The Cooler

Here's what I found somewhat interesting in the news this morning. Enjoy.

A- Sun-Sentinel: Another reason I can't beat feet outta here soon enough.

All of South Florida's highways and even some of its major roads may one day offer tolled express lanes, if the recommendations in a study released Tuesday are carried out.

The study calls for adding toll lanes over the next 20 years. Offering a faster commute, the lanes would be similar to the current Interstate 95 express lanes in Miami-Dade County. Even some stretches of toll roads, such as Florida's Turnpike, would get higher-priced premium lanes.

Tolled overpasses or underpasses would be built at 79 intersections on 14 major roads in the three counties, among them Broward Boulevard, Pines Boulevard and Southwest 10th Street in Broward; Glades Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard in Palm Beach County; and U.S. 1 in south Miami-Dade County.

B- Sun-Sentinel: Life in South Florida.

A 33-year-old man is in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest following a fight with a 50-year-old man, according to Fort Lauderdale Police.

The shooting happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Southeast 9th Avenue and East Las Olas Boulevard, police said.

The preliminary investigation revealed the two men were fighting in the street. Witnesses told detectives the fight escalated until the older man shot the younger man in the chest.

Pedro Delgado, 52, a private investigator, said he was in Mangos Restaurant and Lounge having dinner when the fight broke out and eventually spilled out into the street. "I saw one guy with a bloody face, guys running in and out," said Delgado.

C- Sun-Sentinel: Video, Whole Foods opening in Pembroke Pines.

D- CBS4: They're still trying to figure this one out?

CORAL GABLES (CBS4) – Changes could be made to the controversial ban on pick-up trucks in the City of Coral Gables, but residents will have to wait and see.

E- NBC Miami: Send in the pythons!

The Florida Keys' battle with an invasive species of giant rats isn't over yet.

On Grassy Key, a glut of Gambian giant pouched rats — originally bred and released by a local — have been foiling conservation officials' efforts to eradicate them, KeysNet reported Sunday.

Officials worry that if the hungry cat-sized rats make it to the mainland, they could wipe out some crops and upset delicate ecological balance.

"We thought we had them whipped as of 2009," said Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

About 20 of the creatures, which grow to nine pounds and are often mistaken for possums, were trapped on the island during a trio of commission efforts last year, Hardin said.

F- WPLG: Bonehead.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - A man accused of taking other people's drinks and pushing other customers Sunday night at a Miami Beach bar told police he's an New York Police Department officer, according to an arrest affidavit.

Miami Beach police said Amadou Balde, 35, of Chicago, was arrested after "causing a disturbance" at the Catalina Bistro and Bar at 1756 Collins Ave.

According to the affidavit, police said Balde took other people's drinks off the bar and poured them into his own glass, and he pushed other customers.

[...]

Police said officers handcuffed Balde, who told them that he was a New York Police Department officer vacationing in Florida. According to the affidavit, Balde claimed his police credentials were in his front pocket.

The officers searched Balde and found no police ID, Miami Beach investigators said. Police said Balde admitted he was not a police officer.

G- WSVN: You have got to be kidding me.

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) -- The mother of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin has filed papers seeking to trademark two slogans based on his name.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filings by Sybrina Fulton are for the sayings "I Am Trayvon" and "Justice For Trayvon." The applications were filed last week.

The applications say the trademarks could be used for such things as DVDs and CDs. Attorneys who filed the papers did not immediately respond Monday to emails seeking comment.

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