Beads no more: Shrimp festival replaces tradition

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. – Environmental concerns are bringing a tradition at the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival to a halt. Parade goers will no longer see beads thrown into the street after construction crews found them tangled in underground drains at Estero Boulevard. Experts said the beads had accumulated over years and could cause […]

Alejandro Dominguez unanimously elected CONMEBOL president

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) – Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay has been elected as the fourth president in three years of turmoil for the governing body of South American soccer. Dominguez was the only candidate to lead CONMEBOL and received all 10 votes from the 10 member federations. Wilmar Valdez of Uruguay withdrew his candidacy before the […]

Panthers announce 6-year extension with Aleksander Barkov

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) – As the Florida Panthers were announcing a deal Tuesday that will pay Aleksander Barkov about $35 million over the next six years, the young center could not wait to get off the dais and back to his routine. The reason was simple. There was a game to get ready for. “I […]

Man exaggerated impairment, scammed government of $1.5M

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A Navy veteran scammed federal agencies out of more than $1.5 million by exaggerating his multiple sclerosis, claiming he needed a wheelchair to get around when he was actually playing golf, baseball and taking part in a grueling foot race, prosecutors said. A jury in South Carolina found Dennis Paulsen guilty […]

Lloyd, Morgan, Solo on roster for Olympic qualifying

World Cup champions Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo headlined the roster announced Tuesday by U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis for next month’s Olympic qualification tournament. Ellis also included promising young players Emily Sonnett, Samantha Mewis, Crystal Dunn and 17-year-old sensation Mallory Pugh, the youngest woman ever named to a U.S. qualifying […]

‘Affluenza’ teen drops Mexico appeal, returns in 1 or 2 days

MEXICO CITY (AP) – The Mexican lawyer for a Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident says his client has dropped an appeal against deportation and will return to Texas to face charges. Attorney Fernando Benitez said Tuesday that Ethan Couch formally ratified his decision to drop the appeal Monday. […]

Former workers sue Disney, consulting companies over layoffs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Two former technology employees at Walt Disney World in Florida are suing Disney and the outsourcing companies they say colluded to break the law and replace workers with cheaper immigrant labor. Representing both former employees, attorney Sara Blackwell filed lawsuits in Tampa federal court Monday against Disney and two consulting companies, […]

Florida may pay for burials of students who died at school

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida may pay to rebury students whose remains were once interred on the grounds of a now shuttered reform school. House and Senate committees on Tuesday voted unanimously for bills ordering state officials to preserve any records, artifacts or remains that were found on the site of a Panhandle school. The […]

Richt’s debut at Miami to come Sept. 3 against Florida A&M

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Mark Richt’s first game as Miami’s coach will be Sept. 3, when the Hurricanes play host to Florida A&M. Miami opens with three non-conference games in 2016, a home matchup against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 10 followed by a road trip to Appalachian State on Sept. 17. After that, Miami […]