Two Senate Democrats are calling for a statewide ban on the use of Tasers by law enforcement until the state can commission a study to determine if the instruments could cause death or serious health problems.

Senators Tony Hill of Jacksonville and Gary Siplin of Orlando said 18 people in Florida have died after being stunned with a Taser, which gives an electric shock of 50,000 volts.

This week in Orlando authorities reportedly used a Taser on a man restrained to a bed who refused to provide a urine sample for a drug test. In November, a 12-year-old girl in Miami was shocked after she ran away from a police officer, and a 6-year-old boy was stunned after he threatened to cut himself with a piece of glass.   more >>

Deborah Stevenson, one of several Zeta Phi Beta sorority volunteers at BookFest, said the idea of giving books to children is a great start to encouraging them to read. Stevenson, who also is a substitute teacher for Manatee County schools, said reading is an important key to everything they do in school and later in life.

"It carries you through all of the subjects," she said. "You also have to know how to read a job application."

Unfortunately, the only time some children are exposed to books is at school, Stevenson said. With BookFest they will learn reading is fun.   more >>

PASCAGOULA -- Del-Teen Civic & Social Club's ninth annual Red and White Ball will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the B.E. "Mac" McGinty Civic Center, Pascagoula.

The theme will be "Some Enchanted Evening."

The queen will be Brittany Chapman, club president. She is a senior at Moss Point High School. Last year's king, Brian T. Hutson, a 2004 graduate of Pascagoula High School, will return to relinquish his crown.  more >>

The three- to five-year-old children at New Hanover County Community Action, Inc.’s Head Start program received some special support from members of the community when they came in to help with the Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration.   Reading to Head Start children was the highlight of the celebration.  Children enrolled in the More at Four program, which also operates 2 classrooms at NHCCA Head Start, also participated in the celebration

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Mrs. Penelope Spicer-Sidbury (Wilmington City Clerk) and other members of the community brought their favorite books to read to children on March 2, 2005.   more >>