Will Smith News Blog

FGCU accelerates search for next president

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

FGCU will name its next president Aug. 25, months sooner than a search committee once estimated.

But candidates vying for the job must be willing to drop everything and fly to Fort Myers within 24 hours.

Ten to 12 semifinalists will be asked to board airplanes bound for Southwest Florida International Airport within a day of hearing they made the cut. A week later, on Aug. 25, Florida Gulf Coast Universitys Board of Trustees will select a new president. Thats two months earlier than the original time frame, which at nine months still would have been quicker than many presidential searches.

2007 NBA Draft Trades

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

1, Boston traded the rights to F Jeff Green, a future second-round draft pick, G Delonte West and F Wally Szczerbiak to Seattle for G Ray Allen and the rights to F Glen Davis. 2, Charlotte traded the rights to F Brandan Wright to Golden State for G Jason Richardson and the rights to F Jermareo Davidson. 3, Miami traded the rights to C Jason Smith to Philadelphia for the rights to G Daequan Cook, a 2009 second-round pick and cash considerations. 4, Phoenix sold rights of G Rudy Fernandez to Portl...

A backcourt boost

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

DAEQUAN COOKHeight, weight: 6-5, 210.Position: Shooting guard.Status: Freshman.College: Ohio State.2006-07 stats: 9.8 ppg., 4.3 rpg.Upside: Considered one of the better shooters in the draft after connecting on 41.5 percent from three-point range. Can also penetrate and finish.Downside: Still young and relatively inexperienced after just one season of college ball. Cook's quickness and defense are questionable. Cook's addition might signal Gary Payton's departure.

The Heat entered Thursday night's NBA Draft hoping to use the No. 20 overall pick to catch a falling star.

It ended up acquiring a shooting guard in Ohio State freshman Daequan Cook, who just might turn out to be Dwyane Wade's backup.

At least Chardon, county are talking

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

Now that the nasty verbal volleys have stopped, Geauga County and Chardon city officials can

talk about ideas for county space problems in the city.

It won't be easy, since Geauga County owns land in Claridon Township, and city leaders have determined they offer few land options for a city project.

Alumni group donation aids LJ crime-fighting

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

LAKE JACKSON ? Jose Gondinez, a wanted felon, might have walked out of the Lake Jackson Police Department a free man at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday if not for a new live scan fingerprinting system.

The 42-year-old Gondinez had been arrested two hours before for driving without a license, said Lake Jackson Police Capt. Jim Dunlap. While being booked, Gondinez offered a fake birthday and was heading out the door with his brother, who had posted his bail, when police rushed to put the handcuffs on Gondinez again.

The live scan fingerprinting system had matched Gondinez?s fingerprints to a felon wanted by Immigration and Naturalization Services on burglary and forgery charges, Dunlap said.

Angleton complex moving forward

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

ANGLETON Despite complaints from some public officials and residents, developers are moving forward with a project to build an affordable housing apartment complex at highways 288 and 35 adjacent to Angleton Middle School.

Costa Clemente, a 40-acre, $24 million, master-planned community, will have a 184-unit apartment complex plus residential lots for single families and senior citizens. It also will have commercial properties.

The project, which is similar to one under construction in Clute, is being developed by Northside Redevelopment Center and The NRP Group LLC.

Letters to the Editor: June 29

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

Shame on the looters of the fire victims at Fairfield Village for stealing from the families who lost their apartments because of the fire.

Don't they remember the eighth commandment? Thou shalt not steal.

These people need help that these people could have given them, but instead they chose to take what little they had left.

High court eases ban on minimum prices

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Manufacturers will have more leeway to set minimum prices at the retail level without violating antitrust laws under a Supreme Court ruling that could hurt consumers and small merchants.

By allowing minimum price agreements, the court's 5-4 decision on Thursday could lead to higher prices, dissenting justices said. The ruling could also make it harder for new retailers to enter the market, according to consumer advocates, because most innovative retailers begin as lower-cost alternatives.

Supporters of the ruling argue that it will enable retailers to pay for better customer service by charging more without fear of being undercut by discounters.

