Nicole Huggins suffered 18 puncture wounds to her arms and legs when the dog leaped a fence and attacked her Monday as she lay on a trampoline during a game of hide-and-seek with friends, Port St. Lucie police spokesman Chuck Johnson said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Nicole's father, Jack Huggins, ran out with a kitchen knife after Nicole's sister ran inside to get help. Huggins pulled the dog off Nicole and stabbed it three times, Johnson said. As the dog continued biting the girl, Huggins struck it with a baseball bat and killed it, Johnson said.

During the attack, a second pit bull from the same yard scaled the fence and jumped on a car, damaging the hood, Johnson said.

Animal control officials removed the other dog, and Johnson said two more pit bulls kept by the neighbors would likely also be taken into custody.

Homestead mayor named new Miami-Dade manager

MIAMI -- Steve Shiver, the Republican two-term mayor of Homestead with a strong business background, was named Tuesday as the new Miami-Dade county manager by Democratic Mayor Alex Penelas.

Shiver, 34, will replace Merrett Stierheim, 67, who plans to retire in March.

Shiver's selection must be approved by the County Commission, and one commissioner questioned Penelas' choice.

"I like Mayor Shiver, I respect him, but I just don't think he should be our next county manager," Commissioner Dennis Moss said. He said he doubted that Shiver has enough experience to run a government with a $4.5-billion budget and 28,000 employees.

Homestead, a city 35 miles south of Miami with 27,000 residents, has a $75-million budget and about 350 employees. Shiver is a real estate broker and general contractor and holds finance and urban analysis degrees from Appalachian State University in North Carolina.

Police arrest husband of 'Daughter of God'

FORT MYERS -- A man whose wife convinced others she was the daughter of God is facing trespassing charges after officers accused him of disrupting the city's Martin Luther King Day celebration.

Phillip Bradshaw, 39, was arrested Monday after a city councilwoman said he was preaching and yelling for people to sign a petition. Police asked Bradshaw to leave, but he returned, they say.

He was released on $500 bail Monday night.

Bradshaw is the husband of Richell Denise Bradshaw, the self-proclaimed "Daughter of God" who was convicted last year of ordering some of her followers to rob convenience stores to support their lavish lifestyle.

Richell Bradshaw, who calls herself Queen Shahmia, was sentenced in August to 25 years for armed robbery. Philip Bradshaw was not charged in the incidents.

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