By BRIAN SKOLOFF

Associated Press Writer

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) - Tropical Storm Fay lumbered offshore for what was likely to be a brief stay over the Atlantic Ocean's energizing waters after flooding hundreds of homes, trapping residents and leaving much of Florida a soggy mess.

Forecasters expected the storm to complete its zig-zag course by hitting the state for a third time in a week, along with Georgia, but didn't think it would strengthen to a hurricane over the open waters.

The storm flooded hundreds of homes in Brevard and St. Lucie counties, some with up to 5 feet of water, forcing dozens of rescues. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was reviewing Gov. Charlie Crist's request for a federal emergency disaster declaration to defray rising debris and response costs.

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CTV.ca News Staff

The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for southwestern Florida as tropical storm Fay bears down on the state.

Fay has already pounded central Cuba, and claimed up to 35 lives in the Caribbean.

By BRIAN SKOLOFF – 58 minutes ago

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Two years since a hurricane last lashed at Florida, many residents were taking a wait-and-see attitude Monday as a strengthening Tropical Storm Fay swept across the Florida Keys and bore down on the Gulf Coast.

FCN Weather Team: Tim Deegan , Mark Collins , Steve Smith , Dave Vanore

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Big changes for Fay as the storm remains disorganized and weakens slightly overnight. Hurricane specialists are challenged by Fay's lack of organization and this is creating an array of diverging forecast model tracks.

Sprint Nextel invested $59 million in Network Preparations in Coastal Communities Millions of Customers and First Responders Rely on Nextel Direct Connect

Aug. 18, 2008

Sprint today said it is preparing for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Fay threatening to make landfall in the Florida Keys Monday evening and then again through southwest and central Florida Tuesday.

Oil climbed by more than a dollar today as tropical storm Fay swept closer to the Gulf of Mexico, posing threats to oil and gas supplies.

However, analysts said the rising US dollar and news that Russia would begin withdrawing troops from Georgia, a key supply route to Europe, could curb any gains in the oil price.

HAVANA (AFP) — Tropical storm Fay bore down on Cuba Sunday after leaving five dead and one missing in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as Florida declared an emergency and ordered tourists to leave the popular southern Keys.

The Miami-based US National Hurricane Center warned Sunday that Fay, already packing winds of up to 85 kilometers (50 miles) an hour, could evolve into a hurricane in the coming hours and dump several inches of rain over Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before lashing Florida on Monday.

By BRIAN SKOLOFF – 1 hour ago

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Florida Keys officials closed schools, opened shelters and urged visitors to leave as Tropical Storm Fay threatened to strengthen into a hurricane Sunday, but residents and tourists seemed in no hurry to evacuate.

Associated Press
6:32 AM CDT, August 4, 2008

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Remote sensors will be installed on bridges on two main South Carolina highways allowing highway officials to monitor their condition in Columbia.

By Margot Habiby

Aug. 3 (Bloomberg) -- A tropical disturbance, a storm system that can precede a tropical storm or hurricane, formed today in the northern Gulf of Mexico about 150 miles (241 kilometers) south of Pensacola, Florida, U.S.

July 30, 2008
The University Transportation Center for Alabama, headquartered at The University of Alabama, is conducting a pilot study to assess the impact of installation of lap/shoulder seat belts on a limited number of Alabama school buses.

From effects on student behavior, to monitoring the extra time devoted to buckling up at each stop, the study will provide information about school buses with seat belts for possible adoption throughout the state.

By Raviya H. Ismail

Kentucky schools have eliminated about 975 positions, including 455 teachers, to cope with cuts in the state's two-year budget, according to a state education group.

DETROIT, July 30 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Wednesday that it would offer buyouts of up to $125,000 to workers at two plants in Tennessee to cut costs as the company reduces truck production in response to a sales slump.

The program is being offered to technicians and salaried workers at its vehicle assembly plant in Smyrna and a powertrain assembly plant in Decherd and will span three years, Nissan said in a statement.

By Angel Streeter | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 30, 2008


Sure, some 79 percent of commuters in South Florida continue to drive to work alone. But get ready for a huge shift in that pattern, say transportation experts.

By Julie Patel | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 30, 2008
State regulators on Tuesday shut down a Florida Power & Light Co. green energy program after an audit revealed most of the money collected from customers was used to pay for administrative and marketing costs.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Thursday is the day about 2 million Americans get a raise.

That's when the federal minimum wage goes up 70 cents an hour.

Volkswagen announced yesterday the location of its new US auto plant (the first since 1988) will be located in Chattanooga, TN. Expected to open in 2010, the plant will employ up to 2,000 people and produce up to 300,000 cars per year.

VW has spent months searching for the most suitable location, and had it narrowed down between Tennessee, Alabama, and Michigan. Michigan was eliminated last month and the decision came down to the two Southern states.

»chattanoogan.com/articles/articl···480.asp

Tallahassee, FL--Florida Legal Services wants to help people who can’t afford their mortgage payments or an attorney.

So, in partnership with the Florida Bar Association they are giving free legal advice.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - In a bad economy, fun is often the first casualty.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Alabama will be the likely home of a new Volkswagen manufacturing plant, beating two other states, German industry newsletter Automobilwoche said on Saturday, citing senior company sources.

A VW spokesman said that a decision on the location of the plant had yet to be taken and that Alabama, Tennessee and Michigan remained in the running. A decision is expected by July 21, the spokesman said.

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