TALLAHASSEE — House Speaker Dean Cannon told his chamber just after 2 a.m. Saturday that the Legislature’s budget conferees from the Senate had blown up that deal earlier Friday night when they refused to pass some of the 44 “conforming bills.” “I’ve decided that our chamber would take the high road,” Cannon told the chamber shortly [...]

Following the House’s decision to adjourn Sine Die, Senate President Mike Haridopolos is waiting for a quorum to pass its final bill and then adjourn for the 2011 session. The House adjourned at 2:07 a.m. after passing a tax-cut package that was a priority of Gov. Rick Scott. As of 2:35 a.m., the chamber had 14 members [...]

The Florida Senate passed its final version of the 2011 session — a tax cut package — at 3:34 a.m. Relations between the House and Senate blew up in the late hours of Friday  evening when the Senate refused to pass some of the legislative conforming bills, measures that accompany the state budget, but dictate policy [...]

Track and field

Seve Ballesteros, the legendary five-time major winning golfer, has died after losing his fight against cancer.

Mark Lippman, attorney for George and Cindy Anthony, said Friday night that Cindy will not visit her daughter Casey Anthony at jail on Saturday as planned, according to a WESH.com report.

Having surrendered more than 70 points in each of their last two games, the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators put forth a concerted effort to improve their defense in Friday night's game against the Tampa Storm at Amway Center.

And are the Yankees coming to Orlando?

Urban Meyer resigns at UF, ostensibly to spend more time with his family, immediately takes a job with ESPN and has seemingly been travelling extensively with his new job ever since. And then earlier this week, his teenage daughter Gigi tweets: "Dear ESPN, can I have my father back?" This tweet was very similar to Meyer's other daughter's response -- "I got my daddy back" -- when he resigned at UF two seasons ago and returned one day later. I guess what the Urbanator really meant to say when he left UF a few months ago was this: "I want to spend more time with my family (pause), which is why I got them the ESPN GamePlan all-access college football package. Now my family will get to see me all the time – and in high-def, too!" …

TALLAHASSEE — Grinding past the deadline of the most business-dominated session in years, Florida lawmakers worked past midnight Saturday to pass a vast array of conservative priorities, from busting up the state agency that manages growth to handing over most of the state’s Medicaid patients to health-maintenance organizations. Proclaiming they were honoring the will of voters [...]

TALLAHASSEE –  A visibly upset Senate President Mike Haridopolos sent his lawmakers home early Saturday and hunkered down to sleep on his office couch, saying he wasn’t quite sure how the session had “landed in a ditch.” With just a tax package left to pass, the president said he would wait until tomorrow for the House to pass the tax-cutting [...]

A pod of about 20 pilot whales became stranded in the shallow waters off Cudjoe Key on Thursday, May 5. Unfortunately, before rescuers could get to them, more than half the whales died. The survivors have been taken to a sea pen, where they are being tended so that they’ll be able to return to [...]

We have a plea from animal lover Victoria King to remind us that Deb Bruno of A New Beginning needs some help with more than 100 dogs entrusted to her rescue by the court. If you can help, it’s a worthy cause. Here’s what Victoria has to say: Of the 257 impounded dogs the court asked Deb [...]

A professional de-regulation bill went up in flames late Friday night when an angry Senate voted to kill a House proposal by a 32-6 vote. The bill, which de-regulates a number of professions including interior designers, was largely a House product though budget negotiators agreed to it in the conference process. But several senators  were irked [...]

Dr. Phillips scored three runs in the first inning and added three more in the third on a three-run home run by Jalen Phillips en route to an 8-4 win over host West Orange in a Class 6A region baseball semifinal game Friday night.

Hannah Schaible led Dr. Phillips to a 20-0 victory.

BOCA RATON — Hannah Schaible wasn't going to allow a repeat of last year.

Tomas Nido also set an area mark for homers in a season.

Orangewood Christian belted four home runs in a 15-5 victory against visiting Daytona Beach Father Lopez in a Class 2A region baseball semifinal Friday.

Tyler Osorio of Celebration shone in the 100 and 400 meters.

WINTER PARK — Tyler Osorio's rare blend of speed, power and athleticism never really caught the eye of major-college football recruiters.

Left-hander notches eighth win with 11-strikeout performance

TALLAHASSEE — Sean Gilmartin was hot — heated.

The Bears beat Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 20-9 and the Highlanders downed Lake Brantley 17-5 in semifinal games Friday at West Orange

WINTER GARDEN – Winter Springs will get its first shot at a state girls lacrosse title and Lake Highland will get another crack at its first boys championship after both cruised to state semifinal victories Friday at West Orange.

Tomas Nido also set an area mark for homers in a season.

Orangewood Christian belted four home runs in a 15-5 victory against visiting Daytona Beach Father Lopez in a Class 2A region baseball semifinal Friday.

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the issue. Also on tap: Bill Clinton and heart disease

Why did Rep. Gabrielle Giffords survive a gunshot wound to the brain when so many others don't?