Oden to Blazers, Durant to Sonics

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

Texas' Kevin Durant, left, and Ohio State's Greg Oden, right, pose for photographs with other members of the 2007 NBA Draft class before the draft Thursday, June 28, 2007 at in New York.

NBA: Draft

Body believed to be missing boater found

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

The body believed to be a boater who had been missing for two days was recovered Thursday, authorities said.

The search for Christopher Smith, 57, of Aspen, Colo., began when his 20-foot boat was found idling adrift Tuesday. The body was recovered within several miles of where the boat was found, the Coast Guard said.

The county medical examiner was conducting an autopsy to make a positive identification.

Embezzler Offers Ex-Bosses Some Advice

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- A secretary who embezzled $1.12 million from a school foundation has advice for her former bosses: Hey, get better auditors.

Denise Aughney said her crimes would have been discovered years ago if someone would have looked closer. She pleaded guilty in April to theft, money laundering and forgery and was sent to prison June 7.

In an April 28 letter to the Weber School District, Aughney wrote: "I would hope that some things have changed and new policies are in place, that this is not so easily done again."

'Group of Death' dooms U-14 boys

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

COSA Express F.C. Under-14 boys soccer coach Marc D'Auteuil said his team played its best soccer of the season in the 2007 Midwest Regional Cup tournament, which was last Saturday through last Wednesday at the Cownie Park and Hidden Valley Complexes in Des Moines, Iowa.

His squad simply ran into superior competition in its four-team pool, as COSA Express finished third (1-2, 3 points) behind Dynamo Red (2-0-1, 7), the Michigan Wolves (2-0-1, 7) and ahead of Scott Gallagher (0-3).

The Wolves are ranked second in the U.S. Region 2 Club Soccer Rankings, ahead of Dynamo Red (third), COSA Express (seventh) and Scott Gallagher (32nd).

Heat swap pick with 76ers for Cook, cash, future pick

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

Daequan Cook grew up playing for an AAU team in Ohio called the Speed City Heat.

Now he'll be playing for a different Heat - the NBA's Miami Heat - which already features stars Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal.

The Heat first selected Colorado State forward/center Jason Smith in Thursday's NBA draft, then traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for Cook, a 2009 second-round pick and cash.

NBA Draft Early Entries Fared

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

Arron Afflalo, G, junior, UCLA, Detroit, first (27). Shagari Alleyne, C, junior, Manhattan, not selected. Corey Brewer, F, junior, Florida, Minnesota, first (7). Dwight Brewington, F, junior, Liberty, not selected. Wilson Chandler, F, sophomore, DePaul, New York, first (23). Mike Conley Jr., G, freshman, Ohio State, Memphis, first (4). Daequan Cook, G-F, freshman, Ohio State, Philadelphia, first (21). Javaris Crittenton, G, freshman, Georgia Tech, L.A. Lakers, first (19). JamesOn Curry, G, junio...

County, DEP halt dumping in lake

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:08:55 +0000

Local residents complained when fill dirt was dumped into an environmentally sensitive lake after a neighbor agreed to stockpile the dirt on his property.

ENGLEWOOD -- Diane McMahon believes quick action by her neighbors and herself prevented tons of fill dirt from destroying an environmentally sensitive lake behind their homes just off Dearborn Street.

"The neighbors got together as a group when we realized what happened," McMahon said. "Now there is a backhoe scooping out all of this dirt that was placed into the lake."

Drive to adjourn continues; wrap-up could come Thursday

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

The push to close down the 2007 legislative session by the end of this week continued Wednesday, with lawmakers taking up a potpourri of bills, from spending for construction on university campuses to a proposed NASCAR-style speedway in Eastern Oregon.

Lawmakers were hoping to wrap things up by Thursday — a day ahead of the scheduled Friday adjournment.

Vigorous debate was expected on a few remaining measures, such as one to require each of Oregon's 36 counties to prepare a plan outlining when it's OK for police to use deadly force. And disagreements brewed over a bill to give adult foster care home providers the right to bargain collectively with the state.

Texas expected to lead nation in renewable energy by 2025

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - A study backed by an alternative energy advocacy group finds that Texas figures to lead the nation in renewable energy production by 2025.

