Citrus: Citrus digest

OCALA -- A judge has sided with Citrus County's request to recoup the $15,287 in attorney's fees and $608 in other costs from a legal battle with the St. Petersburg Times. Circuit Judge Carven Angel sent a notice to attorneys Wednesday saying he planned to grant the county's motion and require the Times to compensate the county. The Times sued Citrus County and alleged the county failed to follow proper bidding procedures in awarding a contract in November 1999 to the Citrus County Chronicle to publish legal notices, such as public meeting announcements. The newspaper dropped the suit in November, saying the issue was moot because the contract year in dispute already had ended. County officials have said the county "should be made whole" for the costs it incurred.

Environmentalists want manatee rules enforced

With watercraft-related deaths of manatees on pace to set a new record, a coalition of environmental groups is hauling two federal agencies into court and asking a judge to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers to comply with a previous legal settlement to better protect manatees. A Save the Manatee representative says federal officials have broken their word.

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