News in United States

• County's auditor asks for legal representation
  

  The county's internal performance auditor says he needs a new lawyer. In a memo to Hillsborough County Commissioners on Friday, Jim Barnes said the e-mail snooping controversy involving County Attorney Renee Lee has left his office without legal representation at a time when the legitimacy of his work is being questioned.

• Plant City restaurants to collect donations for clean water for impoverished children
  

  Customers of two popular restaurants will be asked in the next few days if they want to plunk down money for a glass of water.

• Senate budget would raise education spending
  

  Senate lawmakers are proposing to spend more than the state House on K-12 public schools - but they also assume that 24 counties, including Hillsborough, will levy additional property taxes.

• Sweepstakes rooms catch the eye of law
  

  In five minutes, the value of the Internet card jumped from $5 to $102.

• Local schools may get pass on teacher pay law
  

  Hillsborough County would be the only school district in the state exempted from a proposed law that ties teacher pay to student performance on end-of-year assessment tests.

• 2 people shot in Pinellas Park, police say
  

  An ongoing neighborhood tiff sparked the shooting of two men today, neither of whom was seriously wounded, according to police.

• Gonzaga bounces FSU from NCAA tourney
  

  BUFFALO, N.Y. - Matt Bouldin and the eighth-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs showed Florida State it still has a way to go in its quest to be considered a basketball power.

• 15-month-old who nearly drowned recovering
  

  The 15-month old girl who nearly drowned Thursday in a pond is expected to be released from the hospital today, said Pasco Sheriff's Office spokesman Doug Tobin.

• Citrus residents accused of operating meth lab in kitchen
  

  Local and federal agents arrested two people today on charges of operating a methamphetamine lab in their kitchen.

• 2-year-old boy runs in front of SUV, hit
  

  A 2-year-old boy is in serious condition after running into the path of an oncoming car.

• End in sight, health care battle tilts Obama's way
  

  President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders lobbied intensely for historic health care legislation today, gaining momentum and another precious "yes" 48 hours ahead of a climactic vote.

• Man dies in incident at SkyDive City
  

  Skydiver dies at SkyDive City in Zephyrhills

• Town hall chaos changed sponsor, not man with ripped shirt
  

  Seven months after protesters turned a Tampa town hall meeting upside down, the health care reform at the center of the chaos faces its test in Congress.

• Harrington takes midway lead in Transitions
  

  Nothing like a trip to the White House to get prepared for one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour.

• Court: Anna Nicole Smith heirs get none of oil fortune
  

  A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Anna Nicole Smith's estate will get none of the more than $300 million the late Playboy model claimed a Texas billionaire to whom she was briefly married meant to leave her after he died.

• Live NCAA scoreboard
  

  The latest from the first day of March Madness.

• Bill aimed at workforce board conflicts
  

  Evidence that regional job-creation boards have spent some $600,000 on food and drink and contracted to do business with their own members has led to a bill that would set ethics standards for the 24 panels.

• Judge: Anthony can use public money for defense
  

  A judge has ruled that Casey Anthony is indigent and can use public money to pay for part of her defense against charges that she murdered her 2-year-old daughter.

• 2 accused of running employee training scam in Pasco
  

  For the most part, on paper everything seemed as it should for two Port Richey companies to receive workforce grant funds for employee training. But everything was not as it appeared, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials.

• Rodrigo y Gabriela bringing acoustic rock show to Tampa
  

  The notion might seem ridiculous to anyone who knows their music, but since not everyone does, Rodrigo Sanchez would like to make one thing clear: Rodrigo y Gabriela don't play flamenco.