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Today's Top Stories

News Alerts:

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Fertilizer law advances

PUNTA GORDA — The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance that would regulate the use of fertilizer within the city. By doing so, the city aligned itself with all other coastal Southwest Florida cities and counties that already have fertilizers ordinances. The goal is to … Find out how to read more online.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

New Human Services building opens
Wed May 16 2012 05:48PM

PORT CHARLOTTE — Despite the soggy, dreary weather, it was nothing but bright smiles and happy faces at the grand opening of Charlotte County’s new Human Services Department building Wednesday … Find out how to read more online.

Two charged with trafficking counterfeit credit cards
Wed May 16 2012 02:00PM

ENGLEWOOD — Charlotte County Sheriff’s Economic Crimes Unit detectives arrested two Naples residents for trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and trying to use them at Walmart in Englewood. Arrested were … Find out how to read more online.

Four arrested on cocaine charges
Wed May 16 2012 12:54PM

PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlotte County Sheriff’s road patrol deputies arrested four Port Charlotte residents on cocaine charges Tuesday at 10:50 a.m. Deputies were patrolling an area on Lockwood Street in … Find out how to read more online.

Two charged in dealing majijuana
Wed May 16 2012 11:16AM

PUNTA GORDA — Charlotte County Sheriff’s narcotics detectives arrested two Punta Gorda marijuana dealers, catching them with 1,580 grams of marijuana and $7,080 in cash. Arrested were Patrick Charles Deroche, … Find out how to read more online.

State, National and World News

Deputies: Fla. mom killed 4 kids, then herself
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. (AP) — In the middle of the night, Tonya Thomas’ neighbors awoke to the sound of a gunshot and moments later heard a knock on their door. Three of Thomas’ four children were outside, including one … read more.

12 students affected by rash at high school
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — Twelve students and two teachers at a South Florida high school have been transported to area hospitals after coming down with a rash while in class. Broward County Public Schools officials say the students were all … read more.

War crimes charges against Mladic
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

(AP) — The indictment against Ratko Mladic — who went on trial Wednesday at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands — holds the former Bosnian Serb army commander “individually criminally responsible for planning, instigating, ordering and/or aiding … read more.

Oil drops to lowest level in 6 months
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil dropped to a six-month low Tuesday on concern that economic uncertainty in Europe could hurt demand for crude. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude fell 80 cents to end the day at $93.98 … read more.

Facebook investors to cash out more shares
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Insiders and early Facebook investors will be unloading more of their shares in the initial public offering, the company said Wednesday, as they take advantage of investor demand. Facebook said in a regulatory filing that 84 … read more.

Defense rests without calling Edwards, mistress
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — John Edwards’ defense team rested Wednesday without calling the two-time Democratic presidential candidate or his one-time mistress to the witness stand, a sign of confidence after presenting little more than two days of testimony and evidence. … read more.

FTC: Skechers deceived consumers with shoe ads
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government wants you to know that simply sporting a pair of Skechers’ fitness shoes is not going to get you Kim Kardashian’s curves or Brooke Burke’s toned tush. Skechers USA Inc. will pay $40 million to … read more.

Obama warns against political disruption in Yemen
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama served notice Wednesday to those seeking to disrupt Yemen’s political transition that he would use whatever authority is available to sanction individuals and entities who undermine stability in the strategically important Middle Eastern nation. … read more.

Researchers Link Health to Education Gap
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

(Bloomberg) — Higher levels of education in the United States correlate with longer life expectancy and less obesity, according to the government’s annual health report. Obesity, which leads to chronic ailments such as diabetes and heart disease, was twice as … read more.

Rivals airbrush anti-Romney words
Wed May 16 2012 01:36PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Remember Newt Gingrich calling Mitt Romney a liar? Michele Bachmann saying Romney’s unelectable? Rick Santorum calling Romney “the worst Republican in the country” to run against President Barack Obama? They’re hoping you don’t. And acting like it … read more.

