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In brief

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 21, 2006

Wal-Mart to test low generic drug prices

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's biggest retailer, will cut prices on generic drugs in Florida as it tries to lure customers to its pharmacies, people familiar with the company's plans said. The retailer is reducing prices on generic versions of 200 to 300 top prescription drugs to as little as $4, from an average of $25 to $30, they said. The company will test the plan in Tampa, then cut prices in the rest of the state on Jan.1, said the people, who Bloomberg News said declined to be identified because the plan won't be publicly announced until today. Top Wal-Mart executives were jetting to Tampa on Wednesday to make the announcement at a store in northwest Hillsborough County today. Officials said the chain expects to expand the test quickly, depending on customer acceptance.

Laboratory to create 28 high-paying jobs

Xcelience LLC, a Tampa pharmaceutical company, plans to create 28 news jobs at salaries high enough to earn the company tax credits from the state. Xcelience has 55 employees currently at its headquarters on W Laurel Street. On average, the new jobs, to be filled over the next three years, will pay twice the state average, or roughly $70,000 per year. The laboratory makes medicines on contract for other companies.

Alternative weekly is Creative Loafing again

After 12 years as the Weekly Planet, the Tampa Bay area's alternative weekly newspaper published Wednesday with a new name: Creative Loafing. Sound familiar? That was the paper's name from 1988, when it debuted in Tampa, until 1994. The Planet's Sarasota edition also became Creative Loafing on Wednesday. David Warner, the Tampa Bay edition's editor, said the change brings the papers in line with Creative Loafing Inc.'s Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., editions. "What's important is what's inside the paper, not what's outside," Warner said. The paper also is making some small editorial changes, but generally, Loafing will be much the same as Planet, he said. Readers got an inadvertent preview when the Tampa Bay edition accidentally published under the Loafing name in May.

Allegiant Air to offer flights to Tennessee

Allegiant Air will begin nonstop flights in December between St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and two Tennessee cities: Knoxville and Chattanooga. The discount carrier is offering a limited number of tickets for $49 one-way. Sale tickets must be purchased by Oct. 14 for travel through Jan. 31. Allegiant starts flights to Chattanooga on Dec. 11 and Knoxville on Dec. 13.

[Last modified September 20, 2006, 23:22:11]