A bailiff fingerprints Monique Acevedo after Judge Mark Jones handed down an eight-year prison term Tuesday.

Former Monroe County School District administrator Monique Acevedo pleaded guilty Tuesday to six felony charges of stealing more than $400,000 from the district when she worked there and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones ordered that be followed by 22 years of probation and payment of $413,012.43 in restitution.

Posted - Wednesday, September 01, 2010 06:00 AM EDT

As Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones told her before handing down a sentence of eight years in prison on Tuesday, Monique Acevedo's felony theft case aroused an "unprecedented" level of public attention.

Posted - Wednesday, September 01, 2010 05:55 AM EDT

Fishermen's Hospital's board and Quorum have signed their partnership deal. The Tennessee company comes in next July.

Fishermen's Hospital and Tennessee-based Quorum Health Resources are officially in business together.

Posted - Wednesday, September 01, 2010 05:50 AM EDT

University of Miami researchers tag a shark on the 'Seasquared.' They're studying the effects of stress on the fighters.

With all the tropical disturbances staying well to our east, we'll have a stellar Labor Day weekend for fishing both offshore and inshore.

Prior to the easterly winds roughing up the seas early this week, there was a slight bump in the dolphin fishing. I heard of some nice gaffers caught.

Posted - Wednesday, September 01, 2010 11:15 AM EDT

Maxwell Potter, son of Kevin Potter, a bartender at Ziggie and Mad Dog's in Islamorada, catches his first permit off the Channel 2 Bridge early in the morning on Aug. 19. Some guides are concerned extending spearfishing permit from federal to state waters.

A state proposal to allow spearfishing for legal-size permit could threaten the population of the popular sport fish, say members of a prominent anglers group.

"Basically, the state has zero information on how many fish are in the permit population," said Aaron Adams, director of operations for the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, based in Key Largo.

Posted - Wednesday, September 01, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

Capt. Rick Killgore of Tavernier and his client, Kemp Mosley of Mississippi, hold a 67-pound wahoo that Mosley caught on 30-pound line with a trolling rod.

FISH TALES | By Capt. Mike Makowski

Now that the kids are back in school, the local waters seem a little quieter than in recent months. We continue to see the typical crowds on the weekends but now the weekdays belong to the locals.

Posted - Friday, August 27, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

What appear to be dense bubbles are actually the coral spawn at the Keys reef. Divers say seeing the spawn is among the best reef views they get.

Sparked by the August and September full moons, a rare and wondrous underwater exchange of reproductive cells at the Keys reef heralds the continued survival of coral reefs and creates a fascinating experience for divers.

Posted - Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

Reporter columnist Erin Magee races though an obstacle course while riding an underwater scooter during a competition in Grand Cayman.

BENEATH THE SURFACE | By Erin Magee

For many of us, diving is a life passion. Once you get the bug you absolutely need to be underwater for a certain amount of time each month or you just don’t feel right. But sometimes the same dives over and over just aren’t enough and you have to mix it up. The normal excitement just isn’t doing it for you and you need to throw in a twist. Well, for many folks, that’s where scooters come into play!

Posted - Friday, August 20, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

The 'Eagle' is just one Keys wreck that's home to all kinds of marine life.

Eleven Florida divers recently became the first Wreck Trekker dive enthusiasts to complete nine wreck dives as part of the Florida Keys Wreck Trek Passport Program.

Posted - Wednesday, August 11, 2010 08:52 AM EDT

An aerial view of the area around the old railroad depot in Tavernier show destruction from the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.

On Labor Day 75 years ago, a monster rose up out of the sea.

Posted - Friday, August 27, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

We've compiled some suggestions of things to do in the Keys. Send your additions to kquist@keynoter.com.

Posted - Monday, July 26, 2010 12:47 PM EDT

One of Key West’s oldest attractions is crawling back from the brink of extinction. The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden welcomes visitors where once there were none and, before that, throngs.

Posted - Friday, January 15, 2010 12:31 PM EST