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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Wrong way on S.R. 60

It was quite possibly the unthinkable. A vehicle out of control, going the wrong way on a busy highway. Eight minutes, from start to finish, chaos, from the first emergency phone call to the final crash. Four separate crashes resulted, not counting a final collision — with a Polk County … read more.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

SPCA offers $5 pet vaccinations in Bartow
Thu Jan 26 2012 08:09AM

SPCA, Inc.’s mobile vaccination unit will provide a selection of canine and feline vaccination packages for $5 each on Friday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Healthy for the … read more.

Early voting starts under way
Mon Jan 23 2012 02:41PM

• Candidates on the issues, see www.polkcountydemocrat.com Early voting starts today in Polk County for the Presidential Preference Primary Election, and though less than a week ago the Florida primary … read more.

Wreck claims man’s life
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

Jeff Bush was out for a run Tuesday morning when he heard a big “boom.” The 49-year old former Caloosa Lake volunteer firefighter said he initially thought it was a … read more.

FDA: OJ fungicide level low
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

The banned fungicide carbendazim tied to orange juice from Brazil does not show enough of a measurable amount for it to be banned from the United States, the Food and … read more.

More Local News

Student achievement, higher teacher pay budget goals
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

Polk County Schools should set priorities and budget to achieve those goals, a consultant told School Board members and staff in a work session Friday. Jim Hamilton, a former Hillsborough County principal and deputy superintendent, facilitated the workshop. He now … read more.

Battle of Bowlegs this weekend
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

This weekend it will look like 1864 at the Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area on U.S. Highway 98 East on Peace River. The re-creation of Battle of Bowlegs Creek, which is known as “The Forgotten Battle,” will take place there. … read more.

Polk County Youth Fair
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

Schedule of Events Buildings open to public each day at 8:30 a.m. and close after last event of the evening WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25 9 a.m.-noon: Storytelling Contest 1-5 p.m.: Chili Cook-off Contest 3-6 p.m.: Dog Showmanship Class 5 p.m.: Poultry … read more.

Alafia River Rendezvous
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

Work around hospital, Ford dealership
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

This week on the construction on U.S. 98 south of Manor Drive to north of County Road 540A the east side of U.S. 98 from Lyle Parkway to Boy Scout Ranch Road continues as it will on the west side … read more.

Swiftmud reorganization to save $15 million
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

The Southwest Florida Water Management District completed its organizational restructuring which is expected to reduce expenses by more than $15 million a year, it reports. The reorganization increases efficiencies, reduces operational costs and meets Swiftmud’s core mission responsibilities in the … read more.

Volunteers adopt Polk County
Wed Jan 25 2012 08:09AM

There was a lot of hammering, painting, and landscaping going on in Polk County last week as more than 1,000 national volunteers from Honeywell and Rebuilding Together gave facelifts to needy areas in the community. The events took place at … read more.

Traffic shifts to happen on Van Fleet
Tue Jan 24 2012 04:43PM

There will be a handful of traffic shifts happening in the next few weeks on Van Fleet Drive from east of Richland Road to east of Wilson Avenue and along U.S. 98 from Manor Drive to State Road 60. To … read more.

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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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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 … read more.

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