Links from the Times for Jan. 31: State House Speaker Ray Sansom steps aside

State House Speaker Ray Sansom steps aside
Facing criminal and ethical investigations into his dealings with a state college, Ray Sansom will step down as speaker while his legal troubles are resolved. | Previous coverage: The rise and fall

Federal judge won't free Arthur Nadel
Arthur G. Nadel, the 76-year-old hedge fund investor from Sarasota, poses a flight risk too large to release him from federal custody. A judge said there is no condition under which he would feel assured that Nadel would show for his trial, expected to be in New York, if he were released. | Profile: From rags to riches to who knows where

Lawsuit accuses Buddy Johnson of fraud in land financing
A retired couple who sold their longtime homestead to Buddy Johnson sued the former Hillsborough elections supervisor Friday, alleging that he committed fraud by secretly altering the terms of the sales contract. | Complete coverage: Buddy Johnson's troubles

Deputy's shooting of dog fires up readers

[Lee Ann Hutts, 32, of St. Petersburg grieves for her dog Smoke, a chow-pit bull mix. Edmund D. Fountain]

A St. Petersburg Times story about a Pinellas County Sheriffs deputy shooting a barking dog in the head prompted outrage from tamapbay.com readers.

More than 150 tampabay.com readers posted comments on the story, most angry about the deputy's actions, others upset that a veterinarian was charging $3,000 for emergency surgery -- the owner couldn't afford it, and the dog died soonafter.

Only the most recent 35 comments can be viewed on the story, so here's a sampling of some of the comments no longer appearing:

Susan of Tampa: "I am so sorry for your loss. That hot headed officer had no right to pull a gun on your dog. If he felt threatened, then why didn't he just shut the front door and ask you to come outside? At the very least, use a taser, not a gun."

Mark of St. Pete: " Who would shoot a dog before it even bit them?"

Holiday resident: "Yup....Cops....Once again, over-reacting to every situation like everyone/animal is a freakin' criminal...Just because you have authority over people, doesn't mean you have to use it to it's fullest potential."

Hot Super Bowl parties, hot photos

St. Petersburg Times photographers are getting to play paparazzi for a few days as the celebs come to town for Super Bowl weekend. They're snapping famous faces -- Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, Kim Kardashian, to name a few..

In this photo above, photographer Edmund D. Fountain noted that the woman in the middle wasn't actually wearing a shirt -- her 'shirt' was painted on.

If you're going to some of the hot parties tonight and this weekend, share your pics with us: E-mail them to photos@tampabay.com with your name and photo details in the body of the message. Then view them in our Super Bowl Party Photo Gallery.

Links from the Times for Jan. 30

'Teacher should be fired'
In a rare teacher-firing case, a state hearing administrative judge is recommending that Pinellas fire a middle school math teacher for incompetence and insubordination.

• Read the order recommending the firing.
• One expert estimates that 3 to 5 percent of teachers perform poorly and 13 to 20 percent marginally.
• Court records lay out the complaint.
• Court records supporting Brown’s argument. 

For states, a failing grade on teacher rentention
States are not doing what it takes to retain good teachers and remove bad ones, according to a study  released Thursday by the National Council on Teacher Quality. | Report: Read the national study (PDF)

Baby's death
Read the 12-page report by the state Department of Children and Families on a baby's death in December.  Thomas Ludwig, 24, is accused of killing his 2-month-old daughter Diella, who has a twin sister, Shyloh. The girls were born in jail.

Peanut butter recall
New revelations are coming out about the peanut processing plant being linked to the Salmonella poisoning of more than 500 people, and the recall of products using peanut butter from the plant continues to grow. See the list of peanut butter product recalls.

Are You In? We'll help you keep promise to volunteer

Were you inspired by President Obama's call to volunteerism? Or maybe just enticed to contribute by a free cup of Starbucks coffee. If so, Tampabay.com's Do Good channel can help connect you with bay area services in need of volunteers.

This week, we highlight 3 charities that need your help:

Go: On Feb. 14, guests will be transported to Spain at Sojourn an internationally-themed, black-tie, wine-paired dinner gala to benefit WEDU. Get  more info.  

Give: Reading Rocks! in Sarasota needs new children's booksfor children at Alta Vista Elementary School. About 83% of the students at the school receive free or reduced lunch, and many of them do not own any books. Get more info.

Help: On March 19-21, a public art display of chalk drawings will cover the sidewalks in Hyde Park Village as part of Chalk Walk. The Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts needs help with all aspects of the event -- hleping artist, delivering supplies and staffing a booth.  Get more info.

(Times photo: Troy and Anne Atlas bid $2,000 for a Border Collie puppy at the 2007 Sojourn.)

 

Your photos: Chameleon spotted outside jail

Allen M. Boatman, instructor of horticulture at the Hillsborough County Jail, shares a photo of an Anole -- commonly called a chameleon -- spotted in the Falkenburg Road jail's greenhouse.

Share your wildlife photos: E-mail them to submit@tampabay.com. Please include your name and some photo details, then view your pics in tampabay.com's Wildlife Photo Gallery.

You also can join our community gallery for free and upload your own photo galleries.

Links from the Times for Jan. 29, 2009

Talent show audition

View a gallery of photos from Wednesday's Bright House Networks' Bright Stars Senior Talent Show audition in Clearwater.

Gulfport police have suspect in Joy food Mart shooting
The suspect is already booked in the Pinellas County Jail on other charges. He is believed to have been the gunman in the Dec. 22 robbery and shooting.

Previous coverage

• Jan. 20: Another convenience store robbery
• Dec. 29: Clerks thought Gulfport robbery was a joke
• Dec. 29: Interactive: Explore a map of recent convenience store shooting
• Dec: 29: Audio report: Hear the 911 call made by one of the clerk's son
• Dec. 23: Video: Gulfport food mart shooting
• Dec. 4: Store owner shot 2 days after his brother
• Dec. 2: Deli owner is robbed and shot. Again.

This Pittsburgh Steelers fan shows her team spirit

This girl, Piper Dugmore, shows off her Pittsburgh Steelers team spirit.

Even her nails are painted in Steelers black and yellow.

How are you supporting your Super Bowl team? Show us: E-mail photos to submit@tampabay.com with your name and photo details in the body of the message. You can view your photos in tampabay.com's Super Bowl Photo Gallery.

You also can join our Community Gallery for free and upload your own galleries.

Your pics: Dolphin watching at John's Pass

Carol Harrison of Madison Heights, Mich., took this photo of her sister taking a photo of a dolphin off John's Pass.

Share your favorite photos: E-mail them to submit@tampabay.com. Make sure to include your name and some photo details, then view the photo in tampabay.com's Community Photo Gallery.

Links from the Times for Jan. 28

Sea turtle visit Florida's beaches to nest
Sea turtles are air breathing reptiles that spend up to 90 percent of their time on the ocean. Each summer thousands of these marine creatures flock to Florida's beaches to nest, particularly in the prime nesting months of June and July. Sea turtles are classified as threatened or endangered species. | Interactive report: Beach visitors

Nadel turns himself in to FBI
Sarasota money manager Arthur G. Nadel turned himself in to FBI agents and was arrested Tuesday, two weeks after he disappeared and left instructions for his wife to quickly access bank accounts because “the avenues to money for you will likely be blocked soon.”  | Read: Complaint against Nadel (PDF)