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The week in reviewBy Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, USF TO STUDY BIOTERRORISM: The federal government Wednesday awarded the University of South Florida nearly $4-million to devise a system for protecting public health workers from a bioterrorist attack. The contract with the U.S. Department of Defense will build on a $1.8-million grant received last year by the USF Center for Biological Defense, which is using the money to develop a surveillance system to defend against germ warfare. The center also is working on ways to guard against the introduction of pathogens into animal herds and the food supply. "We will be able to apply the work we do to many different kinds of public health emergencies," said Jacqueline Cattani, the center's director. That includes naturally occurring diseases such as the West Nile virus, she said. The contract is the latest evidence of USF's growing status as a research institution. The amount of sponsored research at the university reached $186-million last year, officials said Wednesday. The total is a record for USF, and represents a three-fold increase during the past 10 years. University officials are particularly happy about a huge jump in federal grants, which are the most prestigious and hardest to get. In 1999-2000, federal grants totaled $53.7-million. Last year, they reached $84.1-million -- a 57 percent increase. MOTORCYCLIST KILLED: A 36-year-old Lutz man was killed Monday when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a car, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said. Norberto Escobales of 18107 Lafayette Place was on N Dale Mabry Highway, about a quarter-mile south of Ehrlich Road, when he was hit by Sara Yglesias of 18001 Quail Lane in Lutz, deputies said. Yglesias, 71, driving a Mercedes, was trying to cross Dale Mabry when she hit the motorcycle. Escobales, who was wearing a helmet, hit the brakes, skidded and was thrown off the bike. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he died. Sheriff's authorities said Yglesias was cited for failing to yield the right of way. CONVICTION IN DRUG CLINIC SHOOTING: A jury on Monday convicted Phillip Walker, 41, of trying to rob a Temple Terrace drug treatment center, and, when that failed, killing one of its employees. Walker was found guilty in the first-degree murder of Sergio Guedes of North Lakes, a 46-year-old substance abuse counselor who had gone in on his day off. According to court testimony, Walker walked into the drug center on a Sunday morning in March wearing a fedora and carrying a firearm. He pointed the gun at Guedes' back. "It's all about the money. Just give up the money," Walker told Guedes, according to testimony. Holding a gun on Guedes, Walker took him over to a sealed door. Behind the door was a room where the center kept its money and its drugs. "If you don't open the door, I'll kill him," Walker shouted, according to testimony. Shasta Lucey, another employee working inside, opened the door. She saw the gun and Walker's face and slammed the door shut. Walker fired at Guedes' back as Guedes bolted for the exit, prosecutors said.
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