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New signs to fix TIA taxi trouble

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 16, 2006

Never stand in the way of an angry cabbie. When Tampa International Airport relocated taxi staging areas recently to the ends of the terminal baggage claim areas, signs went up inside pointing the way. But outside? No signs. So travelers, being creatures of habit, grab their bags and head to the curb, expecting cabs and finding none. Passengers are confused. Cabbies are furious. TIA officials say they hear their angst. Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan says the situation will be fixed immediately. The solution: new signs outside.

State graduation rate falls a bit

Florida's graduation rate dipped slightly last year to 71 percent, Education Commissioner John L. Winn said Friday. That's down from 71.9 percent the year before. Winn pointed out that the rate was 60.2 percent in 1998 and has improved steadily since then. Why 1998 as a benchmark? That would be the year his boss, Jeb Bush, was elected governor.

Baring her breasts a form of protest?

It turns out you can legally bare your breasts in public if you are protesting laws against baring your breasts in public. Who knew? County Judge David B. Beck ruled Thursday that Elizabeth Book, 44, of Ormond Beach did not violate a disorderly conduct law in Daytona Beach on July 2, 2005, when she disrobed in public as a protest. Her attorney, Lawrence G. Walters, said, "I've never seen another city or case where the city has shown so much time and effort to shut down one person's First Amendment right of protected speech." Deputy City Attorney Marie Hartman said the city is appealing. "We have no problems with her holding up signs, to hold public forums to protest nudity laws, but that does not include the right to go nude," Hartman said.

A summer camp for physics fans

Don't plan on fireside stories and marshmallows at this summer camp: Florida State University's Department of Physics was just selected to host the 2007 National Nuclear Physics Summer School. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institute for Nuclear Theory at the University of Washington, it brings together graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to talk shop. Previous university hosts have included Yale. Camp attendees, 40 to 50 each summer, come from the United States and abroad.

[Last modified December 16, 2006, 00:50:16]