Experts: Two-thirds of mentally ill in Florida go untreated | www.palmbeachpost.com – Florida is second-to-last in funding for mental health. Lawmakers in the state have proposed increasing funding and awareness for mental health, including an expansion of Medicaid and involving schools in identifying mental issues in children. The Palm Beach Post

Cops: NY Man Faked Own Kidnapping to Extort Ransom | Abcnews.go.com – A 31-year-old man in upstate New York faked his own kidnapping to extort ransom from his girlfriend, authorities said. Mark Rodriguez left for work in his girlfriend’s car on Jan. 14, and later the woman received a telephone call from a stranger saying her boyfriend had been kidnapped and she needed to hand over $2,000 or he would be killed. Rodriguez was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted grand larceny.  ABC News

Glut of new projects worries local real estate professionals | Gainesville.com – Professionals met Thursday night in Gainesville to discuss the condition of the real estate market of the city. Prices have not gone up yet for residential and commercial real estate, leading to worry about the success of future developments. The Gainesville Sun

Witnesses: Suspects prayed to ‘alligator god’ to destroy evidence | Sun-sentinel.com – Witnesses told jurors Thursday that two suspects in the murder of Lorraine Hatzakorzian, 41, prayed to “the alligator god” that Hatzakorian’s head would be devoured by a reptile in the Everglades. The suspects, witnesses said, each confessed to murdering Hatzakorzian, dismembering her and throwing her head into an Everglades canal. Sun Sentinel

Gay Marriage Bill Approved in Rhode Island House Vote | Nytimes.com – The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage on Thursday. The bill, which would allow anyone to marry “any eligible person regardless of gender,” passed 51 to 19 after about an hour and a half of debate. The measure will now be debated in the State Senate. New York Times