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Today's Top Stories

News Alerts:

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Beaches, pensions targeted

This week’s closure of Venice Beach due to high levels of bacteria in the Gulf helped elevate the importance of the issue for city officials considering a strategic plan this week. Venice City Council members spent Friday in a workshop revising the plan. They’ll prioritize a list of issues that … Find out how to read more Online.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

Woodley announces retirement
Sat Jan 21 2012 08:08AM

Outgoing Acting City Manager Nancy Woodley didn’t waste any time this week clearing out her desk to make room for the next city manager. On Tuesday she announced her retirement. … Find out how to read more Online.

Coach Terry passes away
Sat Jan 28 2012 08:10AM

For Terry Tritschler, it was always all about the kids. Without a kid or grandchild involved, the 65-year-old Tritschler worked tirelessly for the last 33 years out of dedication to … Find out how to read more Online.

Water advisory in effect at Venice Beach
Sat Jan 28 2012 07:18AM

A beach water advisory has been issued for Venice Beach, at the west end of Venice Avenue, one mile west of U.S. 41 Business. Sarasota County Health Department officials received testing … Find out how to read more Online.

City manager contract approved
Sat Jan 28 2012 09:52AM

The city of Venice officially has a new city manager. Edward F. Lavallee, retired Newport, R.I., city manager and longtime police administrator, led city council in the Pledge of Allegiance … Find out how to read more Online.

State, National and World News

Utah police probe school bombing plot
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:14PM

ROY, Utah — The two teens had a detailed plot, blueprints of the school and security systems, but no explosives. They had hours of flight simulator training on a home computer and a plan to flee the country, but no … Find out how to read more Online.

Poll: Romney in Fla. lead
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:12PM

TALLAHASSEE — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has increased his lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich among likely Republican voters going into Florida’s presidential preference primary on Tuesday, a new poll shows. Romney was favored by 38 percent compared … Find out how to read more Online.

Economy unhealthy, healing
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:12PM

WASHINGTON — The American economy may not be truly healthy yet, but it’s healing. The 2.8 percent annual growth rate reported Friday for the fourth quarter was the fastest since spring 2010 and was the third straight quarter that growth … Find out how to read more Online.

Twitter’s censorship plan rouses furor
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:12PM

NEW YORK — Twitter, a tool of choice for dissidents and activists around the world, found itself the target of global outrage Friday after unveiling plans to allow country-specific censorship of tweets that might break local laws. It was a … Find out how to read more Online.

Dow slips to first losing week of 2012
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:12PM

NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market closed mostly lower Friday, sending the Dow Jones industrial average to its first losing week of 2012, after the government reported that economic growth was slower at the end of last year than … Find out how to read more Online.

Grandmother’s remains found inside storage unit
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:12PM

CLEARWATER — The manager of U-Stor Self Storage heard a bizarre tale when he notified a woman that the items stored in Unit B8 would be auctioned because she’d fallen behind on rent. Manager Kevin McKeon says the woman told … Find out how to read more Online.

Prison nurses sue over planned outsourcing
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:10PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — The union representing Florida’s prison nurses is suing the state over the planned outsourcing of inmate health care. The Florida Nurses Association filed its suit against the Department of Corrections in Tallahassee earlier this week. It represents … Find out how to read more Online.

Candidate roots don’t much matter in diverse Fla.
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:08PM

WEST PALM BEACH (AP) — Mitt Romney’s ties to the Northeast gave him a boost on the way to winning the New Hampshire primary. Newt Gingrich’s roots in the South probably had at least a little to do with his … Find out how to read more Online.

Cruise ship victims mull $14,460 compensation deal
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:06PM

ROME (AP) — How much is it worth to suffer through a terrifying cruise ship grounding? Italian ship operator Costa Crociere SpA on Friday put the figure at (euro) 11,000 ($14,460) plus reimbursement for the cost of cruise tickets and … Find out how to read more Online.

Bullied student gets $100,000 settlement
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:06PM

SEATTLE (Seattle Times) — As people grow older and look back at years spent in high school, they can often find pleasant memories lurking there — of lifelong friends they made, or of fun times they had. When Russell Dickerson … Find out how to read more Online.

Barefoot Bandit gets 6½ years federal sentence
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:06PM

SEATTLE (Seattle Times) — The exploits of Colton Harris-Moore, the gangly “Barefoot Bandit” who as a wily thief and self-taught pilot managed to elude police with aplomb from Washington to the Bahamas for two years, ended Friday in a federal … Find out how to read more Online.

