The Cooler

Lots going on in the mainstream media this morning. Here's some of it in your Cooler.

A- Herald: Does Miami-Dade really care? All that matters is that he hates Castro, right?

The FBI and Miami-Dade police have opened separate criminal investigations into the campaign of a Democratic congressional candidate who, vendors say, was aided by GOP Rep. David Rivera.

Federal agents gathered campaign records, invoices and began interviewing employees at two mail and data companies used by Democrat Justin Lamar Sternad’s primary campaign. Sternad spent about $43,000 in unreported cash and checks on mail services, a witness told The Herald and authorities. Some of the money was stuffed in envelopes bulging with $100 bills.

B- Herald: Swedish meatballs for everyone!

Five years after opening its first Florida store in Sunrise, IKEA is ready to double its South Florida presence with a store just north of Dolphin Mall and facing the east side of the Florida Turnpike. The Swedish retailer known for its cheap, chic home furnishings announced late Wednesday that it is submitting plans to the city of Sweetwater for a 417,000-square foot store. If plans are approved, it would become the largest of IKEA’s four Florida locations.

Construction could begin as soon as spring 2013, allowing for a fall 2014 debut.

C- TC Palm: Bad guys reminding the stupid guys.

PORT ST. LUCIE — A car burglar appears to have left what some might consider a public service message.

A 48-year-old man told Port St. Lucie police Tuesday he discovered his throwing knife, sheath, .40 caliber pistol and magazines missing from his 2003 Toyota Corolla, according to a police report released Wednesday.

He said he left his vehicle Monday in the driveway of his home in the 2700 block of Southwest District Avenue. The vehicle, he told police, was not locked.

As he walked up to his house after noticing the items missing, he saw a plastic bag with writing. The writing stated, “LOADED GUN Unlocked Car = STUPID!!” The bag’s other side read, “LOTS OF Children in area.”

The man saw his handgun and knife were inside, though 30 cartridges were missing.

D- South Florida Business Journal: They have these in Denver and they're great.

Corner Bakery Café has announced the opening of its second South Florida location at The Falls in Miami.

The café is slated to opening on Sept. 3 under the ownership of Operating Partner and Miami resident Karen Cohen. Cohen, along with CB Restaurant Holdings, LLC, opened Corner Bakery Café’s first Florida location in Boca Raton in January and is planning a location in Pembroke Pines later this year.

E- South Florida Business Journal: Life in South Florida.

South Florida ranked fifth for consumer distress, according to the CredAbility Consumer Distress Index.

The quarterly index tracks the financial condition of the average U.S. household by measuring five categories: employment, housing, credit, how families manage household budgets and net worth.

[...]

Orlando’s overall distress index score of 59.5 made it the most distressed metropolitan area in the U.S. Tampa, Riverside, Calif. and Las Vegas followed.

F- WPLG: And so it begins.

MIAMI - Drivers stopped at the gas stations Thursday to fill up in case Isaac knocks out the electricity, which would also stop the flow at the pump.

[...]

"I'm taking this real serious," said Jim Shouse.

Shouse said he made three trips to fill up on Wednesday.

"We're looking at 42 gallons to be exact with the generator," said Shouse.

G- WSVN: Stay classy, Jet Blue.

FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Fla. (WSVN) -- An airline employee has been charged after taking an 11-year-old boy's wallet while he flew alone to New York.

[...]

On Aug. 7, the 11-year-old went with his father to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Jet Blue gave Andre a lanyard pouch to hold his boarding pass and ID. Andre's dad put his wallet along with the $200 inside the pouch. "We gave him $200 cash in his wallet, along with his ID," said Deshong.

Deshong said, by the time Andre boarded the plane, his $200 went missing. "It had to be right after they closed the door to go down the ramp, coz that's the last time I gave him a hug and a kiss," he said. "And then she took him behind the door then they walked down the ramp to the plane, so it had to be within that time frame."

Andre landed at JFK in New York and knew something was wrong when no one handed him back his wallet. "The lady who escorted him down to the airline took his pouch and he tried to let her know, 'Hey, my wallet was in there,' but then she just rushed him off into the plane," said Deshong.

According to Broward detectives, a gate agent, 33-year-old Marsha Henry was responsible for stealing Andre's money. "By looking at the video from the airport we were able to identify a suspect in this case," said Broward Sheriff's Office spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright.

[...]

Jet Blue suspended Henry and will refund the money back to Deshong. "Jet Blue contacted me, and they refunded $100 that we paid them for the unaccompanied minor, and they are in the process to cut us a check to send us the money back," said Deshong.