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Florida lawmakers asked to look into banning shopping bags

Paper or plastic used to be a simple question. But after working two years, Florida’s environmental agency found no easy answers for lawmakers on how to shrink the mountain of throwaway bags lining landfills and streets. So Monday, the DEP punted the question back to the Legislature. Full Story;

Mother of slain Terry Parker student full of grief

Grief counselors are consoling students and teachers at Terry Parker High School today following Friday’s fatal shooting of a student, identified by school officials as Allen Roach. Full Story;

Downtown Jacksonville plan clears first hurdle

Mayor John Peyton’s plan to spend $23 million improving three downtown Jacksonville landmarks appears poised for City Council approval. Full Story;

Annual Jim Blackburn Senior Safety Day planned

Concert to benefit MAP International Full Story;

Pushing forward for state Medicaid reform expansion

TALLAHASSEE – Managed-care organizations pressed Monday for lawmakers to move forward with a planned statewide expansion of the Medicaid reform program, while advocates for patients urged caution. Full Story;

Local Organization Creates Event: Hold Hands for Haiti

Hold Hands 4 Haiti is an event organized by local. Their goal is to gather volunteers to create a human chain Feb. 20, from Doctor’s Lake to Black Creek, from Florida to Haiti, from Fleming Island to Gressier. Full Story;

65 Roses: Alex Colbert’s Fight

MACCLENNY, Fla — They gathered in the sanctuary of Christian Fellowship Temple: parents and children, teachers and students, doctors and nurses. Full Story;

Jacksonville Beach Man Indicted on Federal Child Porn Charges

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Beach man has been indicted on federal child pornography charges and is now facing federal prison. Full Story;

UNF Students Jump to Aid of Woman, Baby in Overturned Vehicle

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Some quick thinking University of North Florida students are being called heroes after saving a mother and a baby when the vehicle they were in flipped. Full Story;

Investigators Optimistic Somer’s Killer will be Caught

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Despite the passage of time, investigators are optimistic they will catch Somer Thompson’s killer. The 7-year-old was last seen walking home from school in October. Full Story;

It’s Top-10 Time As Oscars Reveal Lineup

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Academy Awards voters are about to release their first top-10 list in 66 years. Oscar nominations Tuesday feature 10 best-picture nominees instead of the usual five, the first time since the 1943 awards show that so many films are competing for Hollywood’s highest honor. Full Story;

Teen Girl Fights Off Shark With Body Board

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A teenage New Zealand girl bitten by a shark bashed it over the head with her body board until it let her go, she said. Full Story;

Judge Denies Feng Shui Master Wang Fortune

HONG KONG — A bartender-turned-fortune teller who had an affair with the pig-tailed Hong Kong tycoon who was Asia’s richest woman lost his bid for her multibillion-dollar estate Tuesday when a court deemed his will a forgery. Full Story;

TX Store Sells $144M-Winning Lottery Ticket

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Lottery Commission says someone who bought a ticket at a Houston-area convenience store is the winner of the $144 million Mega Millions jackpot. Full Story;

Pentagon Officials To Review Military Gay Ban

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday will take the first real steps toward lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the military, announcing a yearlong review aimed at answering practical and emotional questions about the effect of lifting the ban, and imposing looser standards for enforcing the ban in the meantime. Full Story;

Dep. Anderson’s family talks to Action News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The family of the St. Johns County Deputy killed by a driver going the wrong way is speaking out. Full Story;

Killed Over $3

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The family of a grandfather, who was killed for $3, worries they won’t be able to bury him at home in Memphis. Full Story;

The family left behind

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The family of the St. Johns County Deputy killed by a driver going the wrong way is speaking out. Full Story;

Inside the Search for Somer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — 15 investigators, known as “Team Somer,” are giving Action News a look inside their search for the girl’s killer.” Full Story;

Terry Parker’s “Little Al” killed

Jacksonville, Fla — Allen Roach was shot and killed Friday outside of a home on Arlex Drive in Arlington. Full Story;

No Articles

Full Story;

Cummings moved to Putnam Jail

Ronald Cummings, the father of missing child Haleigh Cummings, was moved out of Flagler County to the Putnam County Jail on Friday morning. Full Story;

Today’s Palatka Daily News Headlines

FINDING HOPE VA MED CENTER TO BE INSTALLED AT PALATKA MALL COMMUNITY RECALLS FALLEN FARMER, TEACHER You can read more about these items in today’s Palatka Daily News, available at newsstands and stores throughout Putnam County. Full Story;