The study by the University of Texas Department of Agricultural Economics also finds that Texas stands to gain almost $23 billion in annual economic activity from the production.

The study commissioned by the National 25 by '25 Alliance said Texas also stands to gain more than 173- jobs overall from the trend.

ABC Renews Belushi's 'According to Jim'

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

Kroger launches cholesterol-cutting milk

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

Kroger Co., the nation's largest traditional grocery chain, is marketing a new milk brand for its cholesterol-reducing potential.

The product, under Kroger's Active Lifestyle brand, is billed as the first national launch of a cholesterol-cutting milk. It adds to the company's expanding lines for consumers of health-conscious and natural/organic foods and the in-house brands the company sees as an important part of its profit growth strategy.

"There's a major trend toward health and wellness in the country," said Linda Severin, Kroger's vice president for corporate brands. "Managing cholesterol is just a key need for many of our customers. This is a way we can help our customers be proactive with their heart health."

Magic probably won't get much in Thursday's draft

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The Orlando Magic aren't expecting a blockbuster pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

The team has had lottery choices the past three years, including the first overall in 2004. This year they don't even have a selection in the first round.

Orlando will choose at No. 44 and No. 54, barring trades, which general manager Otis Smith wouldn't rule out. Their first-rounder, No. 15, last year went to Detroit in a deal that brought in Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo. Orlando also had the No. 39 pick, but dealt that to the Miami Heat to hire coach Stan Van Gundy, who was a consultant for the Heat.

Who's the mystery man?

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

There's a strong suspicion the Cavaliers have targeted a certain player in the 2007 NBA draft.

If that player is on the board at a certain spot in the draft, the Cavs might pull the trigger on a deal.

Others think it might be fruitless for the Cavs to get back into the draft. If they can't get into the lottery - which is practically impossible for the Cavs - not many players drafted after that will be able to help them next season.

News briefs from around Florida

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

Deputies: Man killed himself after accidentally shooting friend

DAVENPORT, Fla. (AP) - A distraught man apparently shot himself in the head after accidentally shooting his friend with a pistol, authorities said.

Paramedics found Luis Evelio Espitia-Castaneda, 20, dead and his friend, Andres Lafaurie, 22, wounded outside a central Florida home about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. Both men live in Davenport.

David Moore's NBA mock draft

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

1. Portland Trail Blazers

Greg Oden, Ohio State, 7-0, 257

Can we stop with the Sam Bowie paranoia? Oden in no way, shape or form resembles the Blazers' former first-round disappointment. We know, we know. Oden had an average workout and Kevin Durant's was off the hook. If you base a franchise-altering decision on one workout, you're going to make a lot of mistakes.

Girls swing at T-ball on South Lawn

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

Click photo to enlargePresident Bush, second from left, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith, left, greet a tee ball player after a tee ball game on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2007. «1234»WASHINGTON—Dozens of pint-size girls took to the South Lawn on Wednesday to play in the White House's first softball T-ball game, with President Bush rooting them on from the bleachers.

"We're a big believer in Title IX programs," Bush said of the federal legislation that bars gender bias in athletics. "We think it's good for America that our women are playing sports. The best way to convince women to play sports is to start early."

Before chatting and taking pictures with people in the crowd, Bush led the girls in the Little League Pledge: "I trust in God. I love my country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win. But win or lose I will always do my best."

Drive to finish in Salem continues; wrap-up could come Thursday

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:29:27 +0000

SALEM, Ore. (AP) ? The push to close down the 2007 legislative session by the end of this week continued Wednesday, with lawmakers taking up a potpourri of bills, from spending for construction on university campuses to a proposed NASCAR-style speedway in Eastern Oregon.

Only a few contentious issues remained on the calendar, including an overhaul of government ethics regulations that would ban former lawmakers from immediately working as lobbyists and set a $50 limit on gifts and meals lawmakers can accept from lobbyists.

Vigorous debate was also expected over a measure to require each of Oregon's 36 counties to prepare a plan outlining when it's OK for police to use deadly force. And disagreements brewed over a bill to give adult foster care home providers the right to bargain collectively with the state.