College student seeks immunity in South Miami man’s stabbing death

James Arauz, the Miami Dade College student who stabbed his mother’s employer to death, testified Thursday in the first day of a hearing to determine whether he would be granted Stand Your Ground immunity. Arauz, who was 20 at the time, stabbed Vincent Pravata to death and went on a shopping spree with his credit cards in Oct. 2009. Investigators later found bloody fingerprints...

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Two men shot in Staten Island apartment building for allegedly being too noisy

One man is dead and another is fighting for his life this morning after they were shot in a Staten Island apartment building for being too noisy, police sources said.The victims, 20 and 21, were in a first floor apartment in a Bodine Street building drinking and being rowdy around 6 a.m. when the upstairs neighbor complained to her boyfriend, the source...

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California Pizza Kitchen brings prototype to Sawgrass Mills

The restaurant chain that took barbecued chicken pizza mainstream is ready to push the culinary envelope again. How about a pizza topped with roasted Brussels sprouts and applewood smoked bacon or a Korean barbecue pizza with pork loin and spicy kimchee salad?Innovative menu items are just one piece of what’s unique about California Pizza Kitchen’s new flagship restaurant...

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Keys stabbing suspect surrenders in Miami-Dade

A 33-year-old Islamorada man wanted in connection with a stabbing earlier this week has surrendered to law enforcement authorities in Miami-Dade.Alexander Flores told police he stabbed his ex-girlfriend after breaking into her Plantation Key house.She was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami on Tuesday. Her condition is listed as stable. Monroe...

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Tiffany & Co.'s third-quarter results miss Wall Street estimates as jewelry company cuts 2012 outlook

Tiffany & Co.'s third-quarter net income fell 30 percent, stung by a higher-than-expected tax rate, ongoing economic weakness and high precious metal and diamond costs.The jewelry company's results missed Wall Street's expectations and it cut its full-year earnings forecast.Shares dropped $5.58, or 8.7 percent, to $58.15 in premarket trading Thursday.For...

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City National Bank of Florida and its Spanish parent have four years to evaluate the Miami bank’s future ownership

City National Bank of Florida, the Miami bank purchased by Bankia (formerly Caja Madrid) of Spain in November 2008, said Wednesday that its parent has a “four-year window to evaluate alternatives” for the bank’s future ownership and will work closely with management in Miami during the process.The Spanish government has reached and agreement with the European Union related...

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Group to begin reviewing Miami-Dade’s elections practices

A group tasked with making recommendations to improve Miami-Dade elections will begin meeting Tuesday morning, three weeks after Election Day was marked by long lines and a surge of absentee ballots that took several days to count.County Mayor Carlos Gimenez convened the advisory group to examine state and local elections laws and practices, and suggest changes. The first...

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Getco makes $3.50 per share bid for Knight Capital

Getco is making a cash-and-stock bid for troubled trading firm Knight Capital that it values at $3.50 per share.In a letter to City, NJ-based Knight Capital, Getco Holding Co. says the acquisition would involve a two-step process in which 242 million new shares would be issued, followed by a tender offer for an additional 154 million shares.Getco already...

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Gift ideas for the techie on your list

The holidays are coming fast, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably gotten very little of your gift shopping done. Here are suggestions for a variety of gifts for the techie and the not-so-techie people on your list. Some of these items can be found in stores and some are only available online, but you should be able to order them in time for Christmas or Hanukkah. ...

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Three people wounded in drive-by shooting in Miami Gardens

An apparent drive-by shooting late Monday night in Miami Gardens has left three people in the hospital and neighbors wondering whether the wrong house was targeted.The shooting happened in the 20800 block of Northwest 30th Court. Air rescue took the victims, two men and a woman, to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where at least one remains in serious condition.Neighbors said three...

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