobile phone, after being illegally detained as described below? Even by Florida standards, this is a keeper. Via: Courthouse News Service: A federal class action claims Florida and a private contractor detain drivers on the Florida Turnpike if they pay a toll with a […]
