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Rubio releases Florida GOP charge card statements

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Marco Rubio's presidential campaign released 22 months of charge card statements on Saturday that show the candidate made $7,243.74 in personal purchases in 2005 and 2006 on a Florida Republican Party charge card.

The announcement comes as Rubio is under greater scrutiny for his personal use of the American Express charge card, which he said was secured under his personal credit in conjunction with the state's Republican Party. Some of Rubio's previous charge card statements have emerged, but the release on Saturday provides the first look at his purchases for the period from January 2005 through October 2006 when he led the campaign operation for Florida House Republicans.

Rubio has said he mixed personal and business expenses on the card -- but paid for the personal charges himself, while the Florida Republican Party covered business-related political costs.

Rubio's campaign said he made eight personal charges, totaling $7,243.74 out of the $64,777.82 charged to the card during that 22-month time period.

The charges from 2005 and 2006 are about half of the $117,294.73 that Rubio charged to the Florida GOP American Express card in 2007 and 2008 when he was House speaker. That two-year period included 73 personal charges worth $22,003.19, and those records had been obtained by some media outlets, including CNN.

Rubio has repeatedly called the personal charges on the state GOP-issued card a mistake, even though it wasn't out of line with Florida Republican leaders' practices at the time.

"Nevertheless, in hindsight, I wish that none of them had ever been charged," Rubio wrote in his 2012 autobiography "American Son."

"When the statements were later leaked during my Senate campaign, they invited press skepticism, confused some of the public and allowed an opponent to suggest the party had paid for personal expenses," he wrote. "As often as it is remarked, it always bears repeating: in politics, appearances are as important as reality."

The largest personal charge from 2005-2006 was $3,756.24 to Iberia Tiles for flooring, which Rubio has said he paid for using the wrong credit card and paid off immediately in the next billing period, according to the campaign.

Two of the personal charges from 2005 and 2006 were from a Las Vegas trip. Rubio's campaign said he extended a political business-related stay for personal reasons and has family in the area, the campaign said.

Even with the release of the statements, CNN could not independently verify which charges were personal and which were business-related.

Details about Rubio's Florida GOP charge card spending emerged in his 2010 Senate race -- and presidential rival Jeb Bush's campaign recently told donors that the campaign of 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney unearthed concerns during that campaign's vice presidential vetting process. Former Romney aides have denied that charge, however.


9-year-old girl bitten while surfing off Florida coast

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A 9-year-old girl has been taken to the hospital after being bit while surfing off the Florida coast.

Brevard County Fire Rescue officials said the girl was bitten on the foot by a toothy sea creature Saturday morning while surfing at Paradise Beach.

Fire rescue officials said they think it might have been a fish with big teeth, but aren't sure because no one saw it. There have not been any shark sightings in the area.

The Orlando Sentinel reports the girl was taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Florida man smashes Rod Stewart's mailbox in DUI stop

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A Florida man has been arrested after authorities say he was driving drunk and crashed into singer Rod Stewart's mailbox.

Palm Beach police said Michael Hutson Lutz, 37, was weaving in the road when they pulled him over Tuesday. According to the arrest report, Lutz hit Stewart's mailbox as he tried to pull over. The damage was estimated at $500.

Authorities said he had a blood-alcohol level of almost three times the legal limit.

The News Herald reports Lutz was charged with driving under the influence with property damage.

Off-duty officer fatally shot uncle, authorities say

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Authorities say an off-duty police officer killed his uncle during a family fight at a Deltona home.

Volusia County Sheriff's officials say DeLand Police Officer Bobby Harrelson, 51, said he was trying to protect his 76-year-old mother when he opened fire on Friday night.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Harrelson said he tried unsuccessfully to break up the fight after his uncle, Raymond Davis, 68, started choking his mother.

No other details were released.

Fire rages through Fort Lauderdale house

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A fire severely damaged a single-family home in a residential neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale Saturday morning.

Local 10 News crews were at the scene as flames blasted through at least two windows of the home at 2406 Gulfstream Lane.

