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FAMU High looks to make another run to Lakeland
By Jim Henry Democrat writer -- Despite its rich tradition, the FAMU High girls basketball team exceeded expectations last season when it reached the state tournament. Even veteran coach Ahmad Aliyy conceded as much.

Chiles' Posey signs with Wallace
By Jim Lamar Democrat associate editor -- Sara Posey had a choice a year ago — and she decided she wanted to work a little harder to make her dream a reality.

Practice good sportsmanship at all times
Column by Brian Smatt Democrat correspondent -- How do you define sportsmanship?

Pensacola State rallies past TCC
Democrat staff report -- The Pensacola State College men's basketball team outscored Tallahassee Community College, 15-5, in the final 6:30 to claim a 60-57 victory in Panhandle Conference action on Wednesday night.

LOCAL SPORTS BRIEFS: FSU women set to face Wake Forest
Democrat staff reports -- The Florida State women's basketball team hasn't lost to Wake Forest in over 10 years.

Cloud fires up next foe
By St. Clair Murraine Democrat staff writer -- After about 30 minutes — during which time Tallahassee boxer Tavoris Cloud was clearly the focus of members of the media during a conference call Wednesday afternoon — Gabriel Campillo's promoter jumped into the fray.

FSU 'disappointed' with lack of focus, energy
By Ira Schoffel Democrat sports editor -- BOSTON — There was no shortage of theories to explain Florida State's stunning loss here Wednesday night to a Boston College team that was the preseason pick to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference and appeared to be well on its way to that destination.

Bombs away: BC stuns FSU
By Ira Schoffel Democrat sports editor -- Florida State, which had soared to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with seven consecutive victories, came crashing back to the pack Wednesday night with a 64-60 loss to Boston College, which had lost six straight.

Next up at Village Square: Talk about 'Our Town' with officials
By Jordan Culver Democrat staff writer -- The Village Square is giving Tallahassee citizens a chance to interact with local officials in a less-formal setting than a commission meeting.

Man arrested in connection with scuffle at Democrats meeting
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- Tallahassee police Wednesday announced the arrest of a local Democratic Party activist in connection with a scuffle that broke out at a Leon County party meeting last month.

Maddox says he will run for Mustian's seat
By TaMaryn Waters Democrat staff writer -- Half a dozen candidates want a shot at the City Commission seat held by Mark Mustian, who isn't running again. Scott Maddox now makes seven.

House grants JCI a reprieve
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- With prison employees applauding overhead, the House voted unanimously to save Jefferson County "from becoming a ghost town" Wednesday by shifting $10.2 million in the state budget to keep Jefferson Correctional Institution from being closed.

Ammons' review shows mixed feelings among board members
By Doug Blackburn Democrat senior writer -- Florida A&M University President James H. Ammons appeared stung by some of the comments during an informal presentation of his annual performance review Wednesday night.

Zing!
| -- • You know times are still tough when you have to try to pull strings to get a nonpaying, volunteer position.

Thank Wilbur Jones for highway landscaping
By Gerald Ensley Democrat senior writer -- City Commissioner Mark Mustian said he remembered five years ago when a city tree committee was upset by the "moonscape" left by construction at the Interstate-10 and North Monroe Street interchange. He said he got a call from Wilbur Jones, then 94, who told Mustian the state transportation department was obligated to re-landscape the interchange and he would be glad to help the city get that done.

FAMU to hire firm to remedy faulty audits
By Doug Blackburn Democrat Senior Writer -- Florida A&M University is preparing to hire an outside firm to assist its troubled Office of Audit and Compliance.

Sometimes the allure of a product offsets lack of speedy service
By Jerry Osteryoung Helping Small Business -- If you have been reading my columns for a while, you know that I compete in dog obedience trials with my wonderful black Labrador retriever, Sophie. As part of these competitions, we travel all over to compete before different judges. Most recently, we were at a venue in Charleston, S.C.

John Paul II high school loses its funding, seeks to raise $465,000
By Desiree Stennett Democrat staff writer -- The newly appointed members of the board of directors for John Paul II Catholic High School are fervently working to raise $465,000. The money is to ensure the school is able to operate and tuition hikes won't be a burden for parents. Tonight, the school will be holding a fundraiser with the hope of raising a significant portion of that amount. Archbishop Thomas Wenski from the Archdiocese of Miami will be present to support the school.

