Petal to metal: Rose inspections didn't stop during shutdown

MIAMI — Throughout the five-week government shutdown, one essential government service continued at Miami International Airport: checking for exotic bugs in bunches of roses destined for Valentine's Day bouquets.U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture inspectors kept up their round-the-clock inspections without pay just as the pre-holiday rush of flower imports started to peak.About 90 percent of cut flowers imported into the U.S. every year come through the Miami airport. Border Pr