Parkland suspect allowed to skip hearings ahead of trial

Parkland school shooting defendant Nikolas Cruz will be allowed to skip many future court hearings as his planned trial draws closer in the 2018 massacre that left 17 people dead, a judge ruled Wednesday.Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer granted the hearing waiver request by lawyers for Cruz, who faces the death penalty if convicted.In his most lengthy comments in court to date, Cruz told the judge he agrees with the decision.