The settlement of a racial discrimination lawsuit lodged by police officer Rickey Davis against the city of Springfield could hinge on a recent Illinois Times article, The State Journal-Register reports. Under the settlement, which awaits city approval, Davis would continue to receive his full salary until he retires on Aug. 1, 2007. But a city alderman is holding it up, citing a Times article on a leaked Illinois State Police report alleging that Davis and other officers violated unspecified departmental procedures.

Continue ReadingIllinois Times Scoop Weighs on Discrimination Settlement

Rep. Mark Foley (pictured) announced Friday that he is stepping down from Congress after sexually explicit e-mails he sent to a 16-year-old male page were made public. Editor & Publisher notes that in May 2003, Foley "took the unusual step of calling a news conference to denounce a report in [New Times Broward-Palm Beach] that he is gay." The author of that 2003 article, New Times Staff Writer Bob Norman, has followed this week's controversy on his blog The Daily Pulp, and he argues that the newspapers that haven't mentioned Foley's 2003 news conference are "cheating their readers out of important context."

Continue ReadingDisgraced Fla. Pol Had 2003 Run-in With New Times BPB

In the Sept. 28 issue of Miami New Times, Chuck Strouse reports on the current activities of Jim DeFede, a former columnist at the paper: He now has a daily radio show during morning rush hour, makes regular appearances on a local news program, and writes a column for LRM magazine. DeFede, who famously was fired from the Miami Herald in 2005 for recording a conversation with former city official Art Teele, says he may not "want to be waking up at 4:00 a.m. in ten years," but he is happy to have three jobs for now. "That way I can be fired from one and still be covered," he says.

Continue ReadingA Year After Art Teele’s Suicide, Jim DeFede Is Thriving

Thursday's issue of New Times Broward-Palm Beach contains an exclusive story about millionaire Bruce McMahan's sexual relationship with his adult daughter, which culminated in a secret wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2004. Their split eventually spawned five lawsuits in five different states. In addition to an investigative report by staff writer Kelly Cramer, the paper's Web site BrowardPalmBeach.com features court documents -- which were sealed after the newspaper obtained them -- and video of the daughter's deposition.

Continue ReadingNew Times Broward-Palm Beach’s Exclusive Incest Scoop