City OKs negotiations with management firm

Palatka commissioners agreed Thursday to begin contract negotiations with a private company to run the city’s municipal golf course. Full Story;

Today’s Palatka Daily News Headlines

‘INACTIVE’ VOTERS TO BE DROPPED VIDEO LINK SET FOR JAIL VISITS, COURT HEARINGS You can read more about these items in today’s Palatka Daily News, available at newsstands and stores throughout Putnam County. Full Story;

Cops detail drug deals by Croslin, Cummings

Authorities have released detailed reports of the narcotics investigation involving the father and former stepmother of Haleigh Cummings. Full Story;

Shootings investigated

Glynn County police are still trying to determine if two previously reported shootings are related, and Monday released the names of the two victims in the separate attacks Jan. 25. Full Story;

Watchdog group fighting training range

The calving waters of the north Atlantic right whale off the Georgia and Florida coasts are one of 10 areas in the South made dangerous by human activity, an environmental watchdog group says. Full Story;

Officials split over pier repairs

For some Glynn County officials, the recently discovered $19 million in unspent sales tax money could be the way to fund costly improvements to the St. Simons Island Pier. Full Story;

Officials: Stay alert about flu

The incidence of flu may be down right now, but keep your guard up, health officials advise. Coastal Georgia is not out of the woods yet, nor is anyplace else. Full Story;

Toyota working through recall

Travis Ostrom was pleasantly surprised. The owner of the I-95 Toyota dealership in Brunswick says that his customers have been very understanding about the recent national recall of some of Toyota’s most popular vehicles. Full Story;

Water supply reactions mixed

GAINESVILLE — A Thursday night meeting to address declining water levels in the Floridan Aquifer and a water supply plan to address the change is receiving mixed reviews from area residents. Full Story;

Black History Month kicks off Monday

Several events and activities are planned in honor of Black History Month in Columbia County by local non-profit organization, It’s About My Efforts, Inc. Full Story;

That sinking feeling

Sinkholes have started to appear around Columbia County, thanks to heavy rains in the past week. Full Story;

Rotary provides shelters for Haiti relief

The Rotary Club of Lake City is sending aid — in the form of shelter — to Haiti’s relief effort. The organization raised $5,000 for ShelterBoxes to go to the country that was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake Jan. 12. Full Story;

Woman injured in collision

Columbia County emergency responders work on Latisha Wyche, 21, of Lake City, following a Friday night wreck on State Road 47, where the vehicle she was traveling in as a passenger was struck from behind. Full Story;

50 years ago this week

Global Monitoring Inc. Jacksonville Women Lawyers Assoc. 2/1/2010 headlines… Full Story;

Regency Centers honored among “Top Companies That Care” for 2010

Global Monitoring Inc. Jacksonville Women Lawyers Assoc. 1/29/2010 headlines… Full Story;

Business Opportunity

Roll over any note to read it in its entirety or click to read all. • General Motors notified the City in May that it intends to close its local parts distribution center. Full Story;

Bar Calendar

Global Monitoring Inc. Jacksonville Women Lawyers Assoc. 5/12/2003 headlines… Full Story;

Ruth thanks fellow judges for help

When Duval County Judge James Ruth invited the other 14 county judges to lunch Wednesday, they all thought it was simply a nice gesture. The judges had no idea that they were going to be recognized by one of the top U.S. military commanders for their exemplary efforts. Full Story;

County records first death from swine flu virus

The Nassau County Health Department has announced the county’s first confirmed death from H1N1 swine flu. There have been at least 188 confirmed swine flu deaths in Florida since the virus began spreading early last year. Full Story;

Food for discerning palate, food for the soul

In spite of the nation’s sluggish economy, which has caused numerous local firms to go out of business, new businesses are opening in downtown Fernandina Beach. Full Story;

Animal services director deflects critics

Just shy of four months on the job Nassau County Director of Animal Services Deborah Biggs, criticized at a recent county commission meeting, says “I certainly haven’t lied about the facts” and that she is working overtime to sort out the many challenges the shelter faces. Full Story;

Man found dead in empty home; 2 children safe

City police are investigating the death of a man found on the garage floor of a Fernandina Beach home Jan. 22 while his two young children sat nearby in a running car. Full Story;

2nd man arrested in home invasion

Nassau County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a second suspect in the November home invasion robbery and battery of an 82-year-old O’Neil man. Full Story;

Photo Highlight Slideshow

A Black Headed Spider Monkey holds her newborn in Miami. AP Photo/Miami Metrozoo, Ron Magill

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