Dateline Florida

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 27, 2007

Population grows, but at a slower pace

Florida is still getting bigger, but not quite as quickly. Florida was the 19th fastest growing state compared with the previous year, when it ranked ninth, according to new Census Bureau state population estimates. Florida, a state whose economy has been fueled largely by a steady stream of retirees crossing the border each year, increased its population by 1.1 percent to 18.3-million as of July 2007. The previous year the rate of increase was 1.8 percent. Nevada topped the list, increasing in population by 2.9 percent to 2.6-million.

Orange Bowl bath decor?

So how would you like to have the Orange Bowl scoreboard in your back yard? (You better have a big lawn and a crane.) Or how about an OB ice machine in your kitchen? Any interest in buying an OB urinal? (Okay, maybe not.) All of that and more will be available in the OB's pseudo going-out-of-business sale, Feb. 9-10, in the stadium's final public event, the Miami Herald reports. Before taking a wrecking ball to the 70-year-old sports cathedral, the city of Miami and Fort Lauderdale-based Mounted Memories will sell off everything that isn't nailed down - and most everything that is nailed down, too. "You name it, it will be available," Mounted Memories founder and president Mitch Adelstein, whose company secured rights to run the auction, told the newspaper. "We'll have something for everyone - a $10 item or a seat signed by Don Shula for $500."

Lunch knife no weapon

A felony weapons charge has been dropped against a 10-year-old girl who brought a kitchen knife to school to cut up her lunch, authorities said Wednesday. The girl, whose name has not been released, was arrested after teachers at Sunrise Elementary School in Ocala saw her use a 41/2-inch knife on a steak. "The jail and the charges - that was way over the top," said her uncle, Kenneth Thomas.

Too late on 1/1/08

A reminder before you start partying: New Year's Eve is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the Jan. 29 presidential primary election. You must complete a voter register application and have it in the supervisor of elections office or postmarked no later than Monday.

[Last modified December 26, 2007, 23:46:32]