Key West’s ‘Scrub Club’ reportedly scrubbing debit cards of adult-entertainment clients

Key West has a long-held reputation as an anything-goes party town that tolerates -- and in many cases facilitates -- an array of bawdy pastimes.A stroll down Duval Street yields strip clubs, clothing-optional bars and establishments catering to alternative lifestyles. But the Adult Entertainment Club, formerly and colloquially known as the Scrub Club, at 1221 Duval is different.In...

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Will Ferrell Works Security at Lakers Game

Fret not -- Will Ferrell has no plans to give up his acting career, but the man known for odd courtside stunts did slip into one of The Staples Center's iconic red coats last night to play a security guard. VIDEO FLASHBACK - Will Ferrell Talks Elf in 2003Stone-faced and rocking a scandalous name tag ("Ted Vagina"), the comedian had the crowd in stitches without saying a word.He leapt to life at one...

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US retail sales up just 0.1 percent last month after higher taxes cut consumer paychecks

WASHINGTON — Americans barely spent more last month at retail businesses and restaurants after higher taxes cut their paychecks. The small increase suggests consumer spending may be weak in the January-March quarter.The Commerce Department says retail sales ticked up 0.1 percent last month after a 0.5 percent rise in December. January's increase was the...

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Marriott skyscraper coming to old Miami Arena site?

Is a massive new skyscraper coming to the site of the old Miami Arena?Two of the city’s top real estate blogs caused a stir Tuesday when they shared an architect’s video rendering of a huge tower called the Marriott at MWC. The video posted on YouTube by Nichols Brosch’s Igor Reyes was a computer-generated aerial shot of a potential mixed-use complex superimposed on the site....

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Woman to be sentenced in Rilya Wilson foster child abuse case

To be sentenced Tuesday: the Kendall woman convicted of abusing and kidnapping missing foster child Rilya Wilson over a decade ago.Geralyn Graham, 67, was convicted by jury last month in a case that roiled Florida’s child welfare agency, which was supposed to monitor the child. The body of Rilya, who was 4 years old when she vanished, has never been found.Miami-Dade Circuit...

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Jillian Michaels Talks Dieting Myths, Return to 'Biggest Loser,' Motherhood

Having been immersed in fitness and exercise world for over twenty years, Jillian Michaels has heard it all when it comes to dieting. With the array of conflicting information out there, the Biggest Loser trainer discredits some of the most common myths about dieting."I hear so many thing out there that are just ridiculous: 'I eat small meals,' 'I fast two times a month,' or 'I've cut out carbs,'"...

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Dallas chocolatier pumps out chocolate high heels for V-day

APChocolate high heals made by master chocolatier Andrea Pedraza are lined up at her shop in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas.DALLAS — Florists and chocolate-makers are working around the clock in the run-up to Valentine's Day.In Dallas, chocolatier Andrea Pedraza, who loves designer high heels, molded her pedestrian passion into chocolate form. Her most...

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U.S. Century to OK details of new deal

U.S. Century Bank is expected to sign off on Monday on its letter of intent — the framework for a plan to recapitalize the bank.Under the deal, a local group of investors, led by Jimmy Tate of Tate Capital and Sergio Rok of Rok Enterprises, will bring in fresh capital and wipe out the Doral bank’s bad loans, while allowing it to operate independently.The investor group is...

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With millions at stake, tutoring lobby goes into action

Second of two partsEvery year for nearly a decade, private tutoring companies have made millions in Florida because the federal government required school districts to hire them.That was in danger of changing last February, when the state won freedom from mandated private instruction for poor children in the state's worst schools. But the tutoring industry...

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Stars React to Pope Benedict's Resignation

The Vatican announced this morning that Pope Benedict XVI will resign later this month due his advanced age.Elected in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II at age 84, Benedict said from the onset of his papacy that he anticipated a short reign as the 265th leader of the Catholic Church. PICS: Star Sightings Now at age 85 and with a series of health issues, including mild strokes, over the years,...

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