Dateline Florida

By Times Wires
Published November 14, 2007

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Center offers view of comet

Move over Hale-Bopp. Astronomers around the world are marveling at how once-faint Comet 17P/Holmes experienced a sudden 2-millionfold increase in brightness Oct. 24. The St. Petersburg Astronomy Club has organized a free viewing of the "once-in-a-lifetime" event Friday at the Science Center, 8 p.m. to midnight. "It was this tiny little dim blob and something hit this that caused it to explode," said Dan Bricker, a club officer. "It's visible to the naked eye, even in the city if you know where to look, which is pretty good considering the light pollution." See more details, like its shock wave shell and strange nucleus, with telescopes at the Science Center, 7701 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

Florida rivals kick off game with campaign

Rivals Florida State and the University of Florida are gearing up for their annual matchup Nov. 24, but on Monday the two universities will unite for a campaign against drunken driving and binge drinking. The "Road to Responsibility Challenge" will start at daybreak when two FSU police officers ride 150 miles on bicycles, from Tallahassee to UF's Gainesville campus. Officers will then pledge to alcohol laws during game weekend. "The effort is a physical statement of our passion regarding this issue," said FSU Assistant Chief Jim Russell.

Democrat pitches bid against tax plan

The top Democrat in the state House of Representatives has a message for voters: say no to the Legislature's tax plan. House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, offered that at a luncheon for Democrats on Tuesday in Tampa. Gelber said the plan, on the ballot Jan. 29, does nothing to help those who most need property tax relief - new homeowners and small business owners. "To me it made little sense, and I'm hoping people will vote it down," he said of the plan. He hopes a reform commission will fill the void with better ideas.