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Today's Top Stories

News Alerts:

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Local crime in decline

PUNTA GORDA — Residents in Charlotte County can sleep a little more soundly after a recent survey found the overall local crime rate dropped more than 13.4 percent from 2011 to 2012. The overall statewide decrease recorded during that time is less than half that, decreasing 6.5 percent from 2011, according to … Find out how to read more online.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

Gun up on Super Boat race
Mon May 20 2013 08:13PM

The date has been set for Charlotte County’s first Super Boat race. Charlotte Harbor Super Boat Grand Prix and Super Boat International signed a contract Saturday for a race to … Find out how to read more online.

Get your motor runnin’
Mon May 20 2013 08:13PM

PORT CHARLOTTE — Bill Miller has always wanted to ride on a motorcycle — a simple request that most of us could accomplish with ease. But with Miller, there was … Find out how to read more online.

Woman gets probation in church scam
Mon May 20 2013 08:13PM

PORT CHARLOTTE — A North Port woman accused of scamming church members by falsely claiming her sons were killed fighting overseas has been sentenced to three years’ probation. Shirley Ann … Find out how to read more online.

New leadership for Team Punta Gorda
Mon May 20 2013 07:12PM

Team Punta Gorda president Claire Phelen recently announced that the Team board of directors has selected Nancy Johnson as chief executive officer and Judy Brentano as chief operating officer. “We … Find out how to read more online.

State, National and World News

Oklahoma tornado tragedy
Mon May 20 2013 10:50PM

More Obama aides knew of IRS audit; Obama not told
Mon May 20 2013 10:50PM

WASHINGTON — White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior advisers knew in late April that an impending report was likely to say the IRS had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, President Barack Obama’s spokesman disclosed Monday, expanding the … read more.

Budget vetoes: $400M
Mon May 20 2013 10:50PM

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who had a tough time winning cooperation this past year from the Republican-led Legislature, struck back on Monday by vetoing nearly $400 million from the state’s new budget. Scott praised the overall budget — … read more.

Yahoo makes $1.1B deal for Tumblr
Mon May 20 2013 10:50PM

SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo is buying online blogging forum Tumblr for $1.1 billion as CEO Marissa Mayer tries to rejuvenate an Internet pioneer that had fallen behind the times. The deal announced Monday is Mayer’s boldest move since she left … read more.

Arias attorneys will have 1 witness: Arias
Mon May 20 2013 10:48PM

PHOENIX (AP) — Complaining that Jodi Arias’ sensational murder case has become a modern-day “witch trial,” her lawyers tried to quit in the middle of the death-penalty phase Monday, then said they will call only one witness: Arias. When Arias … read more.

Did you just win $590M? Get a good team in place
Mon May 20 2013 10:48PM

TALLAHASSEE, (AP) — So you have a lottery ticket worth $590.5 million. Now what? If you won Saturday’s historic Powerball jackpot and you haven’t already done so, sign the ticket. Now. Finished? Now call a lawyer — even before your … read more.

Hezbollah pulled into Syria civil war
Mon May 20 2013 10:48PM

BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah was pulled more deeply into Syria’s civil war as 28 guerrillas from the Lebanese Shiite militant group were killed and dozens more wounded while fighting rebels, Syria activists said Monday. The intense battle drove rebels from … read more.

Wave of Iraq attacks kills 86
Mon May 20 2013 10:48PM

BAGHDAD (AP) — A wave of attacks killed at least 86 people in Shiite and Sunni areas of Iraq on Monday, officials said, pushing the death toll over the past week to more than 230 and extending one of the … read more.

Small Fla. city wonders who won Powerball jackpot
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) — Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million — the highest Powerball jackpot in history. But it wasn’t … read more.

Honeybees trained in Croatia to find land mines
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Mirjana Filipovic is still haunted by the land mine blast that killed her boyfriend and blew off her left leg while on a fishing trip nearly a decade ago. It happened in a field that was … read more.

AP CEO calls records seizure unconstitutional
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The president and chief executive officer of The Associated Press on Sunday called the government’s secret seizure of two months of reporters’ phone records “unconstitutional” and said the news cooperative had not ruled out legal action against … read more.

Fla. Gov. will veto 3 percent college tuition hike
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has maintained steadfast opposition to raising the cost of college for students, will veto a proposed 3 percent tuition hike. The Republican-led Florida Legislature included the hike in a $74.5 billion … read more.

Slim, broadcasters take fight to soccer field
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexicans often feel that billionaire Carlos Slim owns everything in their country, from telephone and Internet companies to banks and chain stores, but his latest acquisitive foray is meeting resistance after touching a national passion: soccer. … read more.

Chinese premier heads to India to boost ties
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

NEW DELHI (AP) — Just weeks after a tense border standoff, China’s new premier headed to India on Sunday for his first foreign trip as the neighboring giants look to speed up efforts to settle a decades-old boundary dispute and … read more.

Pakistan repeats vote in Karachi despite killing
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan held a repeat election on Sunday in an upscale area of the southern city of Karachi that was plagued with allegations of vote-rigging, despite the shooting death of a senior member of former cricket star … read more.

Syrian army pushes assault on rebel-held town
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Syrian troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched an assault Sunday on a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, pounding the area with airstrikes and artillery salvos that killed at least 30 people and forced … read more.

Israeli seeks interim deal with Palestinians
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior coalition partner says that reaching a final peace agreement with the Palestinians is unrealistic at the current time and the sides should instead pursue an interim arrangement. Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s assessment, … read more.

