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Archive for February, 2010

Report: Florida Drilling Would Make Little Impact

A new report says drilling in Florida waters would “have no discernible impact” on gas prices or the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but could pump millions into state coffers. The Senate-commissioned report by the Collins Center for Public Policy studied the potential impact of drilling in state waters within 10.3 miles of the Florida [...]

January: Florida Home Sales Rise, But Prices Fall

Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 28 percent in January, marking the 17th straight month of year-to-year gains, Florida Realtors reported Friday. Sixteen of Florida’s 19 metropolitan statistical areas reported increased existing home sales in January compared to a year ago, while all metro areas posted higher condominium sales, the statewide industry group reported. [...]

Tampa Woman Live Blogs While Getting an Abortion

A Tampa woman, who goes by the name Angie Jackson on several online communities, is not afraid of controversy. “Jackson” calls herself the “Gwen Stefani of atheism” on social networking sites like YouTube. Recently, Jackson learned that her birth control had failed and, as a mother of a four-year-old son with special needs, she decided [...]

High Court to Define Reach of Gun Control Laws

WASHINGTON – In 2008, when national gun rights advocates were looking for residents to challenge Chicago’s ban on handguns, Otis McDonald was in effect looking for them. McDonald, 76, says he had seen his neighborhood on the far South Side of Chicago turn from bad to worse over the years with “gang bangers and drug [...]

Bison Take ‘Baby Steps’

For the first time in almost a century, bison from Yellowstone National Park are grazing in a new setting: the prairie of Ted Turner’s Flying D Ranch in Montana. They’re part of an experiment to see whether disease-free bison from the last wild remnant of America’s herds can remain healthy and someday return to public [...]

Kim Bumps Up Gold Standard

VANCOUVER – South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na dazzled from the big air of her opening jumps to the blurring spin of her finish to win a historic gold medal with more record-smashing scores. Japan’s Mao Asada hit her big, early jumps for silver, and Canada’s Joannie Rochette skated through grief to win bronze Thursday in the [...]

Lockout Threat Complicates Draft Decision

In the next month or so, high-caliber underclassmen in college basketball will mull over in earnest whether to enter the NBA draft. For some, the decision will be riskier this year than in the past. Contentious talks be-tween the NBA and the players union pose the threat of a lockout in 2011, and some collegians [...]

A Simpler Trip: Spending the Day in St. Marys, Georgia

Over the next year, Joe Miller (our blogging historian) will take day trips to sites within a five hour drive of Jacksonville.  Join him as he points out the fascinating sites while pointing out historically interesting footnotes. —–  Note: Click Photos to View at Larger Size —– Saturday morning, I asked my wife if she [...]

Murzin Wants Time Out in Water Fight With EPA

With federal officials holding another round of public hearings in Florida on proposed water quality regulations on Wednesday, a Panhandle Republican who is opposed to the plan is gearing up for a water fight. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted its latest hearing on a tour of the state, fielding comments from central Florida [...]

As Idols Fall, Will Clout Ebb?

For generations of Americans, there has been a non-stop message that sports stars are a beacon of light worth following. Gatorade commercials told us to “Be like Mike.” Lyrics celebrated the golden era of “Willie, Mickey and the Duke.” And Ronald Reagan never tired of being referred to as the football player he portrayed, “The [...]