The Cooler

The "Flying BMW" story out of Lauderdale has got to be the most mentioned of the morning in the mainstream media. That and more in your Cooler.

A- Sun-Sentinel: Life in South Florida.

According to Caccavella, Rodrigues began driving aggressively behind the men after they pulled out of the light. Caccavella said that when he tried to pull into another lane, Rodrigues pointed a gun and yelled obscenities.

Caccavella said he pulled over to call police. As Caccavella was dialing 911, Rodrigues allegedly walked up to Caccavella's truck window and struck him in the face with a gun. He allegedly struck Uribe with the gun as well.

Caccavella said he then drew his gun and saw Rodrigues kicking and punching Uribe. The fighter then allegedly placed Uribe in a wrestling hold. Caccavella said police arrived just as he pulled his trigger.

Rodrigues is charged with burglary of a structure and burglary with an assault for allegedly reaching into Caccavella's truck and striking him. He also faces two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.

B- Sun-Sentinel: News brought to you by the Republican Party.

TALLAHASSEE -- A Tallahassee circuit judge Tuesday overturned a requirement that public employees contribute 3-percent of their pay toward their retirement, a ruling that will save workers more than $1 billion a year if it is upheld by higher courts.

In a lawsuit brought by the Florida Education Association, Judge Jackie Fulford held that the requirement – imposed by lawmakers a year ago – violated both the collective bargaining rights of public employees and their employment "contract" with the state.

The legislation, Fulford wrote, "constitutes an unconstitutional impairment of plaintiffs' contract with the state of Florida, an unconstitutional taking of private property without full compensation, and an abridgment of the rights of public employees to collectively bargain over conditions of employment."

[...]

The 140,000-member statewide teachers union had argued that Scott and the Legislature violated the state's contract with 572,000 teachers, correctional officers, nurses and other public employees last year by ordering that 3-percent of their pay be put toward their pensions. Florida had not required workers to contribute to their retirement since 1974.

C- Sun-Sentinel: I see an ad for BMW.

FORT LAUDERDALE— — After his new BMW sedan carried him Tuesday from a crash on the State Road 84 bridge onto an entrance ramp of I-595 about two stories below, survivor William Ciani said at first he didn't know if he was still alive.

"It was a weird feeling, tingly, adrenaline-pumping confusion," said the 23-year-old event coordinator, whose only pain as he was leaving Broward General Medical Center late Tuesday afternoon was skin burns from "the stupid airbag. I'm untouched."

[...]

Fort Lauderdale Police Det. Travis Mandell said Ciani was lucky to be alive after the luxury car traveling along the southbound I-95 ramp hit a center concrete median and rubber poles on the State Road 84 bridge. The car went airborne and took out a V-shaped chunk of the concrete barrier on the far side of the overpass, Mandell said. It landed, apparently on its wheels, on the I-595 ramp.

D- Sun-Sentinel: It's gonna be a zoo.

Whole Foods Market will open its newest Broward location in Pembroke Pines on Wednesday, March 28.

E- WPLG: The Marlins are undefeated!

MIAMI - For Hanley Ramirez, at least, the Miami Marlins' new home seems to be a hitter's park.

Ramirez hit the first home run for the Marlins in their new ballpark Tuesday night, and their split squad beat the Miami Hurricanes 7-6.

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