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Lawmakers plan retreat

TALLAHASSEE - House and Senate leaders are planning a retreat to work out the differences that forced the two chambers into five special sessions this year in battles over the state budget, insurance, medical malpractice and other issues.

Still, some differences remain.

House Speaker Johnnie Byrd wants to go to Wakulla Springs, a quaint lodge in the middle of a state park south of Tallahassee.

King wants to use a building at Tallahassee Community College equipped for lawmakers to meet if an emergency ever drives them out of the Capitol.

"Wakulla is not easy to get to," King explained.

"I thought a ride in the country might be good," Byrd responded.

"Wakulla here we come," King joked.

A fire in the lodge's giant fireplace, sweaters and a bowl of chili might be nice, Byrd added.

The two leaders shook hands on the deal. Staff members in the House and Senate will pull together "white papers" that indicate where the House and Senate stand on controversies like parental notice and water resources.

They will gather in early December with about 20 members of the House and a smaller group from the Senate and try to pave the way for a smoother session, which starts March 2.

The retreat will be open to the public.

ORLANDO - A baby's accidental 911 call led to his mother's arrest when a deputy saw marijuana, cocaine and mounds of cash on the woman's coffee table, police said.

A dispatcher who took the phone call heard only gibberish and a baby crying. The dispatcher called the number back, but was told by the boy's mother that the baby has been playing with the phone and that everything was fine.

Orange County Deputy Jeff Mayer decided to check out the call and stopped by the east Orange County home of 27-year-old Navera Alexcia Noel.

Sheriff's spokesman Carlos Torres said the woman let Mayer inside the house, where he saw drugs and large amounts of cash lying in plain view on her coffee table.

Mayer alerted narcotics officers, who obtained a search warrant. They found 30 grams of cocaine, 100 grams of marijuana and $69,440 in cash. Also found was a .45-caliber handgun that had been reported stolen in Volusia county.

Authorities estimated the cocaine to be worth between $15,000 and $20,000.

Noel was arrested on charges of possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to sell, and trafficking in cocaine. She was released from Orange County Jail on $7,500 bail Wednesday evening.

The baby was placed with his grandmother, and the Department of Children & Families is investigating.

JACKSONVILLE - A judge denied prosecutors' requests to prohibit a mother from seeing the 2-year-old daughter she is accused of leaving home alone while she was jailed for 19 days.

Prosecutors said the child, Breanna Lee, survived on dry pasta, mustard and ketchup after her mother was in jail.

The child's father, Ogden Lee, found her naked inside the apartment watching television on Sept. 29.

Assistant State Attorney Libby Senterfitt told Circuit Judge Henry Davis that staying away from her daughter should be condition of 22-year-old Dakeysha Lee's bond.

But Davis ruled Wednesday there wasn't sufficient reason to order no contact.

Dakeysha Lee has pleaded innocent to third-degree felony charges of child abuse and neglect. If convicted, her sentence could range from probation to five years in jail on each charge.

ORLANDO - A Palestinian-American businessman accused of breaking immigration laws has been indicted on new charges that he and two others skimmed $4.4-million in cash and failed to pay $2.7-million in personal income and corporate taxes.

The federal indictment of Jesse Maali, his partner and their accountant Wednesday came a year after the businessmen were arrested on charges of illegally employing foreigners and laundering money to pay them.

Maali and M. Saleem Khanani own a string of clothing shops in Orlando's International Drive tourist district.

The two men, plus accountant David Portlock, were back in court Thursday asking a judge to throw out seized evidence. The hearing was to continue today.

Carolyn Adams, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Orlando, said new charges of wire fraud and tax evasion are an extension of the previous indictment.

Maali, Khanani and Portlock have all pleaded innocent and are scheduled for trial next year.

FORT LAUDERDALE - Six-term U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, 67, the liberal Democrat and major player in the Congressional Black Caucus, said Thursday he won't seek the Senate seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Bob Graham.