Polygamous sect member pleads guilty in scheme to orchestrate sexual acts involving children

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on March 20, 2024. Posted in Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, News.

By JACQUES BILLEAUD (Associated Press) PHOENIX (AP) — A businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with the leader of an offshoot polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border to transport underage girls across state lines, making him the first man to be convicted in what authorities say was a scheme to orchestrate sexual acts involving children. Moroni Johnson, who faces 10 years to life in prison, acknowledged that he participated in a scheme to transport four girls under the age of 18 for sexual activity. Authorities say the conspiracy between the 53-year-old Johnson and the sect’s leader,...

Trump rails against Haley, Biden, NATO in South Carolina as the Republican primary looms

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 11, 2024. Posted in Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, Latest Headlines, News, Politics.

By MICHELLE L. PRICE, MEG KINNARD and JAMES POLLARD (Associated Press) CONWAY, S.C. — With two weeks to go before the South Carolina Republican primary, Nikki Haley is challenging Donald Trump on her home turf while the former president is turning to his familiar playbook of personal attacks as he tries to quash his last major rival for the nomination. Trump, turning his campaign focus to the southern state days after an easy victory in Nevada, revved up a huge crowd of supporters at a Saturday afternoon rally in Conway, near Myrtle Beach, by touting his time in office, repeating his false claims...

Donald Trump clinches win at US Virgin Islands caucus, which defied Republican Party rules

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 9, 2024. Posted in Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, National Politics, Network, News, Politics.

By DÁNICA COTO (Associated Press) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Donald Trump amassed another win at a Republican caucus held Thursday in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where officials flouted several GOP party rules, including holding the contest earlier than allowed. The caucus is the third Republican contest held this election season with delegates at stake, with Trump receiving 73.98% of the votes and Nikki Haley 26.02%. “I want to thank you all. We had a tremendous victory,” Trump said in brief remarks by phone to those who gathered in St. Thomas to hear the results. “We expected to win, but we...

Marianne Williamson suspends presidential campaign, ending long-shot challenge to Biden

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 8, 2024. Posted in Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, National Politics, Network, News, Politics.

By Will Weissert, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Self-help author and spiritual guru Marianne Williamson on Wednesday announced the end of her long-shot Democratic challenge to President Joe Biden. The 71-year-old onetime spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey contemplated suspending her campaign last month after winning just 5,000 votes in New Hampshire’s primary, writing that she “had to decide whether now is the time for a dignified exit or continue on our campaign journey.” Related Articles National Politics | Broken Congress: It can’t fix the border, fund allies or impeach...

Social media ban for kids moves in Florida Senate, despite DeSantis’ concerns

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 6, 2024. Posted in Florida News, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, News, Politics.

Florida senators moved forward late Monday with a proposed social media ban for children that has drawn concerns from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The measure (SB 1788) seeks to block users under 16 from using social media platforms with addictive features, regardless of parental approval. The Florida House overwhelmingly approved the proposal (HB 1) in a 106-13 vote last month. The Senate’s Judiciary Committee advanced the bill Monday in a 7-2 vote. DeSantis hasn’t committed to signing the proposed ban as it’s presently written. He said he has concerns about its “breadth” and whether it would pass legal...

Florida House votes to loosen child labor laws

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 2, 2024. Posted in Florida News, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, Latest Headlines, News, Politics.

TALLAHASSEE — A controversial measure that would loosen work restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds was approved Thursday by the Florida House. The Republican-controlled House voted 80-35 to approve the measure (HB 49), which would eliminate a decades-old restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds working more than eight hours when school is scheduled the next day. It also would eliminate a restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds working more than 30 hours during a week when school is in session. Bill sponsor Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach, said the bill would give teens a choice to work up to 40 hours...

Appeals court deals blow to Florida’s law on Chinese land ownership

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 2, 2024. Posted in Florida News, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, Latest Headlines, News, Politics.

TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court Thursday said a Florida law restricting people from China from owning property in the state likely is trumped by federal law and blocked its enforcement against two plaintiffs who have been in the midst of real-estate transactions. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to issue a broader injunction, in part pointing to oral arguments that will be held in the case in April. But the panel said the plaintiffs “have shown a substantial likelihood of success on their claim” that the Florida law is “preempted” by a federal law...

Amid worries about LGBTQ rights, many Pride parades will march on in Florida this year

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on February 1, 2024. Posted in Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, Latest Headlines, Local News, News, Politics.

Pride event organizers are forging ahead with this year’s celebrations across Florida. And they’re hoping to draw larger crowds than last year, when some celebrations were canceled due to the state’s political climate. Among the hurdles that organizers say they’re now facing: It has become more challenging to secure sponsors. Not all companies want their names connected to Pride events “because of economic concerns but also political concerns,” said Patrick Gevas, spokesman for Miami Beach Pride, which will start its week of events April 5. “Sponsors are worried about spending going into an...

President Biden to visit South Florida on Tuesday

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on January 27, 2024. Posted in Florida News, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, Latest Headlines, News, Politics.

President Joe Biden will visit South Florida on Tuesday for two campaign receptions, the White House Press Office said in a news release Friday night. Biden will travel to Palm Beach, home of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, and Miami. The release did not provide further information about the events or scheduling but said additional details would be forthcoming. Even if Biden doesn’t have any public events, the presidential motorcade could cause headaches for South Florida drivers. Politico reported last week that Biden is scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the home of Chris Korge, who is...

Republican National Committee plans to soon consider declaring Trump the ‘presumptive 2024 nominee’

Written by Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Syndicated User on January 26, 2024. Posted in Fort Lauderdale Mortgage, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Rates, National Politics, Network, News, Politics.

By MEG KINNARD and THOMAS BEAUMONT (Associated Press) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Republican National Committee is expected to consider a resolution next week to declare Donald Trump the party’s “presumptive 2024 nominee,” even though only two states have voted and the former president has nowhere near the requisite number of delegates to clinch the mantle. If approved, the measure would further solidify Trump’s control of the party and its operation at a time when former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is still competing against Trump for the GOP nomination. The measure, according to a...

Category: News