Florida Digest News

The news editor is Terry Spencer. The supervisor in Miami is Travis Reed, followed at 4 p.m. by Sarah Larimer. If there are questions about stories, photos or photo contributions please call the Miami bureau at 1-800-824-5498 or 305-594-5825.

If you have other statewide stories or breaking news of interest to AP members in Florida, send them via e-mail to miae(at symbol)ap.org (ASCII text only, no attachments); or fax to (305) 594-9265. The AP's general Web site is http://www.ap.org. The Florida AP's Web site is http://www.ap.org/Florida/. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns are also available from the Service Desk (800-838-4616) or from the Miami bureau.

NEW AND DEVELOPING:

CASTRONEVES-TAX CHARGES: Update expected by 4 p.m.

HURRICANE INSURANCE — Update expected by 4:30 p.m.

CLASS SIZE: Expected by 4 p.m.

CUBA-TRAVEL-REGULATION

MIAMI — Travel agencies in South Florida are celebrating a twofold win. First the president agreed to lift travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans seeking to visit family on the island and send packages there. Then a federal judge overturned a state law that would have imposed exorbitant fees on their operations. Still, some fear the recession will keep away many potential customers. By Laura Wides-Munoz.

AP Photos FLWL106, FLWL104, HAV105.

TURTLE HARVESTS

WEST PALM BEACH — State wildlife officials are set to consider imposing the nation's strongest measures to protect freshwater turtles in Florida, which are being harvested for shipment to Asia. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission board will meet Wednesday in Tallahassee to consider a proposal by scientists that would ban most freshwater turtle harvests to protect the populations of about 19 species. They are considered a delicacy in Asia, where thousands of the state's species are shipped every year. By Brian Skoloff.

SEVERE WEATHER

TAMPA — Forecasters reported two tornadoes touched down in the Tampa Bay area as a line of storms Tuesday ripped roof shingles off homes, uprooted trees and forced the evacuation of school children in trailer classrooms on Florida's west coast. No injuries were immediately reported. It was the latest round of bad weather to hammer the South after heavy rain and strong winds Monday that hit Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and northern Florida, still reeling from storms and tornados last week. By Christine Armario.

AP Photos GAGWI102, FLTAL101.

HURRICANE INSURANCE

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet consider recommendations for ways to enhance the ability of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to provide backup coverage for insurance companies. By Brent Kallestad.

XGR--ART IN BUILDINGS

TALLAHASSEE — Over the past 30 years Florida has purchased nearly 1,500 pieces of artwork under a law that requires spending on art in public buildings. The cost of the cache: $11.5 million. But a bill lawmakers are considering Tuesday would cancel any new canvases. Lawmakers say that in the current economy they can't justify the spending — an average of about $400,000 annually. Artists, however, say eliminating the program won't save money, and contractors will just wind up being paid more. By Jessica Gresko.

XGR--CLASS SIZE

TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who lead a 2002 campaign that put class size limits in the Florida Constitution, visited the state Capitol to lobby against proposals to weaken those requirements Tuesday. By Bill Kaczor.

OBIT-HUNTER

ST. AUGUSTINE — Author Jack D. Hunter, whose World War I aviation novel "The Blue Max" was made into a film in the 1960s, has died. He was 87. The Florida Times-Union, where Hunter had worked as a writing coach, said he died Monday in St. Augustine after a battle with cancer.

Also:

— TEACHER SLUR — A middle school teacher in the Pensacola area has been disciplined for using a racial slur in a letter complaining about a custodian's work.

— CASUALTY RETURN — The Air Force says the remains of a soldier killed in Iraq will arrive Tuesday afternoon at Dover Air Force Base.

— FAKED KIDNAPPING — Authorities say a Miami woman helped hatch a kidnapping plot so she could collect ransom from her ex-husband.

— SOLDIERS SLAIN-IRAQ — Testimony has resumed for a second day in the military hearing for a Fort Stewart sergeant charged with killing two U.S. soldiers in his unit at a patrol base in Iraq.

— GIRL DROWNS — A 16-year-old girl has died after she apparently drowned in a Hialeah lake.

— FLORIDA WATER — The St. Johns River Water Management District has approved a permit to allow Seminole County to withdraw 5.5 million gallons of water a day from the river.

— HOTEL EVACUATED — Fire officials say 250 guests and staff were evacuated from a resort hotel after fire broke out in a room.

— GIRL DROWNS — A 16-year-old girl has died after she apparently drowned in a Hialeah lake.

— HIT AND RUN-HEAVY TRAFFIC — A South Florida driver who fatally struck an 87-year-old woman then drove away from the scene told police that traffic was "too heavy" for her to stop.

— SKELETON FOUND — Authorities are examining a human skeleton that a pair of hunters found in north Florida.

SPORTS:

FIU-THOMAS

MIAMI — Isiah Thomas is back in coaching, and Florida International wound up as his surprising destination. The former New York Knicks president and coach was hired to take over FIU's program Tuesday, a move that gives the Hall of Fame player a chance to revive his career. By Sports Writer Tim Reynolds.

AP Photo NY115.

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