Regions Financial to offer insurance in state next year

REGIONS FINANCIAL PLANS TO expand its personal insurance lines to Florida next year.Regions now

The Dash Between: Bob Emery transformed his dream into reality

In a Disney-like moment in the mid-1950s, Bob Emery looked at a plot of seemingly unusable swampland in rural Summit County and envisioned a family-friendly recreation area with a lake at its center. Legendary filmmaker Walt Disney had a similar experience in the 1960s, when he began purchasing Florida swampland on which to build his Disney [...]

State News: Ohio, Florida Take Advantage Of Federal Health Funds; Mass. Psychiatrists Win Court Case

The Columbus Dispatch: "Gov. Ted Strickland's administration announced today that nearly $200 million in recently freed up state funds will go to Ohio hospitals, community mental health services, and a program which provides medication to low-income residents with HIV/AIDS. ... The state money became available after Congress agreed to continue paying a higher share of the cost of state Medicaid ...

On Labor Day, a million unemployed in FL wish for work

New numbers are out showing Florida's unemployment pain, while the state tries a new technique to turn that around.

Florida mosques call for nonviolent response to Dove Center's 9-11 Koran burning

Before she left her Miami home to return to the University of Florida this fall, Wajiha Akhtar's parents gave her some unusual advice: stay indoors as much as possible and, whatever happens, don't go near the Koran burners.

Florida mosques call for nonviolent response to Dove Center's 9-11 Koran burning

Before she left her Miami home to return to the University of Florida this fall, Wajiha Akhtar's parents gave her some unusual advice: stay indoors as much as possible and, whatever happens, don't go near the Koran burners.

Labor Day travel on the rise

With the end of summer approaching, Florida residents are gearing up for the holiday weekend. According to a report by Triple A, Labor day travel in the state of Florida is projected to increase by 3.9 percent, with more than 1.6 million Floridians taking a trip.

Florida realtors eligible for BP claims

Florida Realtors are the beneficiary of $25 million of a $60 million emergency fund approved in late August for real estate claims by Kenneth Feinberg, claims administrator for the BP Oil Spill Fund. Real estate licensees can file claims against loss...

Braves roar back; Marlins win in 10th

MIAMI - Florida Marlins pinch-hitter Scott Cousins delivered a game-winning single in the 10th inning Sunday for his first big-league hit, earning a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves, who earlier had overcome a 6-0 deficit.

Key: 100,000 homes damaged in quake

Prime Minister John Key today said an estimated 100,000 homes were damaged by Saturday's 7.1-magnitude earthquake - nearly half of all dwellings in the Canterbury region.Mr Key made the announcement at a press conference this...

S. Florida districts weigh policy for teachers using social media

Online networking has uses in schools as long as it's not personal, some say After people meet in the real world, their next step is often a visit to the virtual one, where they'll make a "friend" request on Facebook or MySpace.

Key West flavor comes to Tallahassee

Key West is famous for its laidback, informal atmosphere where anything goes and having fun doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

FSU’s Reid as good as advertised

He warned the nation all offseason. He warned, and warned and warned some more. “I’m putting on a show this year.” “You haven’t seen anything yet.” “I’m scoring every time I touch the ball.”

FSU volleyball goes two-for-three

The No. 13 Florida State volleyball team managed to win two of their three matches last weekend at the Houston Invitational at the Athletic/Alumni center in Houston, Texas.

FSU scorches Samford

If only every game promised to be so easy for Jimbo Fisher. In his first game as a head coach, Fisher’s Seminoles made sure their new boss started his career off right, dominating Football Championship Subdivision opponent Samford in a 59-6 win Saturday, Sept. 4, at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Florida's mistakes irk Meyer

Midway through preseason, Florida coach Urban Meyer confessed he was starting to panic a little bit over the way his team was coming together after...

Bearcats can’t cash in on missed opportunities

MIAMI -- Inches can make the difference, even in soccer. The Lander University men’s soccer team found that out the hard way as the Bearcats barely missed on a number of opportunities Saturday, falling 2-0 to Barry University on a sweltering afternoon in South Florida.

Miami ready for Ohio State showdown

CORAL GABLES — Ohio State and Miami no longer need to pretend otherwise. Marshall and Florida A&M, they were merely warmup acts.

LAWRENCE: Local teens have an âAmerican Idol Experienceâ

A trip to Disney World is a dream come true for many young persons. For Avery Epstein of Princeton and her friend Taylor Blanton of Lawrenceville, the dream came true, along with an unexpected role in the park’s “American Idol Experience” and a chance to audition for the hit television show.

Parents turn to 'digital' grounding

Not so long ago, teenagers in trouble lost their evenings out, maybe the keys to the family car. Punishment has taken a new turn. United States - Florida - Florida Keys - Corporal punishment - Children Youth and Family

Running mates in Florida don't go anywhere after leaving office

Jennifer Carroll became a statewide figure Thursday morning when she accepted Rick Scott's offer to become his running mate for Florida governor. But if the Scott-Carroll ticket succeeds in getting elected in November, Carroll will have a job that has been a political death sentence for the nine people who've held it. Since the position was created in the Florida Constitution in 1968, no ...

