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Dateline Florida

By TIMES WIRES
Published February 16, 2007

Everglades water a no-no for utilities

For years, South Florida cities and counties drew their water from the Everglades. No more, says the South Florida Water Management District. Because the state and federal governments are spending $10-billion restoring the Everglades, utilities will have to find a different source of water for sprinkling lawns and taking baths, the agency announced Thursday, saying it was "compelled to impose stricter limitations on the use of Everglades water if it is to protect this natural resource." That means using more reclaimed water or drawing from the salty part of the aquifer and then desalinating it.

Shuttle trip: 3.4 miles

The space shuttle Atlantis atop the crawler transporter begins its 3.4-mile trip to the launch pad after leaving the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Station in Cape Canaveral on Thursday. Atlantis is scheduled for a March mission to the International Space Station.

Recess for students, yes; for cleaning crew, no

When big brother says he's watching, believe him. At the Pinellas County School District headquarters in Largo, security cameras recently caught three members of the night cleaning crew taking long breaks and leaving work up to 45 minutes early. A supervisor ordered them to change their habits. But the trio moved their breaks to a room with no cameras. The ruse failed when the district installed a camera near the room and monitored it closely for 15 days. Now, each of the workers - Patrick Korta, Nathaniel Pitts and Freda Raub - faces a five-day unpaid suspension. The School Board will consider the case next week.

[Last modified February 16, 2007, 01:33:14]