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Review the Times' day-by-day coverage of the 2002 Florida Legislature

December 20, 2002

Local Guard members may be activated soon
The Florida National Guard is contacting more than 1,000 troops to notify them of a possible callup.

Power had been cut off at home where 3 died
LAKE WORTH -- A couple and their son who likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning were using a gasoline-fueled generator to power their home because Florida Power & Light had shut off the electricity, authorities said.

Inmates charged in fight over spider
PUNTA GORDA -- Two black prisoners are facing felony hate crime charges after they allegedly beat a white prisoner who accused one of them of stealing his pet spider.

Bush envisions state buttressing marriages
The governor's Building Florida's Families initiative would enlist faith-based groups to aid the effort.

Former head of Philadelphia police to run Miami force
MIAMI -- A former Philadelphia police commissioner will take over Miami's troubled Police Department from outgoing Chief Raul Martinez next month, city officials said Thursday.

Union sues over university oversight
The lawsuit seeks to overturn a law that adds to individual boards of trustees' powers.

Court: Couple can sue counselor over secrets
TALLAHASSEE -- A marriage counselor who divulged the secrets of a husband and wife can be sued by the Orlando couple for emotional distress, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Celebrating graduate dies in hotel balcony fall
POMPANO BEACH -- A Texas man celebrating his recent college graduation apparently fell to his death from an eighth-story hotel balcony Thursday while climbing between rooms.

Cruise worker alleges rape, sues over handling
The woman claims that the company didn't give her proper treatment after she told them that two co-workers attacked her.

Around the state: 4 school operators facing prison for Pell Grant fraud
MIAMI -- Four vocational school officials were sentenced Thursday to 10 to 21 months in prison for a scheme to cheat the federal government out of more than $740,000 in grants that were mostly intended for students.

From AP's Florida news wire
  • Hurricane Jeanne appears on track to hit Florida's east coast
  • Rumor mill working overtime after Florida hurricanes
  • Developments associated with Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne
  • Four killed in Panhandle plane crash were on Ivan charity mission
  • Hurricane Frances caused estimated $4.4 billion in insured damage
  • Disabled want more handicapped-accessible voting machines
  • USF forces administrators to resign over test score changes
  • Man's death at Universal Studios ruled accidental
  • State child welfare workers in Miami fail to do background checks
  • Hurricane Jeanne heads toward southeast U.S. coast
  • Hurricane Jeanne spurs more anxiety for storm-weary Floridians
  • Mistrial declared in case where teen was target of racial "joke"
  • Panhandle utility wants sewer plant moved to higher ground
  • State employee arrested on theft, bribery charges
  • Homestead house fire kills four children, one adult
  • Pierson leader tries to cut off relief to local fern cutters
  • Florida's high court rules Terri's law unconstitutional
  • Jacksonville students punished for putting stripper pole in dorm
  • FEMA handling nearly 600,000 applications for help
  • Man who killed wife, niece, self also killed mother in 1971
  • Producer sues city over lead ball fired by Miami police
  • Tourism suffers across Florida after pummeling by hurricanes
  • Key dates in the life of Terri Schiavo
  • An excerpt from the unanimous ruling in the Schiavo case
  • Four confirmed dead after small plane crash in Panhandle
  • Correction: Disney-Cruise Line story

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