Mile Markers

FLORIDA KEYS Don't drive drunkenly AAA Auto Club South and Alex's Towing & BK Towing offer a free ride home for drinkers and their vehicles this Labor Day holiday. Call Tow... read more

Man 'exposes' himself to felony drug charges

KEY WEST -- A Big Coppitt Key man who allegedly exposed his buttocks on Simonton Street early Friday morning was charged with felony drug possession. Jesus Diaz, 42, was charged with possession of... read more

Season's lobster prices better than expected

A strong foreign market and good initial harvest has made for a good start to the spiny lobster season for Florida Keys commercial fishermen. The prices that fishermen have been paid in the first... read more

Letters to the editor

Remember past while preparing for future Many Florida Keys residents and visitors know of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane that caused the deaths of hundreds of people in the Upper Keys, and destroyed... read more

News by location

Get local and national news updates via E-mail. Oh, the places she's been. New England. Hershey, Pa. New Orleans. And then there was Pigeon Forge, Tenn., where they called her up on the stage at Dollywood, asked her to pretend to sing and gave her a prize.

Key maps

A suspected suicide car bombing in north-west Pakistan has killed at least six people, officials say. The explosion took place at a police station in the town of Lakki Marwat in the Khyber region south of Peshawar.

Tour of Central Florida roller coasters has dizzying results

My mission: To size up Central Florida's coasters, pick the best and survive the rest.

Martin County opting to put lines in place

On Florida's East Coast, Martin County already is doing what Sarasota County is considering.The

Sarasota County projects pared

The lingering economic downturn has prompted the county to postpone or scale back a number of

Business people

Sherri Johnson, attorney at Dent & Johnson, has been selected for inclusion in Florida Trend

Region's office vacancy rates vary widely

OFFICE VACANCIES IN SARASOTA County fell during the first half of 2010 as landlords offered

County faces a fiber-optic opportunity

For the bargain-basement price of $1,000 per mile, Sarasota County could build one of the fastest broadband systems in the nation.

Employees trained at ‘camp Disney’

SARASOTA — Voalté recently sent two of its employees to the Disney Institute for an intensive, three-day training where they received a behind-the-scenes look into the theme park’s culture-building and people-management magic.

Employees trained at ‘camp Disney’

SARASOTA — Voalté recently sent two of its employees to the Disney Institute for an intensive, three-day training where they received a behind-the-scenes look into the theme park’s culture-building and people-management magic.

Florida teams flex their muscle

TURTLE CREEK, Pa. — Florida 2, Pennsylvania 0.

Talking With ... Dick Larsen: Growth is on the table for Orlando-based eatery

Dick Larsen, president and founder of Orlando-based Nature's Table. His company hopes to expand rapidly in the next few years and is working with a franchise development company called Fransmart. Larsen recently spoke with Sentinel staff writer Sandra Pedicini.

Rematch of bitter rivals likely to be closer

It's round two in the race between Republican Allen West and Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Ron Klein . But unlike 2008 when Klein dispatched his challenger with little fanfare, this time the battle is one of the nation's most expensive and closely watched contests.

Fla. Road Ranger, Trooper Injured in I-95 Crash

Five people were injured Saturday morning when a car slammed into the back of a Road Ranger truck that stopped to help a Highway Patrol trooper's disabled car.

USF Bulls try to treat Gator week like any other week

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer Sunday, September 5, 2010 TAMPA — Saturday's game at No. 4 Florida is a huge opportunity for USF — a game fans have been awaiting for years. But the Bulls hope to improve their chances of playing well by treating the trip as they would any other game. "It'll be exciting," QB B.J. Dan iels said. "I was looking forward to going to Florida State (last season), and ...

Tampa police arrest man in fatal stabbing of friend

By Shelley Rossetter, Times Staff Writer Sunday, September 5, 2010 Shivers TAMPA — Gina Wanda Smith and Kenneth Leroy Shivers had been friends for years. At one point they had dated. They seemed to get along well, Smith's family said. Now they are wondering what went wrong. On Saturday night, police say, Shivers stabbed Smith, 48, in the chest, neck and arms. Paramedics brought her to Tampa ...

Soares, District Attorney, Criticized in Steroid Case

A judge in Florida has allowed the operators of Signature Pharmacy to proceed with a lawsuit that accuses P. David Soares, Albany’s district attorney, of violations.

Race offers fun in bed

Perhaps no moment in Miami sports boasts odder rivalries than the contests that unfolded Sunday on Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove. At the revived Grove bed race, pairs of teams raced homemade beds with four wheels and four people pushing for two city blocks.

N.J. woman who disappeared in Florida found safe

Emily Grace turned up in New York City. A missing New Jersey woman whose belongings were found in Celebration is safe in New York City, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said Sunday.

Florida, Stony Brook: Same approach for Bulls

TAMPA -- Saturday's game at No. 4 Florida is a huge opportunity for USF football, a game fans have been waiting years for, but the Bulls hope to improve their chances at playing well by treating the trip the same as they would any other game. "It'll be exciting," quarterback B.J. Daniels said. "I was looking forward to going to Florida State (last year) and I'm definitely looking forward to ...

Homecoming for North Fort Myers soldier

It was an emotional homecoming for a North Fort Myers family. After months overseas, a father and husband gets 2 weeks home.

Florida slow to spend federal stimulus cash

Florida agencies have spent only about 40 percent of their share of federal stimulus money, creating a limited impact on the state's job market.

Florida slow to spend federal stimulus cash

Florida agencies have spent only about 40 percent of their share of federal stimulus money, creating a limited impact on the state's job market.

Fort Myers' Page Field sees .51 of an inch of rain in 1 hour

A line of thunderstorms extending from Fort Myers through Venice is moving north at 20 mph.

Disney picks up NZ wines

Winemaker Steve Bird has had his wish upon a star granted with two wines selected by Walt Disney World for its 2011 core wine list.The two signature wines - 2008 Bird Sauvignon Blanc and 2008 Bird Big Barrel Pinot Noir - are to...