TAMPA -- Bishop John B. Lipscomb issued a two-paragraph statement Tuesday saying he ordered the sudden suspension of the Rev. Kevin F. Donlon last week after allegations of "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy."

The release gave no indication what those allegations are, offering little insight to members of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, where Donlon has served as rector since 1996.

The suspension, formally called a "temporary inhibition," came after eight church members filed allegations against Donlon. A spokesman for the Diocese of Southwest Florida would not identify them, and no other details were released.

In a Feb. 7 letter to parishioners, church leaders said the charges did not involve financial misappropriation or any children at the parish.

The matter may be investigated by a committee of elected leaders and clergy and could be subject to an ecclesiastical trial.

Charter school denials will get reconsidered

TALLAHASSEE -- The State Board of Education on Tuesday told the Hillsborough School Board it will have to re-evaluate two charter school applications it denied in November.

The board will have to evaluate the applications for the Developmental Center and the Hillsborough Charter Foundation Inc. based on their merits and can't use the district's budget woes as a reason to deny them, the state board decided.

In November, the School Board denied six charter school applications because of budget cuts and said no applications would be approved for the 2002-2003 school year. The Developmental Center and the Hillsborough Charter Foundation appealed those denials to the state.

It was not clear when the School Board will reconsider the charter applications.

Bicyclist killed trying to cross Kennedy Boulevard

TAMPA -- A Tampa bicyclist died Tuesday after being struck by a car, police said.

Andres Cabrera, 27, of 110 S Manhattan Ave., was trying to cross Kennedy Boulevard at Cooper Place shortly before 4 p.m. when he rode in front of a 1997 Ford Expedition, police said.

Police said Cabrera was knocked off the bicycle and onto the Expedition, driven by 16-year-old Rendall Gates Garcia of 5216 W Neptune Way in Tampa.

Cabrera then was thrown to the street and hit his head on the curb. He was not wearing a helmet, police said. He died at the scene.

No charges were filed.

85-year-old says caller cheated her out of $3,800

HOLIDAY -- An 85-year-old woman told Pasco County sheriff's deputies Monday that she was cheated out of $3,800 by a man posing as a bank executive.

A sheriff's report said a man who identified himself as Mr. Carter called her Friday and said he was conducting an investigation of her bank, First Union, at 1218 U.S. 19 in Holiday. He asked her to cash a $3,800 check at the bank and take it to a police lieutenant who would meet her on a street corner.

He said she wouldn't lose any money.

She met a white man -- 30 to 40 years old with brown hair and wearing a brown suit -- who showed her a gold badge.

Sunday, the woman called her daughter, who suggested it might be a scam.

Monday, the woman checked her account, which had $3,800 less. It was a scam.

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