Florida

Judge orders hospital rating group to remove grades of these hospitals

Published

2 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Judge orders hospital rating group to remove grades of these hospitals

An independent hospital rating organization has taken down grades of a South Florida health system after a judge ruled the group unfairly scored hospitals in semiannual patient safety reports.

The U.S. District Court judge’s order came after Palm Beach Health Network sued Leapfrog Group, claiming the patient safety organization targeted hospitals that refused to participate in Leapfrog’s twice-a-year report cards.

U.S. District Court Judge Donald Middlebrooks agreed with the hospitals, ruling that Leapfrog’s change in how it scored some hospitals had “no scientific basis, unfairly penalizes non-participating hospitals and misrepresents hospital safety.”

Leapfrog Group complied with a judge’s order to remove scores of the five hospitals by March 13. Those hospitals are Good Samaritan Medical Center, Delray Medical Center, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center.

Leapfrog is one of several sources for patients to check safety scores of their local hospitals. U.S. News & World Report lists ratings and other information on hospitals and doctors. Other consumer sites such as Healthgrades and Yelp collect feedback from patients.

Lisa McGiffert, a patient safety advocate and past director of Consumers Union Safe Patient Project, worried about how the ruling might affect other patient rating groups.

“It could have a chilling effect on any number of entities that are trying to do some kind of rating,” McGiffert said.

Hospitals cite damage from poor ratings

The five Palm Beach Health Network hospitals applauded the judge’s March 6 decision, which followed a trial earlier this year.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Delray Medical Center CEO Heather Havericak said Leapfrog’s grades harmed her hospital’s reputation as well as the other Palm Beach hospitals. The five Palm Beach hospitals are owned by Tenet Healthcare.

“Those grades have been very damaging to our hospital and our Palm Beach Health Network,” said Havericak.

Leah Binder, CEO of Leapfrog Group, said the judge’s order was “outrageous” and one her organization plans to appeal.

“This is just terrible for consumers,” Binder said. “Consumers deserve to know what we know, based on expert opinion, about the safety of the hospitals they entrust their lives to.”

What did the hospitals contest?

Leapfrog assigns letter grades to hospitals in the spring and fall each year after evaluating 22 categories of public and private data. The public data is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The private safety and quality data is collected via voluntary surveys sent to hospitals.

The lawsuit focused on Leapfrog’s 2024 change in evaluating missing survey data from four safety and quality measures.

In the Spring 2024 survey, Leapfrog used averages from similar hospitals when calculating scores for hospitals that didn’t provide survey data. By Fall 2024, Leapfrog changed such scores to “limited achievement,” which effectively depressed overall scores of hospitals that didn’t complete the surveys, according to the judge’s order.

The five Palm Beach hospitals stopped participating in the Leapfrog survey during the COVID-19 pandemic to allocate limited resources elsewhere.

Following the Fall 2024 change in how Leapfrog scored missing categories of survey data, the five Palm Beach hospitals all received lower grades of Ds and Fs. Delray’s grade dropped from a D to an F following the scoring change.

During the trial, Havericak testified that walk-in visitors to her hospital’s emergency room dropped 7% to 8% since 2024. During the same period, patients transported via emergency medical crews increased.

“When we have these misleading rates for data that we didn’t even submit, confidence is going to be shaken for our community,” Havericak said. “We saw various patients that wanted to seek treatment at other places as a result of seeing these misleading safety grades.”

Binder said Leapfrog won’t grade roughly 300 non-participating hospitals when it releases its Spring 2026 report card. Those hospitals − including the five Palm Beach hospitals − will be scored using a new methodology by Fall 2026 Binder said.

What does this mean for consumers?

McGiffert, the patient safety advocate, urged consumers to check multiple sources when evaluating a hospital or other health system.

CMS, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid, offers a searchable database with detailed quality scores for more than 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals. CMS assigns an “overall rating” to a hospital of up to five stars.

West Boca Medical Center received an overall rating of two stars on CMS’s five-star scale. CMS graded the other four Palm Beach hospitals each at one star overall. A Palm Beach Hospital Network spokesman declined to discuss the CMS ratings.

Unlike Leapfrog, CMS doesn’t widely promote its scores, so the public might not even be aware of the information, McGiffert said.

McGiffert said consumers who can choose which hospital or health facility to visit should do their homework and not rely on any single rating. She said people should talk to other patients, search for lawsuits or talk to their medical provider about things like nurse staffing levels and infection control.

“When it comes to health care, people are still pretty trusting,” McGiffert said. “You just really need to do your homework. If somebody says, ‘We’re an A rated hospital.’ What exactly does that mean?”

