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Attorney General Pam Bondi is ending an investigation into Kaplan that began nearly four years ago. Bondi announced on Tuesday that her office has reached an agreement with Kaplan University and two other Kaplan units. The state investigated Kaplan’s enrollment and marketing practices, as well as allegations that students were misled by marketing claims. The investigation began when Bill McCollum was attorney general. Bondi’s office said that Kaplan cooperated in the investigation. Kaplan has not admitted any wrongdoing, but the…

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The first openly gay black man has been confirmed as a federal judge by the U.S. Senate for the bench in South Florida. The vote was unanimous Tuesday to confirm Darrin P. Gayles, who is currently a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge. The White House noted Gayles would make history when President Barack Obama nominated him in February for an opening in the Southern District of Florida. Obama chose Gayles after a previous openly gay black nominee, fellow Miami-Dade Circuit Judge…

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Floridians are going to get a slight break on their insurance bills next year. The state is ending a charge on insurance bills that has been used to pay off claims related to Hurricane Wilma. Wilma struck South Florida at the end of the 2005 hurricane season. Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members who oversee the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund voted Tuesday to end the 1.3 percent emergency assessment. The charge shows up on most insurance bills including homeowners and…

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Florida is getting more than $27 million for selling off four closed prisons and other land around the state. Gov. Rick Scott and the three members of the state Cabinet approved the sales on Tuesday. The money will flow into the state fund that it used to purchase environmentally-sensitive lands. Environmentalists praised the deal because during the recession the state curtailed greatly the amount of money it spent on acquiring conservation lands. The four shuttered prisons are located in central…

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Ralph Lauren’s love for the American flag and American style has earned him honors from the Smithsonian Institution. On Tuesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will help present the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal to the designer at the National Museum of American History. Clinton and Lauren joined forces in 1998 to raise money to preserve the original “Star Spangled Banner” flag that inspired the national anthem. Ralph Lauren is known for designs that have defined American fashion and…

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For the first time, a majority of Cuban-Americans surveyed in Miami said they support an end to the U.S. embargo of Cuba, according to a poll released Tuesday by Florida International University. Even more support resuming diplomatic relations with the communist island’s government. Polls conducted by the university over the years have marked a steady evolution of Cuban-American views. Just a decade ago, electoral success in Miami hinged in part on candidates’ support for the embargo. Many political experts have…

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Qualifying for Florida’s 2014 elections is starting. Candidates seeking statewide and local offices can officially qualify for the ballot starting at noon on Monday. Qualifying closes at noon on Friday. Judicial candidates and candidates for U.S. Congress have already qualified. Incumbent Gov. Rick Scott is expected to officially qualify for re-election sometime this week. Nan Rich, a former state senator and Democrat challenging Scott, plans to qualify on Tuesday. Former Gov. Charlie Crist is also expected to qualify. Attorney General…

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