Dateline Florida

By Times Wires
Published February 21, 2008

Box cutter in book brings felony charge from Feds 

More bad news for Benjamin Baines Jr., the 21-year-old caught Sunday with a box cutter hidden in a book at a Tampa International Airport security checkpoint. Despite initial reports to the contrary from the U.S. Attorney's Office, it turns out Baines has been charged with attempting to carry a dangerous weapon on an aircraft, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Baines pleaded guilty Monday to carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor, in Hillsborough County court and received a 30-day jail sentence.

Cough, cough: That's a flu spike you hear

After Florida being the only state in the nation with only a moderate outbreak of the flu, heath officials say a late-season spike is occurring statewide. The state reported this week that flu occurrence has deepened to "regional," one step below the most severe "widespread" rating, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. The worst outbreaks are in the Tampa Bay and Panhandle areas. Officials say it isn't too late to get a flu shot, though it will take 10 days for it to take effect. Other precautions: hand washing and staying away from sick people. "If you are ill with cough and fever, please don't go to work," said Dr. Richard Hopkins, medical epidemiologist at the Florida Department of Health. "Please don't go to school. Please don't send your kids to school."

Bucs cheerleaders try out amid sisters

Want to become a Tampa Bay Buccaneer cheerleader? You'll have to spend some time at Catholic school first. Academy of the Holy Names, an all-girls Catholic high school in South Tampa, is hosting this year's cheerleader auditions, starting with workshops on March 31 and April 1. Participants will learn the dos and don'ts of auditioning in preparation for the actual tryouts, which run April 5-10 at the school's basketball court. Go to www.buccaneers.com to download audition forms.

[Last modified February 20, 2008, 23:32:20]