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Briefs

Trial opens challenging Okeechobee water pumping

By wire services
Published January 10, 2006

MIAMI - A trial began Monday in a federal lawsuit by environmental groups and an Indian tribe challenging the decades-old practice by state water managers of pumping contaminated water into Lake Okeechobee.

They say the South Florida Water Management District should have to get federal permits for the pumping under the federal Clean Water Act, which could force the district to clean the polluted water or send it elsewhere.

"Lake Okeechobee is a drinking water supply and ecological treasure," said David Guest, representing the Florida Wildlife Federation. "These pumping operations are ruining the water supply and threatening to kill the lake."

Since the 1970s, the water district has pumped water from nearby sugar-growing lands into the lake for flood control and to boost the lake's water supply during drought. The discharge contains agricultural chemicals and runoff from towns, contributing to poor water quality in the 730-square-mile lake.

The water district, joined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Sugar Corp., argues that the Clean Water Act does not apply.

Governor names former chief of staff to Board of Education

Gov. Jeb Bush's former chief of staff is the newest member of the state Board of Education.

Bush on Monday appointed Kathleen Shanahan, 46, of Tampa, to replace Julia Johnson. He also reappointed Donna Calloway of Tallahassee and Linda Taylor of Fort Myers.

Shanahan was Bush's chief of staff from January 2001 to November 2003. She previously served as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. She is chief executive officer of WRS Infrastructure & Environ.

Report: Seaplane's left wing also had metal fatigue cracks

FORT LAUDERDALE - Although the right wing ripped off a doomed Chalk's seaplane last month, the left one also had metal fatigue cracks, a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report issued Monday says.

That bolsters evidence that the wear and tear of 58 years of flying might have played a major role in the Dec. 19 crash that killed all 20 on board, experts said.

The Chalk's Ocean Airways flight had just taken off from Miami's Government Cut, bound for the Bahamian island of Bimini, when the right wing detached and caught fire. The Grumman Mallard plunged into the water.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Dec. 30 grounded all 37 Mallards operating in the United States, requiring a thorough inspection of the wings.

Teen who died after boot camp incident not a rebel, mom says

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - The mother of a 14-year-old who collapsed during his admission to a boot camp said Monday her son wanted to succeed at the disciplinary school.

Gina Jones said her son, Martin Lee Anderson of Panama City, told her the day before he died that he was going to obey the rules at the Bay County Sheriff's Office boot camp program.

"He said, "Mom, I'm going to be good. I'm going to look them dead in the eyes and I'm going to be good,"' she said.

Anderson arrived at the Panama City camp Thursday and was doing pushups, situps and other exercises that are part of the camp's physical fitness assessment when he became uncooperative and had to be restrained, the Sheriff's Office said.

He later complained of breathing problems. Four minutes after an ambulance was called, he became unresponsive, officials said. He died early Friday in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Jones said her son had a broken nose, a cut lip and other bruises on his face when she saw his body. Investigators are awaiting autopsy results.

Benjamin Crump, a Tallahassee attorney representing the family, scheduled a news conference today to announce the filing of a lawsuit in the case.

Proposal to ban early start of schools getting hearing

TALLAHASSEE - Sherry Sturner doesn't think there is a good reason her two children, ages 7 and 10, had to start school in early August - the hottest month of the year and the height of the hurricane season.

The North Miami Beach woman formed Save Our Summers to advocate delaying the school starting date. The group is supporting a bill to prohibit schools from starting earlier than a week before Labor Day. The legislation gets its first committee hearing today.

"Why are we starting so early?" Sturner said at a news conference Monday. "I have asked and asked and never received an answer that is based on research and cold hard facts."

Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, is sponsoring the measure (House Bill 177).

[Last modified January 10, 2006, 14:25:06]