Library puts black history in spotlight with read-in
Elizabeth M. Mack Girl About Town -- As of today we are nine days into Black History Month.

County names five Teacher of Year finalists
By Jordan Culver Democrat staff writer -- The finalists for the Leon County Teacher of the Year were announced Wednesday, narrowed down from the approximately 2,300 teachers in the district.

Big Bend & Fla. briefs
City approves 2009 crash settlement

Crime Report
Crimes reported in Leon County are listed by area in these categories: robbery, residential burglary, vehicle burglary, vehicle theft and commercial.

Property Appraiser's Office earns high honor
Democrat staff report -- The Leon County Property Appraiser's Office has been notified that it has earned the IAAO Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration.

They're looking for America's wildest places
By Doug Alderson Special to the Democrat -- Ryan and Rebecca Means enjoy exploring wild places. But the adventuresome couple have taken their passion a step further by beginning Project Remote, an effort to identify and document the remotest locations in all 50 states. They already have traveled to and documented 12 states so far, and their progress can be tracked on their website at http://remotefootprints.org/.

News & Notes: Living & Outdoors

Don't commit crape murder
By Elizabeth Schmidt Special to the Democrat -- They're back! Home gardeners and professional landscapers alike are out there beheading crape myrtles. Experts agree that severe pruning is unnecessary and damages both the appearance and the structure of the tree.

Jonah Goldberg: Liberals are the aggressors in culture wars
Jonah Goldberg Tribune Media Services -- If you're not with us, you're against us. President Bush popularized this expression after 9/11 to describe his foreign policy doctrine: Countries couldn't support or indulge terrorists and be our friends at the same time. But his detractors quickly turned it into a fairly paranoid vision of domestic political life, as if Bush had been talking about domestic opponents and dissenters.

Bill Newton: Fix CAT Fund, lower risks
Bill Newton My View -- Florida's insurance consumers face new risks from our homeowner insurance system — some well known, and some that most people haven't heard about.

Claudio Perez: Privatization offers hope for reform
Claudio M. Perez My View -- More than two years ago, the Collins Center sounded an alarm about Florida's unsustainable prison system, then surpassing the 100,000 mark, and marshaled an unusual coalition of business, legal and faith-based interests to call for reform.

Letters to the editor
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Our Opinion: Need help? Call 2-1-1
| -- The challenge of paying the overdue rent, delaying the shut-off of your electricity or even feeling the walls of uncertainty close in is stressful enough. If you don't know where to go for answers, it can be devastating.

Boston College stuns FSU, 64-60
By Ira Schoffel Democrat sports editor -- BOSTON - The streaks are over. Both of them.

Update: Property Appraiser's Office earns high honor
Business Matters staff report -- The Leon County Property Appraiser's Office has been notified that it has earned the IAAO Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration.

Update: City Commission approves $900,000 settlement involving 2009 crash with cyclist
By TaMaryn Waters Democrat staff writer -- A Tallahassee cyclist sustained serious injuries in 2009 when a city commercial-collection truck hit him, and now there's a proposed $900,000 settlement commissioners will take up at Wednesday's meeting.

Game blog: Boston College upsets FSU
Re-visit the action from Boston as No. 15 Florida State gets upset on the road against Boston College. The Democrat's Ira Schoffel will be blogging from courtside.

TFD has controlled brush fire near Tom Brown Park
Democrat Staff Report -- The Tallahassee Fire Department has the flames under control after a brush fire that started near Tom Brown Park, Travis Oaks, TFD spokesman said.

House votes unanimously to save Jefferson County prison
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- With two-dozen prison employees and Jefferson County residents applauding in the gallery, the House voted unanimously today to give the struggling rural county's biggest employer -- a prison employing 177 Monticello-area residents -- a reprieve from its scheduled April 1 closing.

John Paul II Catholic High School trying to raise nearly $500,000 by May 1
Desiree Stennett Democrat Staff Report -- John Paul II Catholic High School, the only Catholic high school in the area, will host a benefit on Thursday in hopes of raising $465,000 by its May 1 deadline.

