ST. PETERSBURG -- The St. Petersburg City Council today will consider selling the city's Weeki Wachee Spring land in Hernando County and will hold a public hearing on whether to convert Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street to two-way traffic downtown.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District wants to buy about 430 acres the city owns along U.S. 19 in western Hernando County to expand a huge nature preserve in the area. The city bought the land in 1940 as a potential water source, but tapping the spring for drinking water has proven politically and practically impossible.

The tract now contains a mermaid tourist attraction and a hotel, which could continue to operate after the sale. The sale was approved in a 1999 voter referendum but still needs approval of six of the eight council members. The discussion is set to begin soon after the meeting's start at 2 p.m. Concerning King Street, the public will have the chance to tell the council what it thinks about converting the downtown blocks of the thoroughfare from one-way to two-way. The hearing is scheduled soon after 6 p.m. The entire council meeting will be at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N, and televised live on the city station, cable channel 15 and broadcast channel 35.

Traffic stop leads to chase, wreck, arrest

TAMPA -- A 22-year-old man who was stopped by police Tuesday night didn't stay stopped for long. He fled in his car, struck an officer with his car door and then ran a stop sign and was hit by another car before being caught, police said.

Police stopped Jabari L. Hunter of 3103 E Giddens Ave. at N Oregon Avenue and W Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday because of a broken taillight, reports said. But he took off moments later after he couldn't produce identification or a driver's license, police said.

Officer Jim Houston, who was looking into Hunter's car, was struck with the car door and mirror as Hunter drove off, reports said. Houston suffered bruises.

Hunter ran a stop sign in his 1994 Chevy Prizm and was hit on the passenger side by a 2000 Ford Expedition at Lois Avenue and Laurel Street; the driver of the Expedition received no medical treatment, police said.

Hunter ran after the crash and was captured in the 4200 block of W Nassau Street, police said.

Hunter was in jail without bail Wednesday, charged with leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license, aggravated fleeing to elude, false name given to a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of cocaine and reckless driving.

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