Hofstra student killed by police during break-in
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — In what police are describing as a crime of opportunity, a wanted man with a criminal history dating nearly 15 years entered a front door that had been left open at a New York home near … read more.

Robber steals off-duty deputy’s purse, gun
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Authorities are searching for the man they say stole an off-duty deputy’s purse that held her badge and gun at a central Florida grocery store. Winter Haven Police say the Polk County Sheriff’s deputy was … read more.

Female bottlenose dolphin born at Fla. park
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Panhandle marine park has a new addition to its family — a baby bottlenose dolphin. And it’s a girl. Gulf World officials said the calf was born Thursday and is about three-feet long … read more.

Charter bus hits, killed victim at Fla. airport
Sun May 19 2013 08:22PM

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after a pedestrian was hit by a bus and killed at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. Broward Sheriff’s officials said 68-year-old Cheryl Bazilius exited her vehicle Saturday afternoon and was walking to … read more.

Body of autistic boy vacationing in Fla. is found
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

PERDIDO KEY, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say they have found the body of an 8-year-old autistic boy who went missing while vacationing in the Florida Panhandle. Owen Elliot Black was on the beaches of Perdido Key with his mother when … read more.

Official: Va. driver likely had medical condition
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

DAMASCUS, Va. (AP) — Authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally, an emergency official said Sunday. Officials did … read more.

Fight between neighbors leads to shooting in Fla.
Sun May 19 2013 08:22PM

LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after they say a fight erupted between two neighbors over their dogs led to a shooting in South Florida. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies said the two fought over their dogs on Friday. … read more.

Man falls 16 floors from hotel balcony, dies
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A man has died after authorities say he fell from a 16th floor balcony of a downtown Jacksonville hotel. Sheriff’s officials said the man, who is in his 40s, checked into the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville around … read more.

Metro-North: Conn. train outage expected for days
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Commuters are bracing for a difficult trip around southwest Connecticut and to New York City beginning Monday as workers repair the Metro-North commuter rail line crippled by a derailment and crash. Crews will spend days rebuilding … read more.

What do we eat? New food map will tell us
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Do your kids love chocolate milk? It may have more calories on average than you thought. Same goes for soda. Until now, the only way to find out what people in the United States eat … read more.

Fla. girl who lost feet in lawnmower meets dolphin
Mon May 20 2013 01:19AM

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A toddler whose feet were amputated after her father accidentally backed over her with a riding lawnmower had a special meeting with her hero. Ireland Nugent has often been seen clutching a stuffed animal of Winter, … read more.

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More Local News

CCSO seeking ID of persons of interest
Mon May 20 2013 12:42PM

CHARLOTTE HARBOR — The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is asking for information concerning two persons of interest concerning an overnight burglary at a Charlotte Harbor business last Wednesday. Sometime between Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 15, … Find out how to read more online.

Stump Pass Beach offers beauty all around
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

ENGLEWOOD — Georgina McCurley looked down as she walked along the water’s edge at Stump Pass Beach State Park. The black specks in the sand captured McCurley’s attention on a spring morning. Unbeknownst to her, a manatee swam by along … Find out how to read more online.

Support sought to light up the 4th
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

Chris Evans is proud that the 4th Fest fireworks display on the Fourth of July in Punta Gorda has grown every year to become what he believes is the biggest and best in Southwest Florida. But this year, he wants … Find out how to read more online.

Leadership Charlotte: Masks on for Mardi Gras benefit
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

Find out how to read more online.

Tarpon tourney draws protest
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

Save the Tarpon protesters watch, photograph and heckle Professional Tarpon Tournament Series anglers during their protest of Sunday’s PTTS season opener tournament in Boca Grande Pass. … Find out how to read more online.

Dog days at open house
Mon May 20 2013 07:16PM

Camp Bow Wow held on Saturday a free grand opening and bark-b-que and adoption festival at its location in Port Charlotte. Throughout the day, tours of the facility were provided, with raffles, free food, drinks, a bounce house for the … Find out how to read more online.

Puppy love
Mon May 20 2013 08:13PM

World War II was almost over when Philip Merrill got aboard the USS Hornet
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

Philip Merrill almost missed World War II. Two weeks before graduating from high school at 17, he was sworn into the Navy on May 17, 1943. “I joined the V-12 Program. I was sent to Stevens Institute of Technology in … Find out how to read more online.

Church, 30, and pastor, 60, celebrate birthdays
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

PUNTA GORDA — Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda was having a birthday party Sunday. In fact, there were two birthdays. The church recently turned 30, and its pastor turns 60 today. “We’ll just enjoy this wonderful coincidence as … Find out how to read more online.

Academy Class of 2013 triumphs
Sun May 19 2013 08:03AM

PUNTA GORDA — It’s hard to beat The Academy at Charlotte Technical Center for a commencement ceremony steeped in the power of perseverance. The Wolfpack — 71 strong — along with their proud families, friends and teachers, descended upon the Charlotte … Find out how to read more online.

Culver’s breaks ground
Mon May 20 2013 08:03AM

A Culver’s Restaurant is coming to town this fall. It will be the first in Florida for the Wisconsin-based chain. On Thursday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to start the construction on Kings Highway in front of the Walmart with … Find out how to read more online.

Expo crowd urged to learn, prep
Sun May 19 2013 08:03AM

PUNTA GORDA — There shouldn’t be any hesitation on the part of local residents and business owners when it comes to preparing for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30. That’s the message … Find out how to read more online.

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