University of Florida fraternity suspended amid hazing investigation
The Associated Press -- GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Officials say a fraternity at the University of Florida has been suspended for hazing and is under investigation by campus police.

Update: Scott Maddox announces plans to run for City Commission Seat 1
By TaMaryn Waters Democrat Staff Writer -- More than two dozen family, friends and influential local and statewide business men stood behind Scott Maddox when he declared his plans to run for City Commission again.

Controversial, stalled prison privatization championed by clergy
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- A group of Miami-area ministers told Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders today private prisons do a better job than state institutions in helping inmates maintain family ties and progress toward rehabilitation.

TFD: Food disposal believed to have caused fire, $100,000 in damage
An early-morning blaze led to an estimated $100,000 in damage today, caused by what fire investigators believe was the food disposal.

TPD searching for missing woman
Democrat staff report -- The Tallahassee Police Department's Special Victims Unit is searching for 32-year-old Amy Darling, who went missing Monday.

Arrest made in Leon Democratic Party fight
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- Tallahassee police today announced the arrest of a local Democratic Party activist in connection with a scuffle that broke out at a Leon County party meeting last month.

Budget chief seeks to save JCI
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- Efforts to get save Jefferson Correctional Institution from a scheduled April 1 closing could get a big boost today as the Florida House takes up its version of the state budget.

Haridopolos: Privatization of prisons would die in showdown
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Tuesday a hotly debated plan to privatize prisons in 18 South Florida counties would die in a tie vote, if he allowed a showdown on it now.

Update: Leon County Teacher of the Year finalists announced
Democrat staff report -- The five finalists for the Leon County Teacher of the Year award have been selected.

Morning Update: Prescribed burn on I-10
Democrat Staff Report -- FHP is reporting three prescribed burns in the surrounding counties.

Update: FAMU preparing to hire outside firm to assist Office of Audit and Compliance
FAMU is preparing to hire an outside firm to assist with its troubled Office of Audit and Compliance.

Number of public school employees declines
Ap News Now -- The number of employees in Florida's public schools has declined. The state Department of Education reports there were about 318,000 full-time employees at the start of the current school year. That's a nearly two percent decline compared to the previous year.

Scott plans overseas trade missions
By Paul Flemming Florida Capital Bureau -- Gov. Rick Scott plans three international-trade missions in 2012, building on four trips overseas promoting Florida in 2011.

Media experts take questions about state of the news industry
By Jordan Culver Democrat staff writer -- There was some role reversal Tuesday night at The Village Square's latest panel discussion. Media experts were put on the receiving end of some tough questions, with members of The Village Square conducting the interviews.

Food truck offers Brazilian, Vietnamese food fusion
By Elizabeth M. Mack Democrat staff writer -- Upon moving to Tallahassee from Jackson, Miss., Chris Kolb knew he wanted to do what he loved — cooking.

Resolution could change BOG's student seat
By Doug Blackburn Democrat senior writer -- Avi Assidon, Florida State's student body president, knew there was no way he would be elected for the one student seat on the Board of Governors, the body that oversees Florida's public universities.

Judge dismisses case of Nazi-stolen painting
By Paul de Revere Democrat staff writer -- U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh announced Judge Robert L. Hinkle's dismissal of U.S. v. Painting Known as "Cristo Portacroce Trascinato da un Mangoldo" or "Christ Bearing the Cross Dragged by a Rascal" by Italian baroque painter Romanino on Tuesday morning at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee.

Nopetro breaks ground
By Dave Hodges Democrat Business Editor -- The six-month countdown began Tuesday for the opening of what will be the first compressed natural gas fueling facility of its kind in Florida, giving fleet owners and motorists yet another energy option for their vehicles.

Local civil rights icon Patricia Stephens Due succumbs to cancer
By Gerald Ensley Democrat senior writer -- The Joan of Arc of the Tallahassee civil rights movement, Patricia Stephens Due, died Tuesday.

Big Bend & Fla. news briefs
Democrat staff reports -- • TALLAHASSEE

FSU toots its academic horn at Capitol Days
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- With jugglers, unicyclists and acrobats, Florida State University proudly grabbed the spotlight away from that other circus going on at the Capitol for a few happy hours Tuesday in a garnet-and-gold celebration of academic achievement.

