Despite concerns by civil rights advocates, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a mere sniff from a police dog is enough to constitute probable cause for a warrantless search, even if that dogs certification is expired and there is no documentation proving the dog has an accurate track record.

Florida's Catholic and evangelical social conservatives expect the GOP-heavy Florida Legislature to sympathize with their moral concerns as the 2013 session gears up, but they're not taking anything for granted as they prepare to lobby legislators on issues dear to them.

For the third year in a row, a bill has been introduced into the Legislature that, if passed, would alter Floridas nearly century-old standards for admitting expert testimony in civil and criminal trials. The measure has sharply divided the legal community.

The Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee approved PCB CJS 13-02 ("Expert Testimony") along a 9-4 party-line vote Wednesday evening. The bill is the brainchild of subcommittee chairman Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, who is himself an attorney.

About 28 percent of hotel bookings are made through online travel agencies like Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Priceline.com, by lodgers looking to snag a deal. But if 17 counties have their way, Floridas travelers might soon be paying higher taxes on those rentals.