Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
PROSECUTION CASE BEGINS IN UBS TAX EVASION TRIAL
The prosecution’s $20 billion tax fraud conspiracy case against one of Swiss Bank UBS AG’s top former executives is beginning to unfold in a South Florida courtroom. The first prosecution witness is expected to take the stand Wednesday in the trial of Raoul Weil. He is accused of helping thousands of wealthy Americans dodge the Internal Revenue Service by concealing assets in secret Swiss bank accounts.
SCOTT AND CRIST SET TO CLASH IN 2ND DEBATE
Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist are squaring off again in the second of three debates. The debate, which starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, will be held on the campus of Broward College. The debate will be televised live statewide in all of Florida’s media markets. The debate could play a key role in a race that right now is too close to call.
CORNELL, NYU PROVOSTS VIE FOR UF PRESIDENCY
As the University of Florida works toward its goal of becoming a Top 10 public university, it will choose between the provosts of two elite northeastern universities for its next president. The school is expected on Wednesday to name either Cornell University Provost W. Kent Fuchs or New York University Provost David McLaughlin as its 12th president.
JURY SELECTION UNDERWAY IN TRIPLE SLAYING CASE
Jury selection has begun in Hillsborough County Court in the triple-murder trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend and her two children and mutilating their bodies. Edward Covington was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 2008 deaths. He’s accused of killing his 26-year-old girlfriend and her 7-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.
FISHERMEN ANTICIPATE GOOD STONE CRAB CLAW SEASON
Florida’s stone crab claw harvesting season has opened, and commercial fishermen in the Keys anticipate high demand and likely higher prices than the beginning of last season. Gary Graves is vice president of Keys Fisheries, one of the state’s largest processors of the tasty claws. He projected season-opening, per-pound state retail prices should exceed $13 for medium, $20 for large and $25 for jumbo.