Environmentalists give Fla. Rep. low marks
By Ledyard King Gannett Washington Bureau -- WASHINGTON — A national environmental group is giving Rep. Jeff Miller a low grade for votes he cast in Congress during 2011.

Blacks struggle to reduce HIV/AIDS numbers
By TaMaryn Waters Democrat staff writer -- In Florida, 95,335 people were living with HIV or AIDS in 2010 and nearly half — 49 percent — of them are black.

Kay Stephenson tells Datamaxx's story at Women's Forum
Business Matters Staff Report -- As the CEO of Datamaxx Group Inc., there are a lot of things that Kay Stephenson can't talk about when it comes to the business.

Fleming Island edges past Chiles, 3-2, in the regional finals
By Brian Miller Democrat correspondent -- A full orange moon and a howling timberwolf mascot did not turn out to be the pregame omen the Chiles boys' soccer team hoped it might be.

Chiles' Martin signs with Gulf Coast
By Jim Lamar Democrat associate editor -- Chiles High senior Anna Martin said she found plenty to like about Gulf Coast Community College, the school she will attend next year on a softball scholarship.

No. 1 TCC softball sweeps past Santa Fe
Democrat staff report -- Playing for the first time as the FCSAA's No. 1 team, Tallahassee Community College hit the road and swept No. 10 Santa Fe College, 3-2 and 5-1, on Tuesday afternoon.

Be open to change and not close minded
Column by Bryan Henry Democrat correspondent -- I hope you enjoyed Sunday's Super Bowl and the commercials that accompanied it. Man, what a game — you can't help but be happy for Eli Manning and the New York Giants. Yet, the best part of the Super Bowl for me means baseball is on deck.

Tying up some loose ends on the Hamilton story
Column by Ira Schoffel Democrat sports editor -- The two great challenges of writing for print, as opposed to writing for the Internet, are the constraints of deadlines and space.

BC not as weak as record indicates
By Ira Schoffel Democrat sports editor -- As they prepared for tonight's road trip to Boston College, Florida State men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton wanted his players to pay more attention to game film and scouting reports than statistics or win-loss records.

Akil Blount looks to make name for himself at FAMU
By St. Clair Murraine Democrat staff writer -- The last line on a brief bio that Florida A&M put out on Akil Blount reads as follows: "Son of NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount."

Zing!
| -- • Dear Mr. Biden, the real suckers are those who continue to support you and Obama, even as you lead our country closer to bankruptcy and a total financial collapse with your out-of-control spending.

Mary Kay seeking help for local Valentine's Day initiative
Elizabeth M. Mack Democrat staff writer -- The Andrea Newman National Area of Mary Kay representatives are doing a Community Outreach Program called, "Adopt-A Grandparent."

News & Notes: Taste

Limelight extra: a heads-up to upcoming events
Get a jump on your weekend entertainment plans every Wednesday, and be sure to pick up the Limelight section on Friday.

Discover Black History at the library
Elizabeth M. Mack Girl About Town -- The public library downtown is hosting a "African American Read-In," Sunday, 3-4 p.m.

Letters to the editor
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Barney Bishop: Scott may not be popular, but his issues surely are
Barney Bishop III My View -- Gov. Rick Scott is much underrated nowadays. We are told that he is unpopular, yet, based on the issues that he ran on and delivered in his first year in office, he has done exceedingly well even among Democrats and the critically important independents and ticket-splitter voters.

Dick Polman: Super PACs change the political landscape
Dick Polman Philadelphia Inquirer -- Pop quiz! Identify these political heavy hitters:

Our Opinion: A pointless exercise
| -- If something can be straightforward and absurd at the same time, then that would be the description to tack on today's scheduled meeting of the Florida A&M Board of Trustees.

Patricia Stephens Due, civil rights activist, dies at 72
by Gerald Ensley Democrat senior writer -- Patricia Stephens Due, who led civil rights demonstrations in Tallahassee throughout the 1960s, died Tuesday in Atlanta after a long battle with thyroid cancer.