The Fort Lauderdale Fire Department said that a woman was trapped inside the house during the fire, but had escaped by the time crews arrived.

The woman was alone with her pets when the fire broke out. At least three pets were unaccounted for Saturday morning.

The cause of the fire is unknown as the investigation continues.

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Heat guard Green discharged from hospital

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Heat guard Gerald Green is out of the hospital.

Local 10 News has learned that Green has been discharged from Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The Miami Heat did not issue an official statement other than wishing him well.

Miami Fire Rescue was called to Green's condo building in downtown Miami after a 911 caller said the 29-year-old was unconscious in front of the valet area.

Miami police detectives said they were called in to help first responders with Green, who was described as a combative patient when he regained consciousness.

"What is your emergency?" a dispatcher asked. "I have a resident that just passed out," the 911 caller said. "What's the address of the emergency?" the dispatcher asked. "1100 Biscayne Blvd. He's bleeding," the caller said.

The shooting guard did not play in Thursday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks. There has been no word from the team at this point on when he will play next.

The Heat play at home Sunday night against Toronto. It's unclear if Green will play, but sources told Local 10 News he was out of the hospital Saturday night.

Follow Will Manso on Twitter @WillManso

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Search for missing cruise ship passenger suspended

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The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a passenger who fell off the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Oasis of the Seas.

It happened about 1 a.m. Friday. Cruise ship workers told the Coast Guard that a 35-year-old man, identified as Bernardo Albaz, jumped from the seventh deck onto a life raft below and then fell into the water.

Video taken by a passenger shows him holding on to a ledge near the life raft before falling into the water. He was last seen wearing a pink shirt and white shorts.

The ship was about 17 miles east of the Turks and Caicos and 80 miles away from the Bahamas when Albaz fell.

Attorney Michael Winkleman is representing Albaz's family. In a news conference Saturday, Winkleman said Royal Caribbean is lying about what led up to the tragedy on the Oasis of the Seas.

"Royal Caribbean says this was a domestic dispute and a suicide. It was anything but that," Winkleman said.

Winkleman said it started when Albaz was taunted by Royal Caribbean crew members at a bar on the ship late Thursday night. He said they were teasing him because he was gay.

"There was a big altercation at the Solarium Bar on the Oasis. As a result went back to his room and was furious," Winkleman said.

Shortly after, according to Winkleman, ship employees arrived to the room.

"Royal Caribbean security comes on the scene and as a result of an altercation in his cabin, ends up somehow falling off the balcony and onto the lifeboat area where the metal is," Winkleman said.

"I heard people screaming, 'Get in, get in,' and I could see this guy grabbing on and he was bleeding from his head," a witness said.

Passengers arrived at Port Everglades around 7 a.m. Saturday. An investigation by the Broward Sheriff's Office is now underway, as Albaz's family contemplates legal action against the cruise line.

"From what I've seen there appears to be a negligent rescue undertaken and in my eyes is the anti gay remarks made against these two gentlemen," Winkleman said.

Follow Liane Morejon on Twitter @LianeMorejonTV

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On this day: November 8

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Gunslinger Doc Holliday dies, the X-ray is discovered by accident, John F. Kennedy is elected president, the Florida recount begins, and the "Guitar Hero" craze is born, all on this day.


Mississippi sinkhole swallows 15 cars

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A large sinkhole opened at a parking lot of a new IHOP restaurant in Meridian, Mississippi on Sunday, according to CNN affiliate WTOK.

Estimated to be 50 feet wide and 600 feet long, the sinkhole has swallowed approximately 15 cars.

Emergency officials have roped off the area to keep people away, said WTOK. There are no reports of injuries.

IHOP spokesman Craig Hoffman told CNN the company is happy no one got hurt.

"The cause of the sinkhole is still under investigation, and our primary concern continues to be the safety of our guests and team members," Hoffman said, "therefore, the restaurant will remain closed until all necessary repairs have been completed."

Couple wins $14.5 million in lawsuit over 2004 uninsured motorist crash on Interstate 95

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A former chiropractor and his wife have won a $14.5 million jury verdict in a lawsuit filed over a 2004 car crash that involved a motorist with no insurance.

