First-of-a-kind drug approvals continued rise in 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – Approvals for first-of-a-kind drugs climbed last year, pushing the annual tally of new U.S. drugs to its highest level in 19 years. The rising figures reflect an industry-wide focus on drugs for rare and hard-to-treat diseases, which often come with streamlined reviews, extra patent protections and higher price tags. The Food and […]

Deal rescinds order preventing Syrian refugee resettlement in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s governor has withdrawn an executive order trying to stop resettlement of Syrian refugees after the state’s attorney general ruled he didn’t have that authority. Gov. Nathan Deal rescinded the order Monday, five days after Attorney General Sam Olens issued an official opinion that the state could not exclude Syrian refugees from […]

California braces for series of El Niño storms

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – After all the talk, El Niño storms have finally lined up over the Pacific and started soaking drought-parched California with rain expected to last for most of the next two weeks, forecasters said Monday. As much as 15 inches of rain could fall in the next 16 days in Northern California, […]

Florida train hits garbage truck stuck on tracks; 22 injured

LAKE WORTH, Fla. (AP) – A train hit a garbage truck stuck on the tracks in Palm Beach County, Florida, and more than 20 people were injured. Capt. Albert Borroto of Palm Beach Fire Rescue tells The Palm Beach Post (http://pbpo.st/1Z2ghWg ) that none of the 22 victims were seriously injured in the crash Monday […]

Artist charged with attempted murder in theme park attack

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – A recently fired caricature artist at Universal Orlando Resort tried to kill his manager by stabbing him in the head and neck with scissors on New Year’s Day, according to a police report released Monday. Frederick Torres, 33, was charged with attempted first-degree murder for his attack on Glenn Ferguson at […]

Police lights crime

Mosque on Florida’s Space Coast vandalized on New Year’s Day

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Police say a mosque along Florida’s Space Coast has been vandalized, with lights and windows smashed by a machete and bacon left at the scene. Officers in the city of Titusville say the vandal went to the Islamic Society of Central Florida Masjid Al-Munin Mosque on Jan. 1. Surveillance video shows […]

General Motors invests $500m in Lyft, forms partnership

DETROIT (AP) – General Motors Co. and ride-hailing company Lyft Inc. are forming an unprecedented partnership that could help them beat their rivals to the self-driving future. Lyft said Monday that GM invested $500 million in the company as part of a round of a $1 billion round of fund-raising. GM gets a seat on […]

Mr. Food: Chicken lettuce wraps

What You’ll Need: 1/4 cup soy sauce 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks 1 tablespoon peanut oil 12 Bibb lettuce leaves (1 head) 3/4 cup shredded carrots 1 cup fresh bean sprouts 1/3 cup sliced scallion Asian sesame dressing for drizzling What […]

Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell seeking re-election

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell announced he’s seeking re-election in 2016. During his announcement Monday morning at the old courthouse in Punta Gorda, Prummell promised to continue to make the county a great place to live, work and play. “The last three years has been a great ride, we had our ups […]