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Florida

Kentucky Basketball falls to Florida in SEC Tournament: 4 things to know and postgame banter

Published

14 hours ago

March 13, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Basketball falls to Florida in SEC Tournament: 4 things to know and postgame banter

No. 1 Florida continued its dominance over No. 9 Kentucky Basketball, defeating the Wildcats in the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.

Kentucky, hoping to avoid a third straight loss to Florida and head coach Todd Golden, came up short in a matchup that highlighted how hard it is to play three games in three days. Fatigue appeared to be a factor for the Wildcats, who trailed early and struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm.

Kentucky briefly rallied in the first half, tying the game at 20-20, but Florida responded with a dominant stretch, pushing ahead and building a lead Kentucky could not overcome. The Wildcats went through a six-minute scoring drought in the first half, falling behind 37-28.

The Gators maintained control for much of the second half and won 71-63. With the win, Florida advances to the SEC Tournament semifinals, leaving Kentucky to regroup going into the NCAA Tournament.

This pattern mirrors last season, when Kentucky dropped two regular-season games to Alabama before falling to the Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Friday’s defeat marks the third consecutive loss to Florida, following wins by the Gators both at Rupp Arena and in Gainesville.

Kentucky now turns its attention to Selection Sunday, waiting to learn its seed, opponent, and regional placement for the NCAA Tournament. While the SEC Tournament exit is disappointing, the Wildcats will look to regroup and refocus as the postseason begins.

4 things to know from Kentucky vs. Florida

1. Scoring droughts continue to be an issue

Scoring droughts have been an ongoing issue for Kentucky this season, and the Wildcats ran into the same problem against Florida in the SEC Tournament. Kentucky tied the game at 20-20 with 9:40 left in the first half, but the Gators responded with a decisive 13-0 run, taking control at 33-20 before Kentucky managed another field goal at the 3:39 mark. That six-minute stretch without a basket proved too much to overcome, and Florida held on to advance in the tournament.

Kentucky’s offensive struggles have been evident all season, from games against Louisville, Michigan State, and North Carolina to Missouri and beyond. The Wildcats have often had to rely on their defense to make up for extended scoring droughts, but that formula has failed to consistently hold opponents in check. Friday’s matchup highlighted the ongoing challenge under coach Mark Pope, as Kentucky could not sustain offensive momentum and struggled to respond to Florida’s bursts of scoring.

Despite flashes of a great offense at times, it often stalls, with little player or ball movement, something Pope’s Zoom Action offense is known for, but he hasn’t been able to fully run it this year due to a lack of 3-point shooters on the team.

2. Kentucky never led against Florida in all three games

Kentucky never led in any of the three games this season. The Wildcats briefly tied the score on Friday with a 10-0 run that evened the game at 20-20, but they could never sustain momentum against the top-ranked Gators.

Kentucky had a chance to take the lead, but Florida responded immediately, maintaining control and keeping the Wildcats from establishing an offensive rhythm.

Despite Kentucky having competitiveness and energy at times, the Wildcats could not keep up with the Gators’ adjustments and depth.

For Kentucky, these games serve as a reminder of the challenges they face against elite competition. Tying the score is not enough if the team cannot capitalize on opportunities to seize control. As the Wildcats prepare for the NCAA Tournament, turning momentum into leads will be essential for a deep postseason run. Until then, Florida continues to hold the upper hand in this SEC rivalry.

3. Kentucky smashed on the boards

Kentucky’s struggles on the glass were on full display again. After being outrebounded by Missouri in Thursday’s game, Kentucky fell behind early on the boards against the Gators and never fully recovered.

In the first half, Florida dominated the glass, grabbing 25 rebounds to Kentucky’s 16. The Gators pulled down 17 defensive boards compared to Kentucky’s 13 and added eight offensive rebounds while the Wildcats managed just three. These extra possessions gave Florida second-chance opportunities and kept Kentucky on its heels, limiting the Wildcats’ ability to generate consistent offense.

While Kentucky lacks size and depth in the frontcourt, Florida boasts one of the nation’s top front courts. The Wildcats’ struggles on the boards underscore a recurring problem that has affected their performance throughout the season.

With the NCAA Tournament approaching, Kentucky will need to improve its presence on the glass if it hopes to make a deep run. Until then, opponents like Florida can continue to capitalize on the Wildcats’ rebounding gaps.