Deputies: Fla. mom killed 4 kids, then herself
Tue May 15 2012 10:21PM

PORT ST. JOHN — A Florida mother who fatally shot her four children before killing herself Tuesday called three of the kids who had sought help from a neighbor back to the house before firing the fatal shots, authorities said. … read more.

Cheaper gas not enough to boost vacation driving
Tue May 15 2012 10:21PM

NEW YORK — Cheaper gas won’t be enough to get many more Americans on the road this summer. They’re still too worried about their jobs and the economy. Economists and tourism experts are expecting only a small uptick in summer … read more.

FCAT writing test passing score shrinks
Tue May 15 2012 10:21PM

TALLAHASSEE — An emergency rule adopted Tuesday will lower the passing grade for Florida’s standardized writing test to keep the failure rate about the same as last year after preliminary results showed it would have dramatically increased otherwise. The State … read more.

Court records: Zimmerman had broken nose
Tue May 15 2012 10:02PM

MIAMI (AP) — Court records show George Zimmerman had a pair of black eyes, a nose fracture and two cuts to the back of his head after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The medical records were part of … read more.

US strategy: Halt Alzheimer’s by year 2025
Tue May 15 2012 10:21PM

WASHINGTON — Asserting “we are at an exceptional moment” in the hunt for an Alzheimer’s disease treatment, National Institutes of Health director Dr. Francis Collins on Tuesday promised a raft of new research aimed at stopping and reversing the memory-robbing … read more.

Energy fades as campaign issue as gas drops
Tue May 15 2012 10:00PM

WASHINGTON (MCT) — Barely two months after the cost of fuel was a white-hot matter in the presidential race, the subject has receded, just as prices have declined in much of the country. AAA reported Monday that the national average … read more.

Lack of trust in Facebook may hold back ad sales
Tue May 15 2012 10:21PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook’s reach is wide but not deep. Few users surveyed in an Associated Press-CNBC poll say they click on the site’s ads or buy the virtual goods that make money for it. More than 40 percent … read more.

FCAT writing scores plummet
Mon May 14 2012 10:34PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The State Board of Education has set an emergency meeting for Tuesday to consider lowering the passing grade on the writing portion of Florida’s standardized test, after preliminary results indicated only about a third of students would … read more.

Obama attacks Romney’s record on jobs
Mon May 14 2012 10:34PM

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is casting Mitt Romney as a greedy, job-killing corporate titan with little concern for the working class in a new, multi-pronged effort that seeks to undermine the central rationale for his Republican rival’s candidacy: his … read more.

Sophia, Jacob top popular baby names
Mon May 14 2012 10:32PM

WASHINGTON — Reality TV is giving birth to some of the most popular baby names. No, not Snooki. But Mason, as in Kourtney Kardashian’s son, jumped 10 spots to become the second most popular name for newborn boys in 2011. … read more.

Autistic adults lack jobs
Mon May 14 2012 10:32PM

CHICAGO — One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds. That’s a poorer showing than those with other disabilities including those who … read more.

Man who cared for famed old tree dies at age 103
Mon May 14 2012 10:28PM

PORTLAND, Maine — Frank Knight’s decades-long battle to save New England’s tallest elm served as an inspiring tale of devotion, so it is fitting that he will be laid to rest in a coffin made from the tree he made … read more.

Student with flesh-eating bug mouths words
Mon May 14 2012 10:26PM

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — After 10 days in the hospital, a Georgia graduate student fighting a rare flesh-eating infection isn’t letting the breathing tube in her throat stop her from mouthing questions such as “Where am I?” and “How long … read more.

Venice Fantasy 5 player wins $27K
Tue May 15 2012 10:42AM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Seven winners of the “Fantasy 5” game will collect $27,094.93 each, the Florida Lottery said Monday. The winning tickets were purchased in Margate, Wilton Manors, Orange Park, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach and Venice, lottery officials … read more.