Man finds $8,000 cash, returns it to owners
Fri Jan 27 2012 10:06PM

TAMPA(AP) — A Tampa man is being called a Good Samaritan after he found a briefcase full of cash and returned it to its owner. Frank Colla spotted the black briefcase lying in the road. Inside, he found papers, a … Find out how to read more Online.

Grandmother’s remains found inside storage unit
Fri Jan 27 2012 09:38AM

CLEARWATER (AP) — The manager of U-Stor Self Storage heard a bizarre tale when he notified a woman that the items stored in Unit B8 would be auctioned because she’d fallen behind on rent. Manager Kevin McKeon says the woman … Find out how to read more Online.

Tired and broke, Santorum heads home to do taxes
Fri Jan 27 2012 09:38AM

PUNTA GORDA (AP) — Rick Santorum is tired, almost broke — and going home. The former Pennsylvania senator is taking a pause from Florida campaigning just days before the Tuesday primary that even he expects to deal him a third … Find out how to read more Online.

Economy grew modest 2.8 pct. in Q4, best in 2011
Fri Jan 27 2012 09:38AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011. Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies restocked their shelves at the … Find out how to read more Online.

Women, children killed in violence-torn Syria city
Fri Jan 27 2012 09:38AM

BEIRUT (AP) — Fresh violence erupted Friday in the besieged Syrian city of Homs, a day after armed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad barraged residential buildings with mortars and machine-gun fire, killing at least 30 people including a family … Find out how to read more Online.

Thu Jan 26 2012 10:14PM

JACKSONVILLE — Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich sparred over illegal immigration here Thursday night, with the former Massachusetts governor saying it was “repulsive” for the former House speaker to have characterized him as “the most anti-immigrant” candidate in the GOP … Find out how to read more Online.

Iran is ready to return to nuclear talks
Thu Jan 26 2012 10:14PM

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran is ready to revive talks with the U.S. and other world powers, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday, but suggested that Tehran’s foes will have to make compromises to prevent negotiations from again collapsing in stalemate. Iran’s … Find out how to read more Online.

User-friendly health plan summaries at risk
Thu Jan 26 2012 10:14PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the most popular provisions of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul — consumer-friendly summaries of what your insurance plan covers — suddenly seems to be at risk. Consumer groups say it’s not Republican opposition they’re … Find out how to read more Online.

Why is investment income taxed less than wages?
Thu Jan 26 2012 07:36PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Why do Mitt Romney and other wealthy investors pay lower taxes on the income they make from investments than they would if they earned their millions from wages? Because the tax code, has long treated investment more … Find out how to read more Online.

Prison privatization headed to senate floor
Thu Jan 26 2012 10:14PM

TALLAHASSEE — A legislative proposal to privatize about 30 prisons in most of the southern part of the state is headed for the Senate floor after a vote in the Budget Committee that angered prison guards who feel they’re not … Find out how to read more Online.

Study: 7 percent of US adults, teens carry HPV in mouths
Thu Jan 26 2012 10:14PM

LOS ANGELES — An estimated 7 percent of American teens and adults carry the human papilloma virus in their mouths, an infection that puts them at heightened risk of developing cancer of the mouth and throat, researchers said Thursday. Their … Find out how to read more Online.

Taxpayers still owed $133B
Thu Jan 26 2012 10:14PM

WASHINGTON — Companies that were bailed out during the financial crisis still owe U.S. taxpayers nearly $133 billion. Treasury’s plans to recoup that money have been slowed by the volatile stock market and weakness among smaller banks. Some of the … Find out how to read more Online.

Workforce board bill gives Scott firing authority
Thu Jan 26 2012 09:25PM

TALLAHASSEE (News Service of Florida) — A bill giving Gov. Rick Scott and future governors more control over regional workforce boards passed its first Senate stop on Thursday in response to a series of embarrassing incidents regarding mismanagement at the … Find out how to read more Online.

Panetta: US ground forces would be cut by 100,000
Thu Jan 26 2012 05:56PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon leaders outlined a plan Thursday for absorbing $487 billion in defense cuts over the coming decade by shrinking U.S. ground forces, slowing the purchase of a next-generation stealth fighter and retiring older planes and ships. In … Find out how to read more Online.