Prison privatization short of votes now, Haridopolos says further cuts needed without it
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos said today the Senate is evenly divided on privatization of prisons in 18 South Florida counties and that if the controversial plan fails he will have to find other places in the budget -- such as state employee benefits, health care or education -- to make up the missed chance for saving $16 million or more.

Update: Scott plans three overseas trade missions in 2012
By Paul Flemming Florida Capital Bureau -- Gov. Rick Scott plans three international-trade missions in 2012, building on four trips overseas promoting Florida in 2011.

Proposed constitutional amendment would affect seat on Board of Governors
By Doug Blackburn Democrat senior writer -- There is one student member on the Board of Governors, the body that oversees Florida's public universities.

TFD: Studio apartment destroyed in fire
Democrat staff report -- A utility shed being used as a studio apartment was destroyed in a fire this morning, said Travis Oaks, spokesman for the Tallahassee Fire Department.

City to name interchange landscaping for Wilbur Jones
by Gerald Ensley Democrat senior writer -- The City Commission on Wednesday will issue a proclamation honoring longtime Tallahassee resident Wilbur Jones for his work on highway beautification and announcing its intent to affix his name to a new landscaping project at I-10 and Thomasville Road.

Fla. property tax cut proposal dies in committee
APNewsNow -- A ballot proposal that would further slash local property taxes for Florida homeowners is dead after a tie vote in a House committee.

Scientists find new feeding hotspots for turtles
APNewsNow -- Researchers using satellite tracking have discovered new feeding hotspots in the Gulf of Mexico providing important habitats for at least three separate populations of loggerhead turtles.

Lauren Book's Blog: Day 17, Day 18, Day 22, Day 23
Lauren Book's most recent blog from the "Walk in My Shoes" journey as Book travels 1,500 miles up the state.

First vs. worst when FSU takes on Boston College
By Ira Schoffel Democrat sports editor -- The FSU men's basketball team is the hottest club in the ACC. Boston College, meanwhile, has lost six consecutive conference games. The teams will play Wednesday night in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Seminoles shine at the Capitol
By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau -- Juggler Lucas Heacock of Gainesville, stiltwalker Keith Zoller of Stowe, Vt., and acrobat Samantha Stokes of Fort Lauderdale do a little stretching and warm-up exercises before performing with the FSU Flying High Circus during FSU Day at the Capitol today.

Morning Update: Crash on Interstate 10
Democrat Staff Report -- Florida Highway Patrol is working one crash on Interstate 10 at mile marker 199.

Health department overhaul bill passes House panel
JAMES L. ROSICA Associated Press -- A bill that would shift public-health responsibilities from the state to the counties - possibly affecting 12,000 state Department of Health jobs - cleared a House panel Monday.

Consider total tax liability in your search for savings
By Spencer Ingram Guest columnist -- Often, when people initially find out that I am a CPA, one of the first questions they ask is, "So what expenses can I write off to save taxes?"

We misunderstand meaning of a good relationship
By Bob Gabordi Democrat executive editor -- I am almost home, looking down on the lights of Charlotte, N.C., from the airplane as I write this last blog from my journey to Pakistan on an exchange program sponsored by the International Center for Journalists.

Tax holiday moves closer to approval
By Lisa Fingeroot Democrat staff writer -- Floridians are on track to get a little relief from state lawmakers again this year with both the state Senate and House proposing a three-day sales-tax holiday in August.

Dillard's donates to Ronald McDonald House Charities
Democrat staff report -- Dillard's department stores raised $1.6 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities this past holiday season through sales of the exclusive Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee received a check for $22,127, Dillard's said.

News & notes: menus
• MENUS

Police release details on Sunday shooting, stabbing
By Desiree Stennett Democrat staff writer -- One man is dead and three others are injured following a violent dispute Sunday afternoon which police initially called a home invasion but on Monday identified as a drug deal gone awry.

Alone in crib is safest way for baby to sleep
Special to the Democrat -- As a new or expectant parent, it is important to create a safe sleep environment for your baby. Sleep Right, Sleep Tight is a public awareness campaign developed by Prevent Child Abuse Florida in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Health and community stakeholders.

Big Bend & Fla. news briefs
Sheriff's Office looks into death at Circle K