St. Petersburg Times Online: News of Florida

Campaign 2002
Bush, McBride turn to big guns for help

[AP photo]
While the president visits Florida to campaign for his younger brother, top-ranking Democrats are providing fundraising muscle for challenger McBride.

Manatee groups say Bush welshed
TALLAHASSEE- Two years ago, Gov. Jeb Bush thrilled environmentalists when he promised to beef up protection for manatees. He even called the endangered species "my favorite mammal."

It's no more Mr. Nice Guy in attorney general debate
In an earlier meeting, Buddy Dyer and Charlie Crist were pointedly polite. This time they were in attack mode.

Noelle Bush gets 10 days in jail
The governor's 25-year-old daughter apologizes to the judge before being led away to serve a 10-day sentence.

FSU medical school takes a key step
It gains preliminary accreditation, which paves the way for full accreditation.

Disability bill's delay angers veterans' groups
WASHINGTON -- Just weeks before the midterm elections and with a war against Iraq on the horizon, the Bush administration is locked in an unwelcome dispute with veterans' groups over benefits for disabled veterans.

Ryce Act passes Supreme Court test
State justices affirm the constitutionality of the law that confines sex offenders for treatment once prison terms end.

Around the state
Tons of fertilizer stolen from Disney

Pakistani man sentenced in bombing plot
FORT LAUDERDALE -- A Pakistani man accused of inciting a terrorist bomb plot at a mosque was sentenced Thursday to nearly 12 years in federal prison.

Rilya's caseworker charged, jailed
MIAMI -- The social worker who was assigned to monitor Rilya Wilson, a foster child missing for 15 months before her disappearance was reported to police, was arrested Thursday on charges of official misconduct and theft.

Miami Circle artifacts set for display in museum
MIAMI -- Indian ruins recovered from a downtown Miami construction site will go on public display for the first time today, nearly four years after they were first discovered.