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$15M seals deal for Rays' Spring move

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 4, 2007

A $15-million state grant means Charlotte County will be the new spring training home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The money will be used to renovate Charlotte Sports Park in time for the 2009 season. Charlotte and the Rays made a deal in September, but it was contingent on the state money. The future of Progress Energy Park has yet to be discussed. St. Petersburg is focusing first on this year's spring training and the Grand Prix, said senior development administrator Rick Mussett. Talks may not begin until after March 31, the deadline for the Rays to formally decide when to leave the waterfront park.

Xbox trial's price tag: $1.37M

Three defendants, six attorneys, a monthlong trial, two years of preparation: it adds up to $1.37-million for the court-appointed attorneys who defended three of the killers in the Deltona-massacre trial, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The bill shocked the public defender and outraged the mothers of two of the six massacre victims. "This is the first case that I've seen hit the million-dollar mark in Florida," said James Purdy, public defender. Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter and Michael Salas were convicted of murder. A fourth defendant, Robert Anthony Cannon, worked a plea deal and did not go to trial in the attack, reportedly fueled by anger over a missing Xbox system.

[Last modified January 4, 2007, 00:53:17]