ORLANDO -- Malfunctioning computer software at Orlando International Airport is being blamed for some flight delays during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

On Sunday afternoon, the new software failed to show on radar screens the flight numbers and other information about planes that were taking off and landing. Air traffic controllers were forced to take precautions, such as telling pilots to slow down and keeping greater distances between planes. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the controllers had paper versions of the information that didn't appear on their monitors.

Twenty-four departures and four arrivals were delayed because of the problems, Bergen said.

Workers patched the computer system to keep air traffic flowing Sunday, typically a bustling travel day as Thanksgiving visitors fly home. They removed the software Monday morning and reinstalled the older equipment it had replaced three weeks ago.

Bergen said the new software will be repaired and put back in operation -- after Christmas.

Officers remove 42 dogs, 4 cats from filthy home

JACKSONVILLE -- Forty-two dogs and four cats were taken from the home of a woman who police say kept many animals in cages overflowing with waste.

Arlene Gager, 58, was cited for violating inoculation regulations as well as housing codes and was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to respond to prior animal control summons, said Sgt. Robert Dickinson.

John Merritt, manager of the city's Animal Care and Control unit, said officers found animals with chronic skin and health problems crowded in stacked cages.

The animals were being examined by veterinarians.

In contrast to the living conditions, there were bags of premium-grade dog food in the house, and the animals did not show signs of starvation.

Customs arrests 3 airline passengers, seizes Ecstasy

MIAMI -- Three Europeans were arrested on charges of trying to smuggle $3.8-million worth of Ecstasy into the United States through Miami International Airport in their clothing or luggage, the U.S. Customs Service reported Tuesday.

The three face charges of importation of a controlled substance. They could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The arrests came over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kathleen Langguth, a Dutch citizen; Daniel Grube, a German citizen; and Xavier Lother, a French citizen, were arrested after arriving on separate flights. Customs officers seized a total of 126,739 tablets of Ecstasy.

Lawyer's gift will restart health insurance for kids

PENSACOLA -- A lawyer contributed $27,233 to the taxpayer-supported Healthy Kids program, which provides health insurance for low-income children, to end a four-month freeze on new enrollments in Escambia County.

Escambia had cut off enrollments due to insufficient funds.

The contribution by Steve Bozeman, 53, of Pace in neighboring Santa Rosa County, will allow Escambia to accept more than 500 children who have been on a waiting list.

Bozeman wrote a check for the full amount needed after reading a newspaper article about the local program's financial problem.

"My wife and I really believe that when you invest in children you really invest in the future," Bozeman said.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk