News in United States

• Authorities: Prius seen with flashing brake lights
  

  A California Highway Patrol report released today said an officer saw brake lights flashing after arriving to help slow a speeding Toyota Prius on a Southern California freeway.

• Cross-dressing felon nabbed after skirting police effort
  

  A cross-dressing convicted felon wanted on armed burglary, assault and other charges has been arrested after being shot by officers during a chase this afternoon, police said. About 4:30 p.m., Jermonte Thornton, 27, who was wearing a pinkish woman's house dress, black slip, pink crocs, wig and stuffed bra, jumped from a second-story balcony at Lenox Place Apartments off 22nd Street near Fowler Avenue, police said.

• China drywall victims get OK to live in RVs on their lots
  

  That sound you hear may be the collective groan of homeowner association managers across Hillsborough County.

• Man rescued from burning boat off Pinellas coast
  

  A Good Samaritan rescued a man from a burning boat this afternoon about a mile off of St. Pete Beach, a U.S. Coast Guard official said. The Coast Guard received a call just before 4 p.m. of a man in a burning 31-foot sailboat, said Petty Officer Sondra Kneen, a Coast Guard spokeswoman.

• Black people must leave, N.J. Walmart announcer says
  

  A Walmart store announcement ordering black people to leave brought chagrin and apologies today from leaders of the company, which has built a fragile trust among minority communities.

• Idaho first to sign law against health care reform
  

  Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is the first state chief executive to sign a measure requiring his attorney general to sue the federal government if Congress passes health care reform.

• Probation violation nets Pasco man 12 years in prison
  

  Donald Hancock is headed to prison more than 13 years after pleading guilty to driving drunk and causing the crash that killed his wife.

• Anchor Hite makes surprise visit to WFLA
  

  Former WFLA-TV Anchor Bob Hite makes a surprise visit to News Channel 8

• Lawmakers propose way to help ports get cut of new business
  

  Expansion of the Panama Canal means that Florida is poised to seize on new trade opportunities, say state lawmakers who want to pour $85 million into Florida's 14 ports.

• Lawmaker files bill to end ban on adoptions by gays
  

  A day after Democrats lawmakers tried to bring attention to the state ban on gay and lesbian adoption, a representative from West Palm Beach announced she has filed a bill that would lift the ban.

• Firefighters save dog in house fire
  

  Black pit bull was hidden under a bed in the black smoke.

• Health bill picks up support; weekend vote likely
  

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's much-challenged health care overhaul gained traction today as a liberal lawmaker became the first to switch his opposition and Catholic nuns declared their support in an unusual public break with the bishops.

• Largo teen accused of battery on minor
  

  A 19-year-old has been accused of lewd and lascivious battery on a minor after an incident involving a 14-year-old girl he met at a skating rink.

• Longtime Saint Leo softball coach resigns after investigation
  

  The conclusion of a 10-day investigation by the Saint Leo University administration, has led to a major change in the Lions' athletic department. Longtime softball coach Christi Wade resigned following that inquiry after making what Saint Leo's student newspaper, The Lions' Pride Online, termed "racially charged comments."

• Complaint about 'repaired' Toyotas rising, federal officials say
  

  Complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyotas repaired under recalls have nearly doubled in the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.

• State universities considering health consortium
  

  Florida's 11 state universities will join forces in a health insurance consortium to seek lower premiums and better benefits for students through "bulk buying" under a recommendation approved today by the Board of Governors.

• 3 hours later -- lots of talk, little action on county employees
  

  Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe just called for the termination of County Administrator Pat Bean and County Attorney Renee Lee.

• Shields sharp again as Rays down Twins
  

  PORT CHARLTOTTE – The Rays unveiled a formula Wednesday they'd like to see repeated several times during the regular season: No. 1 starter James Shields turning the ball over to closer Rafael Soriano with a lead en route to a Tampa Bay victory.

• Man in 6-hour standoff had previous run-ins with law
  

  Tito Morell was 28 years old the first time he led authorities on a car chase in the Tampa Bay area after being suspected of robbing a bank.

• Smithsonian opens $21 million human evolution hall
  

  Hundreds of early human fossils, artifacts and forensically recreated faces of our prehistoric relatives went on display today, exploring 6 million years of evolution at the National Museum of Natural History.