Attorney Crane Johnstone says a Miami-Dade jury sided with David and Carrie Zucker, who claimed the insurance company Geico owed them because the others involved either had no insurance or were under insured.

Johstone says the Zuckers' policy had benefits that under Florida law require auto insurance carriers like Geico to pay damages in such cases. The company had rejected their claim.

The crash happened on Interstate 95 in Miami after motorist Miguel Gonzalez collided with an 18-wheel oil tank truck and careened into the path of the Zuckers' car. David Zucker suffered spinal and other injuries.

Geico could appeal.

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Google Life Sciences, Heart Association, team on new research venture

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A company whose name is synonymous with eyeballs on the Internet is turning its attention to hearts. Google Life Sciences, a research group recently spun off from its parent corporation, is teaming with the American Heart Association in a $50 million project to find new ways to fight heart disease.

The heart association's half, $25 million over five years, is the largest single research investment in its history. For the Google group, its latest biomedical venture will join projects that include whiz-bang devices such as driverless cars, contact lenses that monitor blood-sugar for diabetics and health-tracking wristbands.

The project was announced Sunday at a heart association conference in Orlando.

Heart disease is the world's top killer, a problem that "seems ripe for new innovation" and disruptive, unconventional thinking, said Andy Conrad, Google Life Sciences' chief executive. Progress has been slow and "we should shake it up a little bit," he said.

Besides cash, Google has tech tools to offer such as sensors to monitor the health of "people in the wild" versus just when they go to doctors and huge capabilities for data analysis. The company is aiming for a cure, Conrad said. There's no guarantee of success, but "the only thing we can promise is that we'll try harder."

By early next year — Valentine's Day, "a big heart day," Conrad said — a team from Google and the heart association hope to pick a project leader, who might be a cardiologist, a nurse or "a teenager from Wisconsin," depending on what skills and ideas that person can bring to the table. The team is looking for "a maverick," he said.

The venture "really allows us to think about ... doing research in a different way," said Dr. Robert Harrington, chairman of the Stanford University School of Medicine and a member of the heart association's board.

Traditional research has brought only incremental improvements in heart disease treatment.

"We are trying to do something disruptive here," Harrington said.

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Trump on 'SNL': Huge-ish ratings, mixed reviews

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Donald Trump as host of "Saturday Night Live" brought in ratings for NBC that Trump himself would call "huge."

The presidential candidate on "SNL" brought in an overnight rating of 6.6, the biggest overnight rating for the long-time variety show since 2012.

Saturday's number is up roughly 50% from the season premiere on October 3 that included an appearance from Hillary Clinton, and had been the highest of the season at 4.5.

While the TV ratings for Trump on "SNL" were big, the reaction to Trump's performance was lukewarm with some critics saying that Trump didn't live up to the hype.

"The fevered lead-up to Donald Trump's 'Saturday Night Live' episode turned out to be more exciting than the edition of the show he hosted," wrote Variety TV columnist, Maureen Ryan. "Most of the sketches involving Trump were weak, timid or predictable."

This was also the general consensus of those watching at home on social media with many tweeting out that Trump on "SNL" was an easygoing affair.

"Surprisingly mild + light-hearted SNL considering buildup," tweeted CNN contributor and former TV reporter Bill Carter. "No fireworks; only glancing satire directed at or from [Donald Trump]."

One of the brighter moments of the show was when Trump was heckled by Larry David, who called out, "Donald Trump is a racist." David said on the show that he was told he would get $5,000 from a group for saying it.

DeportRacism.com made the offer to protest Trump's comments in August that many Mexican immigrants are criminals and rapists. The group said it would pay the $5,000 "bounty" to David.

Other outlets, like The Hollywood Reporter, were a bit more harsh in appraising Trump's performance, saying that the candidate's gig was "toothless" and "uncomfortable."

"Having a politician in the midst of an active presidential campaign was always a dismal idea for 'Saturday Night Live,' particularly a candidate with as much negative baggage as Donald Trump," wrote The Hollywood Reporter's TV critic Daniel Fienberg. "But even with expectations lowered to bargain-basement level, this week's show was a dumpster fire."

