Northpinellas: Pinellas digest

St. Petersburg College received accreditation Tuesday from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer four-year degrees in nursing, education and technology. SACS is the regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for eleven U.S. Southern states and Latin America. The accreditation follows the school's name change to St. Petersburg College and legislation that transformed the school into a four-year college. In August, SPC will begin offering a bachelor of applied science in technology management at the Clearwater campus. Bachelor of science degrees will be offered in four areas of teacher education -- secondary math, secondary science, elementary education and exceptional child education -- at the Tarpon Springs campus. And a bachelor of science degree in nursing will be offered at Caruth Education Center in Pinellas Park. Eighty percent of the 22,000 students enrolled are pursuing associate of arts degrees, and SPC expects 800 new students next year in the four-year programs, said Tom Furlong, senior vice president for baccalaureate programs. SPC will continue its partnerships with 10 colleges across the state that offer undergraduate- and graduate-level degrees to students at SPC campuses.

It's time for 'Coffee with the Chief'

LARGO -- Residents can chat about community issues with Largo Police Chief Lester Aradi from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday during his monthly "Coffee with the Chief." The chief's guest will be Ric Goss, Largo's community development director. Each month, Aradi and a representative of the city's government meet with residents at different restaurants in the city. Saturday's meeting will be at the Palace Family Restaurant, 800 Clearwater-Largo Road. Those participating must buy their own breakfast.

Man stabbed; suspect jailed

LARGO -- One man was in the hospital and another in jail after a stabbing early Thursday at the Suburban Lodge. Largo police arrested David T. Langston, 42, on an aggravated battery charge. He is accused of stabbing Christopher Davis, 30, in the upper-left side of his chest with a 10-inch knife. Police said the stabbing occurred at the lodge, 6500 Ulmerton Road, after a night of drinking. Davis was in fair condition Thursday at Bayfront Medical Center. Langston was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on $20,000 bail. Police were unsure what prompted the stabbing but said Davis was visiting Langston, who was staying at the lodge with another person. Langston ran after the 1:50 a.m. stabbing and hid behind a trash bin, police said. He was located and arrested. Langston claimed Davis had beaten him up before and that the stabbing was self-defense. Witnesses told police Langston was the aggressor.

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