Gold Advances to Seven-Week High on Fed Statement
Thu Jan 26 2012 07:36PM

(Bloomberg) — Gold futures rose to a seven-week high Thursday as the Federal Reserve’s pledge to keep U.S. borrowing costs low drove the dollar down, boosting demand for precious metals as alternative assets. Silver jumped to a two-month high. The … Find out how to read more Online.

Dow opens near post-crisis peak but ends lower
Thu Jan 26 2012 07:36PM

(AP) — A brief morning rally Thursday pushed the Dow Jones industrial average above its highest close since the financial crisis of 2008, but disappointing economic data tempered traders’ optimism later in the day, and stocks finished lower. Solid news … Find out how to read more Online.

No backing for the word ‘fracking’
Thu Jan 26 2012 05:54PM

NEW YORK (AP) — A different kind of F-word is stirring a linguistic and political debate as controversial as what it defines. The word is “fracking” — as in hydraulic fracturing, a technique long used by the oil and gas … Find out how to read more Online.

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More Local News

Term-limits case sent to high court
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

The state Supreme Court is a step closer to deciding whether term limits are constitutional for Sarasota County commissioners. The Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland on Tuesday handed to the high court the case filed by 16 county … Find out how to read more Online.

New utility rates set
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

Look for Venice water/sewer utility rates to increase 6 percent overall in 2012 and 3 percent annually for the next four years. That was the recommendation of a stakeholder group and utilities rate consultant that was adopted unanimously by Venice City Council … Find out how to read more Online.

VHS baseball team fined, sanctioned for rules violations
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

After more than nine months of investigation, the Florida High School Athletic Association levied fines totally more than $10,000 on the Venice High baseball program for violations dating as far back as 2008. According to the FHSAA, Venice received a … Find out how to read more Online.

Key bypass vote Monday
Sat Jan 21 2012 08:08AM

Monday is a day of reckoning for the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. That’s when the MPO will finally decide whether to widen a section of the U.S. 41 Venice Bypass ending at Center Road from four to six lanes, or … Find out how to read more Online.

Former cop to be next city manager
Wed Jan 18 2012 05:52AM

Retired Newport, R.I., city manager and former police administrator Edward F. Lavallee has been selected to be the next Venice city manager. City council voted unanimously at a special meeting on Saturday to offer Lavallee a contract. Council members joked … Find out how to read more Online.

Rise in school millage likely
Sat Jan 21 2012 08:08AM

During a Tuesday workshop session at North Port City Hall, Sarasota County School Board members learned that the millage rate for 2012-13 is expected to increase by 0.271 mill — meaning higher taxes for some homeowners. The news was part … Find out how to read more Online.

Circus project has another setback
Sat Jan 21 2012 08:08AM

The Venice Economic Development Advisory Board has withdrawn its support to rebuild Circus Arena, saying it would compete with the planned performing arts center at Venice High. Over the past few years the board was generally supportive of rebuilding the … Find out how to read more Online.

Venice pics former cop as next city manager
Tue Jan 17 2012 05:08PM

Retired Newport, Rhode Island city manager and former police administrator Edward F. Lavallee has been selected to be the next Venice city manager. City council voted unanimously at a special meeting on Saturday to offer Lavallee a contract. Council members … Find out how to read more Online.

P-cards get second look
Wed Jan 18 2012 05:52AM

The city of Venice is revving up to take a second look at its purchasing card program. An audit of the “P-card” will likely be on city council’s agenda at its next meeting. Former Mayor Isaac Turner resigned in 2010 … Find out how to read more Online.

Opinions vary on Ripken Baseball’s allegiance to county
Wed Jan 18 2012 05:52AM

One reason for the euphoria county officials and baseball fans felt in July 2009, when commissioners and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a $31.2 million deal to bring the Orioles to Ed Smith Stadium, was the notion that Ripken Baseball would establish … Find out how to read more Online.

Projects worry Oscar Scherer manager
Wed Jan 18 2012 05:52AM

The manager of Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey is troubled by three proposed projects: the Energy Economic Zone near the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Road 681; the Town Center, also near I-75/S.R. 681; and the relocation of … Find out how to read more Online.

Manager candidates interviewed
Sat Jan 14 2012 08:01AM

Today’s interviews with finalists for the position of Venice city manager will include a latecomer. Earlier this week council added Acting City Manager Nancy Woodley to the mix. Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday to allow Woodley to interview, even though … Find out how to read more Online.

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