Regardless of the reviews, Trump seemingly had a good time hosting.

"@nbcsnl - So much fun last night!" he tweeted on Sunday morning.

Tampa Police write more tickets than many other agencies in Florida, report shows

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An analysis by The Tampa Bay Times showed that Tampa police wrote more tickets last year than sheriff's offices in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties combined and more per capita than cops in Jacksonville, Miami, St. Petersburg and Orlando, the state's four other largest cities.

And no other law enforcement agency in the state arrests more people than the Tampa Police Department.

The paper reported that each arrest, each ticket, feeds into a formula that calculates an officer's "productivity ratio" — number of hours worked divided by the number of tickets and arrests.

The more officers do, the better they score. But the formula doesn't discriminate between a murder arrest and a jaywalking ticket; they carry the same weight.

"It was a good program set up to get rid of the guys who weren't producing, sitting under a tree all night," said Brian Reschke, a patrol officer who retired in 2011. "It just got carried away."

Tampa police wrote more tickets for bicycle offenses than any other law enforcement agency in the state, and that eight out of 10 of the cyclists were black, according to an investigation by the newspaper.

Jon Dengler, who runs a ministry to feed the poor, has gotten nine traffic tickets in Tampa in the past six years. He got three from the same officer, adding up to $345, because his registration had expired and he didn't have his insurance card or license handy. Two of those tickets were dismissed.

"I love our neighborhood and I don't feel anxious or afraid," he told the City Council earlier this year. "But when I see TPD on the street, I do get nervous. I don't get nervous because I'm up to no good, but because of who they are and represent in our community."

The new police chief, Eric Ward, who took over in May, told officers to stop worrying so much about their statistics and focus on getting to know the people they police.

"That old fashioned 'arrest, arrest, arrest, citation, citation, citation' is not the key. It's not going to solve our problem with the crime," Ward said. "Getting back in to the community, walking around, talking to people. That alone will reduce crime."

The department made a significant change to the ratio in February, giving officers credit for written warnings instead of just citations and is on track to have its lowest ticketing year in at least a decade.

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Bills sweep season series from Dolphins

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The Buffalo Bills finished a season sweep over the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills beat the Dolphins 33-17.

Miami is now 0-4 in the division.

The Dolphins have a 3-5 record.

The Dolphins started the game the same way they started the Patriots game.

Center Mike Pouncey air-mailed a snap over Ryan Tannehill's head for a safety.

LeSean McCoy gave Buffalo a 9-0 lead with a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

The Dolphins answered with a 1-yard Lamar Miller touchdown in the 2nd quarter.

Buffalo extended their lead in the second quarter with a Karlos Williams 11-yard touchdown.

Interim Head Coach Dan Campbell gambled before the half.

He went for the touchdown with :02 left.

Ryan Tannehill's pass to Dion Sims was incomplete.

The Dolphins were down 19-7 at the half.

In the third quarter, Miller scored his second touchdown of the game to cut the lead to 19-14.

That is as close as the Dolphins would get.

Sammy Watkins caught a 44-yard touchdown from Tyrod Taylor to put the game out of reach.

The Bills would add another Karlos Williams touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Dolphins travel to Philadelphia next Sunday.

Tropical depression forms near southeastern Bahamas

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A tropical depression has formed near the southeastern Bahamas.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is moving northwest at 14 mph with 35 mph winds.

Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on the storm.


Prayer vigil held for Corey Jones in Oakland Park

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Family and friends gathered Sunday to remember Corey Jones, a man shot dead by police in Palm Beach County.

Tropical Storm Kate strengthens, moves away from Bahamas

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Tropical Storm Kate is strengthening as it moves away from the Bahamas.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says that on Monday night, the storm has strengthened slightly. Kate's maximum sustained winds are 60 mph (97 kph) with additional strengthening expected over the next two days. It poses no immediate threat to land.

