Mark Lunsford speaks to Colorado lawmakers

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 21, 2008

DENVER

Mark Lunsford, the father of a Citrus County girl who was raped and murdered, has taken his crusade against sex offenders to Colorado.

Lunsford on Wednesday urged Colorado lawmakers to approve a bill that would require convicted sexually violent predators to wear GPS tracking devices.

Jessica Lunsford, 9, of Homosassa was killed by John Couey in February 2005. He is on Florida's death row.

PALM HARBOR

Separate fires send 2 women to hospitals

Two separate fires hospitalized two women in their 70s Tuesday.

- Rita Lewis, 71, was treated and released at Mease Countryside Hospital after a fire at 2971 Bonaventure Circle.

- Rita Lopez, 76, was treated for smoke inhalation after her home at the Sun Country Mobile Home Park, 799 E Klosterman Road, erupted in flames.

TAMPA

Rep. Castor endorses Obama's candidacy

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, threw her endorsement to Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday and called on Democrats to unite behind the Democratic presidential frontrunner.

"Everywhere I go people are energized by the Obama campaign, because it embodies our hope for change," said Castor, who joins U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler of South Florida as a state co-chair for Obama.

Obama won Castor's district, but Sen. Hillary Clinton handily won the Jan. 29 primary.

Castor's district covers most of Hillsborough County and parts of Pinellas and Manatee.

Castor is among 22 Floridians poised to be superdelegates at the national convention in August.

But because the Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of all its delegates as punishment for scheduling an earlier than allowed primary, Castor at least for now has no voice in the actual nomination.

"I am proud to have Congresswoman Castor's support," Obama said in a statement. "I look forward to fighting with her to end business-as-usual in Washington and bring about real change in this country."

[Last modified February 21, 2008, 12:23:54]