4. Wildcats’ 3-headed goat was shut down

Kentucky’s self-proclaimed “3-headed goat” failed to deliver, and it may have been a sign of fatigue catching up with the trio. Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, and Collin Chandler, who earned the nickname after a standout performance against Vanderbilt earlier this season, were largely ineffective in a game dominated by the Gators.

Oweh and Aberdeen were held to single-digit points for most of the game, struggling to find rhythm against Florida’s defensive pressure. Chandler did not get on the scoreboard until over halfway through the second half and eventually fouled out, leaving the Wildcats without their usual offensive spark. The absence of contributions from the “three-headed goat” made it difficult for Kentucky to sustain momentum, especially playing three games in three days in the SEC Tournament.

With the SEC exit behind them, Kentucky will need contributions from its guards, as the big men have struggled throughout the year finding their roles, going into the NCAA Tournament.

Now, let’s discuss what happened here today and what you think happens on Selection Sunday!

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Cubans living in South Florida to file lawsuit after finding themselves in a limbo with their immigration status

Published

1 day ago

March 13, 2026

Press Room

Cubans living in South Florida to file lawsuit after finding themselves in a limbo with their immigration status

A federal lawsuit expected to be filed next week in South Florida could reopen a path to U.S. residency for thousands of Cuban immigrants who entered the country legally but now find themselves without immigration status.

The legal action is being prepared against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and seeks relief for Cuban nationals who arrived in the United States under programs implemented during the Biden administration but whose immigration processes have stalled.

One of the people joining the lawsuit is 22-year-old Ana Gonzalez, a Cuban immigrant who told CBS News Miami she hopes the legal challenge will allow her to continue building a future in the United States.

“I would like to stay here and study,” Gonzalez said. “I cannot continue my studies unless I have my residency.”

Gonzalez said she was studying to become a nurse in Cuba and hopes to finish her education in the United States.

“I would like to contribute to the community,” she said. “I feel like this country is for people who like to work and want to grow.”

Miami immigration attorney Claudia Canizares, who has practiced immigration law in South Florida for more than 15 years, is preparing the lawsuit. She says thousands of Cuban migrants are now stuck in legal limbo.

“There is a need for people right now to get their status adjudicated,” Canizares said. “They’re right now in a limbo.”

As many as 100,000 Cubans could be affected

According to Canizares, as many as 100,000 Cubans could be affected.

The lawsuit focuses on Cubans who entered the United States legally through programs such as the Cuban humanitarian parole program, the CBP One entry process and family reunification initiatives. Under those programs, migrants were allowed to enter the country and later apply for permanent residency through the Cuban Adjustment Act.

However, Canizares says immigration processing stalled after policy changes under the Trump administration. In December, the administration issued a travel ban affecting more than 30 countries, including Cuba. According to the attorney, that action halted many pending immigration cases and led to the suspension of work permits for some migrants.

As a result, many Cubans who entered legally now fear they could be detained or deported.

“Immigration can pick them up, detain them and remove them from the country,” Canizares said.

For Gonzalez, joining the lawsuit represents a chance at stability.

“It’s hope,” she said. “Right now, we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Participating in the legal action is not free. Migrants must pay thousands of dollars in legal fees to be included in the lawsuit.

Friday, March 13, is the deadline for Cubans who qualify to join the case. According to the attorney, only migrants who entered the United States legally under the designated programs are eligible. Those who entered the country without authorization do not qualify.

If successful, the lawsuit could impact thousands of Cuban migrants across the United States who are waiting for their immigration status to be resolved.

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Florida man accused of stealing more than half a million dollars in potatoes and onions, DOJ says

Published

2 days ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

Florida man accused of stealing more than half a million dollars in potatoes and onions, DOJ says

Updated on: March 12, 2026 / 3:50 PM EDT
/ CBS Miami

A Florida man has been arrested and accused of carrying out a series of schemes that allegedly defrauded wholesale produce companies of more than $600,000, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Jason Canals, 39, of Spring Hill, faces eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Prosecutors also said the government intends to seek forfeiture of any proceeds tied to the alleged crimes.

The alleged schemes used to obtain onion and potato shipments

According to the indictment, Canals orchestrated multiple schemes to obtain produce shipments from wholesale companies without paying for them.

In one alleged scheme, Canals used a company’s name and email signature block without authorization to contact produce suppliers and request shipments. While the produce was en route, he allegedly diverted the deliveries to a different location and never paid the victim companies, investigators said.

In another scheme, Canals sent companies false documentation that appeared to show he had prepaid for produce shipments when no payment had actually been made, prosecutors said.

Federal authorities said the combined cost of the produce and transportation tied to the schemes resulted in losses exceeding $600,000 for the victim companies.

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