[RELATED: Subscribe for weather alerts | Hurricane Survival Guide | Track storms]

The storm is centered about 175 miles (282 kilometers) northeast of The Northwestern Bahamas.

It's expected to turn toward the northeast overnight.

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SUV crashes into Subway in Plantation

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Authorities are investigating after a driver crashed into a Subway restaurant in Plantation.

The incident was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Monday at a Subway at 3935 W. Broward Blvd.

"I heard this huge boom when the car actually hit the building itself," witness Rhona Thomas said.

A photo taken by Plantation firefighters shows the white Nissan Pathfinder inside the building with the front windows smashed in.

Authorities said the 19-year-old woman who was behind the wheel was traveling north on U.S. Highway 441 when she lost control of the SUV, clipped a parked Porsche, drove over bushes and then crashed into the restaurant.

"I was outside at the time and I saw this guy screaming and running and yelling," Thomas said.

The driver was taken to Plantation General Hospital with minor injuries.

There was one customer and one employee inside the restaurant at the time and neither was injured, although the business suffered significant damage.

"I'm glad that no one got hurt and we'll be back in business," Subway owner Zeke Lahka said. "It's going to take awhile to get this all fixed up though. It'll take its due course."

Detectives said the driver was alone in the SUV and only had a learner's permit.

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Prosecutors to decide whether to charge carjacking suspect as adult

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A man who was arrested on carjacking and attempted murder charges last week will soon learn whether prosecutors will charge him as an adult.

Luis Basalo was still 17 years old when he carjacked a 19-year-old man and his girlfriend in Coral Gables on Halloween, police said.

Basalo was found by police Friday at a home in the area of Northwest 21st Avenue and 18th Street in Miami, a day after he turned 18.

The victim, who is expected to be released from the hospital Friday, told Local 10 News that he was relieved to find out that Basalo had been arrested.

"I was jumping up and down when I found out that they found the suspects," he said. "I was more than excited."

Basalo's mother appeared in court Monday, sticking up her middle finger at reporters as she left the courthouse.

According to the 19-year-old victim who was driving the car, he was picking up his girlfriend from work at Sunset Place on Oct. 31 when Basalo and four others asked him for a ride.

He agreed, and the group got into his car. He headed down U.S. Highway 1 and was told to turn on Rosaro Avenue.

"I put the car in park, and he immediately put a gun to my head," he said.

The victim said he was shot twice, in the elbow and leg, and his girlfriend was shot once in the knee.

"After the surgery, the pain was indescribable," he said. "I was screaming and I had to be on pain meds and I couldn't sleep at all. Today, I woke up and I'm able to move from place to place."

Police said the group drove away in the victim's car in the 400 block of Rosaro Avenue, leaving the man and his girlfriend stranded and injured. The driver managed to call 911, and he and his girlfriend were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Detectives have questioned the other two men and two women who left in the car with Basalo but have not arrested them.

Basalo remains in juvenile detention. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 27.

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Miami man offers teen money, presents for sex, police say

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A Miami man is facing multiple charges after offering cash and presents to a 15-year-old girl in exchange for sex, police said.

Abelardo Castro Silva, 60, was arrested Saturday on charges of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a child and lewd and lascivious battery on a child.

According to an arrest report, the victim went to Silva's home because she was friends with his daughter.

Police said Silva began texting the girl and offering her gifts in exchange for sexual favors.

According to police, the girl sent Silva a naked picture of herself at his request and he sent her a photo of his erect penis with a $100 bill next to it.

Police said the victim recently went to her friend's home and said Silva kissed her on the lips when his daughter went to her room. She said he also rubbed her genitals over her clothing.

As she and Silva's daughter were leaving the home, Silva slapped her on the buttocks, which his daughter witnessed, police said.

According to detectives, Silva's daughter told him to "stop being a creep."

Police said Silva later texted the victim a picture of $250 in cash and Sephora cosmetics with the caption, "What do I do with this?"

The victim later confided in a male friend who told her to report the incidents to police.

Detectives said Silva denied ever texting the victim, kissing her or grabbing her. He also claimed never to have received a nude photo from the teen.

Silva has since been released from jail on bond.

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