FAMU marching band suspended another year
Mon May 14 2012 10:26PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida A&M University’s famed marching band is being suspended for at least one more school year as officials try to cleanse the hazing culture that led to the death of a drum major, the school’s president … read more.

Facebook CEO turns 28, IPO could be $100B gift
Sun May 13 2012 09:06PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Don’t let the hoodie and sneakers fool you. Mark Zuckerberg is no wet-behind-the-ears CEO. Facebook’s chief executive turns 28 on Monday, setting in motion the social network’s biggest week ever. The company is expected to start … read more.

Legendary bass player ‘Duck’ Dunn dies in Tokyo
Sun May 13 2012 09:06PM

NEW YORK — Donald “Duck” Dunn, the bassist who helped create the gritty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs and contributed to such classics as “In … read more.

2012 college graduates enter better job market
Sun May 13 2012 09:06PM

NEW YORK — The class of 2012 is leaving college with something that many graduates since the start of the Great Recession have lacked: jobs. To the relief of graduating seniors — and their anxious parents — the outlook is … read more.

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More Local News

State reps brief area leaders
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

PORT CHARLOTTE — More than 100 members from Charlotte County government, the business community and the local School Board gathered Tuesday afternoon at Visani Restaurant to hear their local state representatives give them a status report of the key accomplishments … Find out how to read more online.

Charlotte eyes Redneck Yacht Club traffic woes
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

PORT CHARLOTTE — County officials and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up with organizers of the Redneck Yacht Club to come up with a strategy to address the volume of cars that clogs up Bermont Road, east of … Find out how to read more online.

County eyes Redneck Yacht Club traffic
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

State reps brief local leaders
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

Honoring fallen officers
Wed May 16 2012 03:39PM

Gathered at the Robert E. Lister Memorial Lodge 66 in Port Charlotte on Tuesday, law enforcement officers, families and friends paid their respects at the 15th annual Charlotte County Fallen Officers Memorial Service. fallen051712E - A member of the Charlotte … Find out how to read more online.

Community cares
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

The Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies recently received donations from the community. A poker run was held earlier this year, with 30 participating bikers, to raise money for C.A.R.E. Kay Hill of Kay’s Kloset consignment store, also recently donated … Find out how to read more online.

New nurses greet Charlotte County
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

Charlotte County’s newest nurses graduated from Edison State College Charlotte Campus May 3 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. A traditional nurse pinning ceremony, which included a candle-lighting and giving out of new caps, was … Find out how to read more online.

Sunrise Kiwanis Club says thanks
Tue May 15 2012 11:20PM

For the first time since the Sunrise Kiwanis Club’s Shoes for Kids project was begun in 2005, a winter collection drive was held, primarily to solicit support from winter visitors. Nearly 400 pairs were collected in two weeks and the … Find out how to read more online.

Barbecue fundraiser helps local animal shelter
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

The Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County held on May 6 a Caribbean barbecue called “Live, Love and Bark, mon!” to benefit the homeless animals of Charlotte County. The event was held in Punta Gorda at Twin Isles Golf and … Find out how to read more online.

Sting not finished yet
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

After reportedly offering condoms and pills online to officers posing as a 12-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl, a Longboat Key man recently pleaded not guilty to charges of solicitation and traveling to have sex with a minor, then asked for … Find out how to read more online.

Dog rescue celebrates 300th adoption
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

What would be better than a pocket full of gold? How about a yard full of gold — golden retrievers, that is. At the Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida’s family reunion party, 100 people and roughly 86 rescue dogs … Find out how to read more online.

Springtime Lily bonds with local girl
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

Punta Gorda resident Michael Venezia has been familiar with the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County for quite some time. “I adopted a dog back in the ‘80s,” said Venezia, during a recent visit to the shelter. Now, in 2012, … Find out how to read more online.

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