Around the state

First black warden named at Florida State Prison

STARKE -- Joseph E. Thompson will become Florida State Prison's first black warden, new Department of Corrections Secretary James Crosby Jr. announced Thursday.

Thompson is best known to corrections officers and officials in the Panhandle, where he spent several years directing regional security and institutional management. He was named warden at Madison Correctional Institution in 1999.

Florida State Prison, about 15 miles northwest of Starke, is one of the state's highest-security prisons and home of Florida's death chamber. It can hold 737 prisoners and has 574 employees.

Thompson will replace Brad Carter, who will replace Crosby as a regional director.

Cap noneconomic awards at $250,000, panel urges

TALLAHASSEE -- Jury awards above compensation for economic losses in medical malpractice cases should be capped at $250,000, a task force appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush decided Thursday.

The task force voted to include a recommendation for the cap on noneconomic damages -- punitive and pain-and-suffering awards -- when it presents Bush with its final report.

The nature of its recommendation was not unexpected. Doctors and insurance companies say punitive jury awards are out of control and are driving insurance rates out of the reach of many doctors. Comments by Bush and Republican legislative leaders have indicated strong support for that view.

Broward mayor calls for Oliphant's removal

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Broward County Mayor Diana Wasserman-Rubin on Thursday joined calls for embattled Elections Supervisor Miriam Oliphant to resign, saying it is "a remedy of last resort" for the office's many woes.

Wasserman-Rubin called an emergency meeting of county commissioners for today and said she will ask them to make a formal request to Gov. Jeb Bush to suspend Oliphant. The governor can fire Oliphant, though she's an elected official.

Before Wasserman-Rubin's sentiments were made public, Oliphant released a one-page statement Thursay saying politics would not interfere with "my commitment to my voters."

"I will not resign," she said.

Wasserman-Rubin cited several reasons she thinks Oliphant should be removed, including the $1-million her office overspent last year, the departure of key staff members and her failure to respond to requests for detailed plans for handling coming elections Feb 11. and March 11.

Oliphant has faced criticism since several Broward polling places opened late and vote tallies were delayed during the Sept. 10 primary. The governor and county officials then pressured Oliphant into giving up most of her responsibilities to former deputy supervisor Joe Cotter, but he has since resigned.

'Traveling light' takes on new meaning on this flight

MIAMI -- Excess luggage isn't likely to be a problem on this flight.

A travel agency that specializes in clothing-optional vacations has chartered a 172-seat Boeing 727 for a flight from Miami to Cancun in May. Once the plane reaches cruising altitude, passengers will be invited to disrobe.

The travel agency, Castaways Travel of Spring, Texas, is touting the trip as the world's first flight for nude passengers. The crew will be dressed.

"People are looking for stress relief," Castaways co-owner Jim Bailey said. "In a nudist environment, everyone is the same."

Some concerns are being addressed, however. No hot drinks or food will be served to nude passengers. And they will be asked to keep a towel between themselves and the plane seat.

The travelers will stay at a nudist resort for a week, then return to Miami.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said there are no regulations specifically banning nudity aboard aircraft. "It's not a safety issue," Bergen said.

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