Our gridlocked grid

New York and New Jersey should direct their gripes at the right targets: Don’t blame the utilities — think Solyndra.Utilities do what policymakers and regulators tell them to do, which in recent years has been to spend money and time on making electric grids greener, rather than harder to break and easier to restore. A tougher, more resilient grid doesn’t...

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Dear daughter, let me give you some career advice ...

My daughter, a high school junior, wants to be a teacher. That doesn’t sit well with my husband, who worries about the state of education and the job outlook. He and I regularly debate whether we should encourage her to pursue this interest, or strongly steer her in another direction.Today, coaching our kids about career paths is complicated. Many of my reporter and editor...

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In humbler times for state House Republicans, Will Weatherford sets a more moderate tone

TALLAHASSEE -- Few state institutions bear a more distinct imprint of recent Republican hegemony than the Florida House of Representatives.It launched the political career of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who served as its speaker four years ago. Its members have passed some of the most conservative bills in the nation. And since 2006, it has nurtured the career of Will Weatherford...

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The Situation Sues Vodka Company for Millions

Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino is suing Devotion Spirits for millions of dollars for what he claims to be a breach of contract in court filings obtained by ET.In the documents, The Situation claims that his endorsement deal with the company called for an increase of ownership stake from 8 percent to 10 percent after one year. The papers claim that Devotion failed to pay him the 2 percent increase,...

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And then there were four

The candidate field for next year’s mayoral election just got a little smaller.What’s that?You didn’t know there was a candidate field for next year’s mayoral election — or, for that matter, that Mayor Bloomberg’s 12-year City Hall tenure expires at the end of 2013?Well, that’s understandable.You probably have a life.So you probably also didn’t notice that...

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Growing middle class feeds spirits business in Latin America

Diageo executive Randy Millian is proud of the fact that eight out of every 12 times someone pours a standard or premium whiskey in the Latin American and Caribbean region, they’re drinking one of his company’s brands.That kind of dominance is why the spirits giant is bullish on its future in Latin America, which recently has been the fastest growing region for Diageo worldwide....

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Miami-Dade man faces felony charges in death of puppy he had just one day

When Mathew Milewski’s new puppy, Molly, arrived by plane from Arkansas on Nov. 11, 2011, her paperwork included a note from the folks at Outback Beagles.“I hope that she brings as much joy to you and your family as our dogs have brought us,’’ wrote breeder Sheila Rodgers “I wish her a long life of happiness and contentment.’’The 4-month-old puppy got neither. ...

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Morgan Freeman Through The Wormhole Season 4 Promo

The Science channel's provocative series Through the Wormhole is on its way back for season four and, to mark the occasion, host Morgan Freeman has assembled some tough questions of his own for the scientific experts behind the show. Related: Morgan Freeman Receives AFI Lifetime achievement Award Throwing his hat into the ring, the Academy Award-nominated actor ponders, "Why am I so sexy?".Click...

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So the voters think this is paradise

Frank J. Fleming Our country has faced many problems and gone through many changes, but finally Americans have come together and said, Yes! Right here — this is exactly where we want America. At least, that’s what the recent election tells us — the American people resoundingly said, “Don’t change a thing.” They chose Barack Obama as president...

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Panama Canal’s $5 billion makeover could be boon for South Florida

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Huge yellow dump trucks resemble Tonka toys in a sand pile as they haul tons of rust-colored dirt and basalt rock from a 56-foot gash in the earth that will become a new access channel in the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal.The trucks keep rumbling up muddy terraced slopes as a quick-moving storm blurs the horizon. The rain chases away workers...

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