The Second (And Maybe Final, Maybe Not) TroxBlog Weekly News Quiz

Were you paying attention this week? Here's a quiz on a few headlines from this week's St. Petersburg Times. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see the answers, or click on the story links to read for yourself. Have a great weekend!

1. Who are the Democratic and Republican front-runners in Florida in the race for president, according to a St. Petersburg Times poll? (a) Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani (b) Clinton and John McCain (c) Barack Obama and McCain (d) Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich.

2. What unusual weapon was used in Brandon, according to authorities, in the case of a man accused of killing his estranged wife's new companion? (a) a claymore (b) a phaser (c) a petrified rattlesnake (d) a samurai sword.

3. What newsmaking figure was chosen as a finalist to be the new city manager of Sarasota? (a) Katherine Harris (b) Christine Jennings (c) Susan Stanton (d) Bubba the Love Sponge.

4. What was different about the three-game home stand that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays played this week against the visiting Texas Rangers? (a) a Rays pitcher's no-hitter (b) the games were played at Disney (c) fans got free admission (d) fans were paid $1 each to attend.

5. What caused this mess (left) in Clam Bayou, a nature preserve in Pinellas County? (a) illegal dumping (b) a raccoon infestation (c) litter washed in by drainage (d) partying.

6. Where might U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-St. Petersburg, end up with a $180,000-a-year job if he leaves Congress? (a) the Tampa Bay Lightning (b) USF St. Petersburg (c) St. Petersburg College (d) McDonald's.

7. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved what controversial 500-acre project, which includes paving 56 acres of wetlands? (a) a shopping mall in Pasco County (b) a nuclear waste dump in Crystal River (c) a new city atop a former landfill (d) a condo project in the Brooker Creek Preserve.

8. What proposed business activity raised the question of whether it complied with the municipal codes of the city of New Port Richey? (a) visits from the dead (b) male lingerie modeling (c) off-track Preakness betting (d) a private autopsy service.

9. The state of Florida pulled the plug on this boondoggle, but not before sinking $89-million of taxpayer dollars into it over the past three years: (a) handouts for deadbeat poor people (b)  throwing money at public schools (c) privatizing the state's accounting systems (d) providing free Friday doughnuts for all state employees.

10. What is the nickname of the suspect caught and accused of four St. Petersburg robberies in recent weeks, and how did he get it? (a) the "Red Shirt Bandit," for obvious reasons (b) the "Red Lobster Bandit,'' because he targeted restaurants (c) the "Red Skelton Bandit," because he wore a clown outfit (d) the "Red Wing Bandit,'' because he wore a cap with a hockey-team logo. 

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And the answers:

1. (a) Among Democrats, Clinton leads Obama by a whopping 42-19; among Republicans, Giuliani leads McCain 29-15.

2. (d) The samurai sword, part of a weapons collection. Neighbors said the accused man was angry that his estranged wife's new companion was a sex offender.

3. (c) Stanton, of course. The finalists will be interviewed May 29 and 30.

4. (b) The Rays played their home stand at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Just an experiment to build a fan base, the team reassured its Tampa Bay home town. (You could also claim it was unusual because the Rays swept the three-game series, but hey, that wasn't one of the answers.)

5. (c) Litter washed in by drainage. St. Petersburg (just named a "green city") and Gulfport are squabbling over which is most at fault.

6. (c) St. Petersburg College, at a government-studies center that would bear Young's name. He helped get funding for the center.

7. (a) The Cypress Creek Town Center at I-75 and S.R. 56 in Pasco County. It would be one of the largest malls in the Bay area.

8. (a) Visits from the departed would be one of the things going on at a downtown spiritual counseling shop. The City Council approved the shop over the mayor's objection.

9. (c) Privatizing the accounting systems. Another case of "running the government like a business."

10. (d) Apparently not a Tampa Bay Lightning fan.

Comments

What "free Friday donuts" for state employees? This must be for EOG and Legislative employees only. Agency employees only receive abuse and lack of appreciation.

If only they'd pull the plug on "People First"