Billy the bear helps develop better bear-resistant trashcan

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A black bear named Billy is helping Florida’s efforts to reduce the number of human-bear interactions. The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/1K9fufa) reports that the bear at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens spent 25 minutes scratching and tossing a newly designed bear-resistant trashcan. Billy couldn’t get it open. The container designed by North Carolina-based […]

Another death reported in crash involving Takata air bags

DETROIT (AP) – Another driver has died in a crash that involved an exploding Takata air bag inflator, but it’s unclear whether the inflator killed the person. The driver of a 2007 Honda Civic died last year in India, according to Takata documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. An inflator […]

Clinton presses for debate before New Hampshire primary

ADEL, Iowa (AP) – Hillary Clinton pressed the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday to add a presidential debate before next month’s New Hampshire primary, seeking another high-profile exchange with rival Bernie Sanders. The push by Clinton for more debates – and Sanders’ resistance to adding another forum – underscores his strength in Iowa and New […]

New IRS pilot program offers extra protection for taxpayers

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida taxpayers are eligible for a new pilot program offered by the IRS aimed at preventing tax-related identity theft. Florida continually ranks as one of the top states in the United States for tax identity fraud. The new IRS program allows residents in Florida, Georgia or the District of Columbia to register for an Identity Protection PIN (IP […]

Man steals LeeTran bus passes from Cape Coral Publix

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- A man is accused of stealing more than $600 worth of LeeTran bus passes from a Cape Coral Publix. The theft happened just before 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Publix located at 127 Cape Coral Parkway W. The suspect is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds. If you […]

Texas dad who took away daughter’s phone not guilty of theft

DALLAS (AP) – A Texas father who was accused of theft after he confiscated his 12-year-old daughter’s cellphone over an inappropriate text has been acquitted of the misdemeanor charge. A judge in Dallas found Ronald Jackson not guilty Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence. Grand Prairie police arrested Jackson a few hours after he commandeered his daughter’s […]

Pentagon defends use of Russian engines to launch satellites

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senior Pentagon officials on Wednesday sought to defend the use of Russian-made rocket engines to send U.S. military satellites into space, telling exasperated lawmakers they are moving quickly to end the practice and rely on American-made rockets for the launches. But Air Force Secretary Deborah James and Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall […]

Obama to seek $12B from Congress for child nutrition

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress for $12 billion over a decade to help feed schoolchildren from low-income families during the summer, the White House said Wednesday. The request will be in the 2017 budget proposal Obama plans to send lawmakers on Feb. 9. Nearly 22 million low-income children receive free […]

Cable-industry disruptor is back with new Internet service

NEW YORK (AP) – Cable’s pricey Internet packages may get some competition from the founder of Aereo, whose first attempt to shake up the cable industry was quashed by the Supreme Court. The new service is called Starry, and it’s expected to launch in Boston this summer. The founder, Chet Kanojia, decried the lack of […]

Florida deputy charged with violating suspect’s rights

OCALA, Fla. (AP) – A former Florida deputy sheriff has been charged with violating the rights of a suspect by excessive force. Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that Jesse Terrell was indicted by a federal grand jury. The indictment says that 33-year-old Terrell hit and kicked the unidentified suspect in the head, neck and shoulders in […]