Around the state

Utah congressman is foe of buying anthrax building

BOCA RATON -- A Utah congressman wants to block the government purchase of the anthrax-tainted building owned by the publisher of the National Enquirer.

Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon mocked the planned purchase in a recent letter to his House colleagues, headlined, "Uncle Sam Gives National Enquirer $20 Million Bail Out."

The building, owned by American Media Inc., was the site of the nation's first anthrax attack and has remained under quarantine since October 2001. Photo editor Robert Stevens was the first of five people to die nationwide in the anthrax attacks.

U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida recently proposed that the government buy the $10-million building for $1, then foot the cleanup bill. The cost could run anywhere from $10-million to $100-million.

Cannon said the purchase would set a "terrible precedent."

Some members of Florida's congressional delegation fired back that the building threatens the public's health because it could release deadly anthrax spores into the air if it is struck by a hurricane or fire.

A spokeswoman for Shaw said the private sector isn't equipped to handle the cleanup of a bioterrorism attack, so the federal government must take responsibility.

Robbery suspect killed after multicounty chase

INTERCESSION CITY -- A man believed to have robbed an Orlando area grocery story was fatally shot by an Osceola County sheriff's deputy after a multicounty chase Tuesday, authorities said. A second man was captured.

The pursuit began after two men robbed a Winn-Dixie grocery store in southwest Orange County, sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said.

Osceola deputies pursued the car through Osceola County into Polk County on Interstate 4.

The suspect was shot about 3:30 p.m. on County Road 54 in northeastern Polk County, said Michal Shanley, a Polk sheriff's spokeswoman.

The suspects were not immediately identified, nor was the officer who fired the fatal shot.

Man says argument led to orange grove slaying

WINTER HAVEN -- One man is under arrest and another is being sought in the slaying of a man whose body was dumped in a Polk County orange grove.

Roger Allan Ganley, 26, was charged Monday with first-degree murder and an arrest warrant was still out Tuesday for William Raymond Parker Jr., also 26. They and the victim, John Weldon Hodge, 51, all were from Bradenton.

Investigators said Ganley said he, Parker, Hodge and Fred Arm, 45, had met at a soup kitchen in Bradenton and were riding in Hodge's car, with Parker driving, to Orlando Saturday. Ganley said he got angry when Hodge made a sexual comment about a person in Ganley's family, and he ordered Parker to exit Interstate 4 onto Old Polk City Road. They stopped beside an orange grove. All but Arm got out of the car, and Ganley said Parker and he attacked Hodge.

According to Ganley's account, Hodge died after being struck repeatedly in the throat with a jack, stabbed several times with scissors, choked with Parker's belt and struck several times in the head with a rubber mallet. They left the body in the orange grove.

About 2 a.m. Sunday, Ganley and Arm approached an Orange County deputy at an Orlando gas station and reported the slaying. Parker had left them.

Polk authorities found Hodge's body about 7 p.m. Sunday in the grove between Auburndale and Polk City.

Polk sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said Arm did not see or participate in the killing.

Missouri professor will be new UF law dean

GAINESVILLE -- A University of Missouri professor was named to replace Jon Mills as dean of the University of Florida's law school, effective July 1.

Robert Jerry, 49, has taught at Missouri since 1998. He taught at the University of Kansas law school from 1981 to 1994, serving as dean the last six years.

Mills announced last year that he would step down as dean of the Fredric G. Levin College of Law. He will stay on the faculty.

-- Information from the Associated Press, the Ledger and the Bradenton Herald was used in this report.

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