About 16 years ago, after all five of her kids had earned college degrees, Kay Mullally decided that one more diploma was needed around the house: her own.

More than 8 percent of homicide cases at the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office are child murders.

While local and national attention remains focused on the death of Caylee Marie Anthony and her mother's first-degree murder trial this month, a dozen cases involving dead children proceed anonymously to trial in Greater Orlando.

TALLAHASSEE ¿ Closing one of the most business-dominated sessions in years, Florida Republican lawmakers passed a vast array of conservative priorities Friday, from busting up the state agency that manages growth to handing over most of the state's Medicaid patients to health-maintenance organizations.

More than 30 depositions filed by Casey Anthony's defense team were made public Friday. Many of the transcripts are short — some only a few pages.

Program will compensate farmers who were victims of loan discrimination

Minority farmers have complained for decades that the U.S. Department of Agriculture denied or delayed giving them farm loans because of their ethnicity or gender, costing them their crops and land.

Fire at 4 Boys Tires & Service was reported about 6 p.m. Friday.

Fire crews battled a structure fire that tore through a Daytona Beach auto repair shop on Friday, bathing the surrounding area in thick smoke, officials said.

More than 8 percent of homicide cases at the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office are child murders.

While local and national attention remains focused on the death of Caylee Marie Anthony and her mother's first-degree murder trial this month, a dozen cases involving dead children proceed anonymously to trial in Greater Orlando.

TALLAHASSEE — Closing one of the most business-dominated sessions in years, Florida Republican lawmakers passed a vast array of conservative priorities Friday, from busting up the state agency that manages growth to handing over most of the state's Medicaid patients to health-maintenance organizations.

In this day and age , no one should have any problem being asked if they are in this country legally. If they are not here legally, they are subject to the laws of the land.

CHAMP

In the past few days, I have heard criticism of those celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, mostly from middle-aged observers. While I have also found myself pondering the moral question of celebrating a human being's death, I have come to a starkly different conclusion than some in the media.

Celebrate, not castigate Florida's teachers

Hard lesson

House Speaker Dean Cannon's politically driven proposal to divide and pack the Florida Supreme Court is dead — for now. It expired this week after running into bipartisan opposition from senators who recognized it as an assault on the independence of the state's highest court.

Four-time NBA champion has played little the past three months

Freudian slip of the day in Heat Land?

Swing overhaul pays dividends with 18 birdies in 2 rounds

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pat Perez has 18 birdies through his first two rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship.

As the shot clock ticked down to 10, Derrick Rose crossed his double between his leg and stepped back beyond the 3-point arc, giving himself just enough space to launch over Jamal Crawford.

Risa Wight of Celebration has done the Danskin Triathlon almost every year since 2004.

When she lived in Boulder, Colo., Risa Wight would gaze at the Rocky Mountains and see bikers navigating the picturesque landscape.

TALLAHASSEE — The 2011 lawmaking session isn’t over yet, but the canned scorn from affected unions and conservation groups is filling up the inbox. Here’s a sampling, with a rare dose of praise from Associated Industries of Florida:  “This legislative session marks a critical time of recovery for our state’s economy. Helping bolster our economic rehabilitation, [...]

Paul McCartney is heading to the altar again: The ex-Beatle has announced his engagement to Nancy Shevell, his girlfriend of four years.  The pair met in the summer of 2007 after McCartney’s highly publicized and acrimonious divorce from then-wife Heather Mills. McCartney, 68, is 17 years older than the 51-year-old Shevell. An unnamed source tells People, “They have the [...]

Today, the Orlando Sentinel interviewed with Orlando Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide and asked him to reflect on the 2010-11 season and look ahead to the future.

Here’s a big, cuddly hug of a documentary from the director of “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.” “I Am” is an Oprah-endorsed mashup of thought-provoking ideas and metaphysical mumbo jumbo that is about how every living thing is “connected.” The Oprah endorsement explains how a movie with no “names” attached, thin distribution and no marketing cash still drew [...]

Boone's Marvin Bracy won three events last year.

WHAT : FHSAA Class 4A state track and field championships

The Bears beat Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 20-9 in a semifinal while the Patriots lost to Vero Beach 16-4 Friday at West Orange.

Winter Springs beat Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 20-9 Friday to advance to its first state girls lacrosse final.

Williams started final 10 games of 2010 at Memphis

Miami has another quarterback to compete with Stephen Morris and Tate Forcier for the starting job in 2012.

MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal set up a Madrid Open showdown with Roger Federer for the third straight year, beating Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals Friday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Phil Mickelson provided a few more exciting moments Friday, only this time he did more than just keep his round together. This helped him move steadily up the leaderboard and into contention at the Wells Fargo Championship.

USA Today is reporting that Miami Dolphins coaching legend was not very impressed with the work of Bill Parcells during his time in South Florida.

Officers said 'there was never a doubt' to shave their heads in honor of Officer Brad Smalt, who is fighting leukemia

EUSTIS — The sounds of electric razors buzzed around the Eustis Police Department on Friday as members of its command staff shaved off all their hair to show support to a fellow officer fighting leukemia.