Lehigh residents urged to vote for new Community Council members

The Lehigh Acres Community Council is urging residents to vote this month to select seven new members for the 41-seat organization.

Teacher suspended after students vote kid from class

A Port St. Lucie elementary school teacher has been suspended without pay after she allowed her kindergartners to openly vote on whether a 5-year-old student could remain in class.

Ave Maria will join athletic conference next year

Ave Maria University will join an athletic conference next year. The Sun Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has accepted the Gyrenes along with two other schools for membership in its soon-to-be 12-school conference.

Surviving family-time during the holidays

Thanksgiving isn't just about the golden-brown turkey and Aunt Alice's special cranberry relish.

Two Cape Coral High School seniors receive Sunshine State Scholars award

According to a Lee County School District release, Cape Coral High School students Kyle Raney and Jack Jones were awarded the 2008/09 Sunshine State...

Going to a holiday party? Gifts for your gracious host

How to honor a host's yuletide hospitality without resorting to the predictable candle or claret? USA TODAY's Olivia Barker spoke with Pamela Fiori,...

Source: Holder informally offered, accepts AG job

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A source close to the process of selecting Barack Obama's attorney general says the president-elect has "informally" offered the post to Washington lawyer Eric Holder, who has accepted....

FBI agent killed serving warrant near Pittsburgh

INDIANOLA, Pa. (AP) -- An FBI agent has been shot and killed while serving a warrant at a home near Pittsburgh....

Indian navy sinks suspected pirate "mother" ship

NEW DELHI (AP) -- An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night, officials said Wednesday, yet more violence in the lawless seas where brigands are becoming bolder and more violent....

Today in History: November 19th

On Nov. 19, 1863, President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the site of the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania.

Tips for getting the best deals online

NEW YORK — Shopping online used to be about convenience. This holiday season, make it about saving money.

Cable wires spark small fire at Cape Coral apartment

Investigators determined some cable television wires started a small fire at an apartment complex in Cape Coral.

Journo John Sergeant quits 'Strictly Come Dancing'

LONDON (AP) -- Retired BBC political correspondent John Sergeant has waltzed off the British TV talent show "Strictly Come Dancing," saying he is afraid he might win....

3 arrested after being found in 'unoccupied' Naples residence

Three people have been arrested after Naples police officers found them in what was supposed to be an unoccupied residence. Reports also state that one of the accused shot a neighbor with a pellet rifle.

Cold day to miss school bus

With temperatures dipping into the 40s, Wednesday was quite the day to miss the school bus.

BASF abandons '08 forecast, plans cutbacks

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Chemical company BASF SE said Wednesday it would temporarily close 80 plants worldwide due to slumping demand and cut production at 100 more, including facilities in Texas and Louisiana, a move that will affect 20,000 workers....

Hollywood ponders global warming

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hollywood insiders and climate change experts agree that they can't shove messages about global warming down audiences' throats....

Florida kindergarten teacher suspended for allowing class to vote on kicking out student

A Port St. Lucie elementary school teacher has been suspended without pay after she allowed her kindergartners to openly vote on whether a 5-year-old student could remain in class.

Crash blocking U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers

A vehicle crash is bocking traffic at U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers this morning.

Democrats: Clinton to help Hillary get State job

CHICAGO (AP) -- Former President Bill Clinton has offered several concessions to help Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, his wife, become secretary of state, people familiar with President-elect Barack Obama's transition vetting process said Wednesday....

Al-Qaida No. 2 insults Obama with racial epithet

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader used a racial epithet to insult Barack Obama in a message posted Wednesday, using a demeaning racial term implying that the president-elect is a black American who does the bidding of whites....

Florida GOP legislators begin retreat at upscale resort

Florida's Republican legislators will begin a three-day retreat at an upscale Panhandle resort.

SKorea seeks to stop propaganda leaflets to NKorea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean officials urged activists Wednesday to refrain from sending propaganda leaflets over the border into North Korea....

Artist Barcelo unveils $23 million ceiling at UN

GENEVA (AP) -- A $23 million ceiling painting featuring hundreds of dangling icicle shapes that has been criticized for its hefty price tag was unveiled Tuesday at the U.N. offices in Geneva....

'Very cold air' and freezing temperatures expected to remain tonight in our area

A Hazardous Weather Outlook, and a Wind Chill advisory are in effect for Southwest Florida today, according to the National Weather Service, Tampa...

Wheelchair-bound, elderly Tampa woman 'lost' by US Airways

TAMPA -- The nightmare is over for a Tampa family after a Bay area grandma got lost by the airlines.

Bad economy forcing Pinellas County to close six public schools

CLEARWATER, Florida - The bad economy is forcing many school districts to make some tough decisions.

Naples company marketing 'green bottle'

A green company in Naples has a natural way to eliminate plastic bottles - which could lead to lower fuel prices for everyone.

U.S. Sugar land not worth cost, adviser reports

PALM BEACH, Fl -- The state's proposal to buy U.S.

$1 billion idea could slash wait times at the polls

WASHINGTON — Rep.