Forecasters warn of rip currents on Gulf beaches

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – The National Weather Service is warning swimmers from the Tampa-St. Petersburg area south to Fort Myers of dangerous high tides and rip currents. Forecasters on Tuesday released the warning for the Gulf of Mexico. Meteorologists said they expect large, breaking waves and dangerous rip currents through Wednesday. It’s due to rare, […]

Goff tosses 6 TDs, Cal tops Air Force 55-36 in Armed Forces

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Jared Goff threw for 467 yards and six touchdowns and California won in the postseason for the first time in seven years, beating Air Force 55-36 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Tuesday. Goff had three of his scoring tosses in a span of five plays in the second quarter […]

Jaguars owner Khan: Coach Bradley will return next season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan knew this would be a lengthy rebuilding project. He talked about the day he hired coach Gus Bradley and has mentioned it repeatedly since. So it should be no surprise that he’s giving Bradley another year to get the job done. Khan released a statement Tuesday […]

FOOTBALL

Perseverance pays off for FSU’s Maguire, Houston’s Ward

ATLANTA (AP) – Houston’s Greg Ward Jr. wouldn’t let his quarterback dream die even when his first starts for the Cougars came at wide receiver. Sean Maguire had to remain similarly confident in his future as Florida State’s quarterback when he began the season as a backup to Everett Golson. Maguire will try to show […]

Orange Bowl to be played on a construction site

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Huge cranes are hovering outside the Orange Bowl stadium, as though trying to start a wave. They’re ready to raise the roof – after Thursday’s game. The national championship semifinal between No. 1 Clemson and No. 4 Oklahoma will be played on a construction site. Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ […]

Florida 911 dispatcher demoted for playing video games on job

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – A Florida 911 dispatcher has been reprimanded and demoted for playing video games on the job. The Palm Beach Post (http://goo.gl/Rwvtd3 ) reported Tuesday that 52-year-old Charles M. Morris was demoted from training officer to dispatcher. The paper reports that an internal investigation conducted by the Palm Beach County […]

Cockfighting ring busted in Clewiston

CLEWISTON, Fla.- Forty-eight men arrested in Clewiston for cockfighting are out on bail. The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office says 83 fighting roosters were found off Utopia Street Saturday in the Montura Ranch Estates community. Authorities say the birds were worth anywhere from $100 to $10,000. During the raid, deputies say they found items used to encourage the birds to fight, […]

Memes, statements further detail evidence in Sievers killing

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Investigators believe memes from the Facebook account of one of the men accused of killing a Bonita Springs doctor are telling: “One free murder: This voucher entitles you to commit murder without legal, social or financial consequence.” “Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.” “Two things every American should […]

Guinea declared free of Ebola, step to end spread of disease

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) – Guinea was declared Ebola-free on Tuesday, a huge step in the fight against the world’s largest Ebola epidemic. The West African country is where Ebola emerged two years ago, later spreading to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. No new known cases have been reported anywhere in the world in at least […]

US criticizes Russia over civilian deaths in Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is criticizing Russia for killing hundreds of civilians in Syria and accusing it of undermining hopes for a cease-fire between Bashar Assad’s government and leading rebel groups. The surprisingly sharp critique comes as Washington banks on Moscow’s support to begin a Syrian peace process that would allow both countries to […]