Digest

UCF freezes hiring, looks to trim budgets

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published July 12, 2007

ORLANDO

The University of Central Florida began a schoolwide hiring freeze Wednesday and president John Hitt asked vice presidents to cut their budgets by at least 4 percent in response to expected state budget cuts.

The hiring freeze will apply to all faculty and staff positions at all UCF campuses and centers except for "crucial positions" approved by the provost or president, the university said in a statement.

Positions paid for by sources other than the state budget, such as those funded by grants, are exempt as long as the nonstate funding source continues, the university said.

MIAMI

Hot tar causes fire at Miami airport tower

A tower under construction at Miami International Airport caught fire Wednesday, injuring one worker and sending billows of thick black smoke into the sky.

Workers were repairing the tower when a pot containing hot roofing tar spilled over and ignited, Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Laverne Guillen said.

One of the workers was taken to a hospital, Guillen said, but officials said the injury was minor.

The fire appeared to be contained to the domed upper deck of the tower, which is part of a costly construction project at the airport.

[Last modified July 12, 2007, 00:28:10]