Oil Companies Plan: Drill In Florida Panther Habitat

Matthew Schwartz, a transplanted Brooklynite, fell in love with the South Florida wilderness. After learning what the oil industry has planned for the region - plans that he says threatened the Florida panther to a greater degree than first believed, Schwartz began researching the number of official permits were issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He was concerned enough that he plans to attend a meeting in Naples on March 11 to discuss oil well wast water with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, one of the Broward/Palm Beach New Times' blogs reports.

Among some of his findings, Schwartz discovered that the Dan A. Hughes Co. of Beeville, Texas has leased the mineral rights on approximately 115,000 acres from Collier Resources, including a well next to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. The lease also includes large portions of the panther refuge, as well as part of the Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Schwartz also found two more leases issued by Collier Resources.

To read the article on the Broward/Palm Beach New Times' blog in its entirety, click here.

School Bus Driver Credited For Helping Save 6-year Old

A St. Johns County School District bus driver alertness helped keep a 6-year-old safe recently, possibly saving the child's life. Driver Bill Buckley was approaching the first-grader's bus stop when a car driving behind the bus sped up to pass the bus, which already had its stop signals out and red lights flashing. Meanwhile, the first-grader ran into the street toward the bus, according to The Florida Times-Union. Buckley laid on the horn to alert the child, who stopped. Buckley's actions "saved his (the child's) life," according to his mother, Joy McMillen.

Buckley, who joined the district's transportation department on Jan. 29, 2013, has been honored by the school district.

To read The Florida Times-Union's article in its entirety, click here.

Probation For 'Affluenza' Teen After Fatal Crash

A Texas teen was sentenced to 10 years' probation in a drunk-driving case in which four people were killed. Prosecutors had asked Judge Jean Boyd to sentence Ethan Couch to 20 years in jail on charges that two people were severely injured, The Florida Times-Union reports. However, Couch received no jail time.

A defense expert testified that the teen's wealthy parents "coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility," naming the condition "affluenza." Defense attorney Reagan Wynn said that his client was "misunderstood."

To read the Florida Times-Union article in its entirety, click here.