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City backs off plan to ban sex offenders

By TIMES WIRES
Published February 16, 2007

TAMPA - The City Council on Thursday backed off a plan to bar sex offenders and predators from living anywhere within the city limits.

Instead, at the urging of City Attorney David Smith, the council proposed an ordinance that would create child protection zones that are off limits to sexual predators whose victims are minors. The zones would not apply to sex offenders, whose crimes are less serious than those of predators.

Smith told the council the initial idea of making the entire city off limits was likely to be legally indefensible. Likewise, he said, a proposal that would prohibit sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of schools, day care centers, parks and playgrounds would present legal problems. It would make 92 percent of Tampa's residential areas off limits.

Tourism board backs tennis stadium money

WESLEY CHAPEL - Pasco County's Tourist Development Council has endorsed adding $2.2-million in taxes to the budget to build a tennis stadium.

But the decision Thursday didn't come without pointed questions over Saddlebrook Resort owner Tom Dempsey's early plans to run the 15-court complex next to his golf and tennis refuge in Wesley Chapel.

The tourism board endorsed spending more money because construction costs had blown past the $5.7-million budget approved by the County Commission in 2002.

Under the proposal, Saddlebrook would manage the tennis complex for at least a decade.

Hillsborough students may face a longer day

TAMPA - Hillsborough's school day may get longer soon.

School officials are proposing to add 15 to 20 minutes to middle and high school days. They say it would help buses run on time - and bolster academics.

The bell schedule changes are among a series of far-reaching recommendations the School Board will discuss Tuesday as it looks to revamp an ailing school bus system.

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Criminal justice 101

Jury selection Thursday in the trial of John Couey included a lesson in criminal justice: innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A significant number of jurors didn't understand. They expected the 48-year-old Homosassa man to prove he was innocent in the death of Jessica Lunsford. The problem is that the defense isn't likely to present a case at all.

- Six prospective jurors were dismissed because they said they couldn't be fair to an idle defense.

- Only 12 of 36 candidates advanced Thursday to a second round of questioning, which is expected to begin Feb. 26.

- The three-day total now stands at 37. The judge is looking to pick the 12-member panel from a pool of 75 to 100.

[Last modified February 16, 2007, 01:53:46]