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The signs: Increased business at rehab centers. Those Ski-related personal ads. A big spike in death rates. The trend began to reveal itself about five years ago — in centrifuges and under microscopes — at the University of Florida’s Forensic Toxicology Laboratory. Each year, the lab assists seven Florida medical examiners’ offices with about…

From deli meats to video rentals, the family store on St. Marks’ main drag has it all; its selection of used paperbacks even serves as the town’s public library. It’s part of a way of life many here want to preserve.“We all love St. Marks just the way it is,” said Joy Brown, Bo…

The Florida Senate on Thursday passed an amendment to impose a $60 fine on Truck Nutz, one brand name for the novelty item on vehicle trailer hitches that resemble the dangling southern end of a northbound bull. The proposal would make displaying bull genitalia reproductions on a vehicle subject to a $60 fine, moving…

The guns-at-work bill is on its way to the governor — who said he’s likely to sign it — after the Senate passed it Wednesday with little debate and a 26-13 vote. I’m probably gonna sign it,” Crist said afterward. “The 2nd Amendment is very important.” The governor acknowledged the intense lobbying war that…

Tallahassee Democrat, editorial, http://www.tallahassee.com, March 30, 2008.The editorial states: “Florida’s state court system is already a lean, hardworking justice machine. It operates with roughly half as many trial judges per citizen as other large states — 4.5 judges per 100,000 citizens compared with Texas with 10, for example, or the national average of 7.3…

Five regional legal offices the state has created to represent poor defendants in special circumstances can stay open, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday [March 13]. The justices reversed a judge’s ruling that the offices, which opened their doors in January, were unconstitutional because they are headed by appointed rather than elected officials. The…

Remove shackles unless offenders pose a clear threat As they consider ways to make juvenile offenders safer in state custody, lawmakers should seize the opportunity to clarify state policy on one controversial practice — slapping leg irons and belly chains on youthful offenders, regardless of their age, physical strength or offense. Lawmakers never officially…

A 24-year-old Fort Myers man jumped about 70 feet off of the Caloosahatchee Bridge to avoid Lee County sheriff’s deputies this morning, after trying to run over a deputy and then fleeing in what became a lengthy high-speed chase, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.Lorenzo Dean Hood was quickly arrested after his leap…

The Sun Sentinel website now includes a searchable database of all Homocides that occured in 2007. Interesting.. Here is the link: http://www.sun-sentinel2.com/homicide_database/broward_homicides_2007_01.html