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Can USF win get Norman re-elected?

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By Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 3, 2012

For months, the headlines were about the lakefront house in Arkansas. The $500,000 check from a political benefactor that went undisclosed. The FBI investigation. The ethics charges.

Then a fellow senator took a run at the University of South Florida, threatening to slash its state funding. And there was Jim Norman, morphing from goat to golden boy by standing up to the powerful budget chairman and beating back the worst of the cuts.

With the legislative session winding down, election season for state leaders will start in earnest in the coming weeks. The question for Norman, R-Tampa, as he seeks re-election to the state Senate: Has the USF debate immunized him against more than a year of withering scrutiny?

It certainly doesn't hurt, most political observers seem to agree.

"I think it absolutely helps to have had the exposure that he had," said Republican political consultant Chris Ingram. "But it won't be a cakewalk for him."

His opponents clearly see vulnerability. Almost none of the state legislators in the Tampa Bay region have meaningful opposition yet as the courts continue to review new proposed district boundaries. Norman has two challengers from fellow Republicans who appear poised to make him work for another term.

While both say they are pursuing their own aspirations rather than running to derail Norman's, each has alluded to the incumbent's ethical challenges.

"It's something that he can go out on a high note with," John Korsak, a homeland security consultant from Lutz who is one of Norman's challengers, said of his work on behalf of USF.

The USF battle began when Senate budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, sought to split off USF's Lakeland branch to form a new university. After he failed to win support for an immediate timetable from the Florida Board of Governors, he pushed legislation to slash USF's budget by 58 percent.

Norman introduced amendments to stave off some of the cuts, bringing them in line with other state universities. In the end, he helped get $46 million in funding for the school restored, in addition to a $25 million "contingency" Alexander sought to assure USF's cooperation with the Lakeland split.

That same week, Norman admitted to ethics charges that he failed to disclose a $500,000 gift his wife received from businessman Ralph Hughes in 2006. Norman was a county commissioner at the time, Hughes regularly appeared before that board, and the money was used to buy the Arkansas home, details of which Norman claimed to know nothing about.

The transaction prompted a more than yearlong federal inquiry that was dropped because investigators could not show Norman committed a crime.

As an outgrowth of that investigation, Norman's longtime aide, Ben Kelly, was charged with failing to file tax returns for five years.

Those are circumstances former state Rep. Rob Wallace, Norman's other challenger, says the public will not soon forget.

Wallace, who served eight years in the House ending in 2002 in a district whose boundaries overlap partly with the District 15 Senate seat, says Norman's work for USF is overblown. After all, Alexander got his new university, and on the timetable that he wanted it.

"Of course he would be more than willing to step in as a crusader; to step in front of the issue and look like a player and to be the savior for USF," Wallace said. "The final solution was letting Senator Alexander have a four-year, stand-alone university."

Norman declined to speak about his re-election and how USF or ethics questions will play.

"It's not even on our radar," he said.

Anthony Pedicini, a Republican political consultant who helped on Norman's first Senate campaign in 2010 and plans to work on this one, said the USF debate showed Norman's effectiveness while other things were going on around him. And Pedicini emphasized that, ultimately, federal authorities found nothing wrong with the home purchase.

"That more than likely immunizes him from attack more than anything else," Pedicini said.

Meanwhile, Wallace's campaign concedes that Norman remains a tough candidate.

Norman spent 18 years on the County Commission. A tireless campaigner, he crisscrossed Hillsborough County knocking on residents' doors — even in nonelection years. He extended the practice into central Pasco County in 2010 to cover that part of his Senate district.

As a commissioner, he was a strong advocate for parks and youth sports programs, for which he is remembered fondly by some of his constituents.

"I think that the USF issue gave him an opportunity and he executed on that really well," said April Schiff, a Republican political consultant who said she likely will support Wallace.

"But I get the feeling people aren't going to forget the other stuff."

Staff writer Kim Wilmath contributed to this report. Bill Varian can be reached at (813) 226-3387 or varian@tampabay.com.


Tampa Bay Lightning beats Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in OT

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 3, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — Coach Guy Boucher has said his team is in "survival time."

There could be no better example of its fight than Tampa Bay's 4-3 come-from-behind overtime win over the Hurricanes on Saturday night at the RBC Center.

The Lightning (31-28-6), playing on back-to-back nights and arriving in Raleigh at 3 a.m. Saturday due to a plane mechanical delay, overcame a two-goal deficit for a second consecutive overtime win. In doing so, Tampa Bay continued its improbable climb to a playoff spot. It is within two points of the final spot in the Eastern Conference.

"These guys are doing the impossible," Boucher said. "No matter how we do it, it doesn't make a difference (how they do it)."

The Lightning did it in unlikely fashion Saturday. As perplexingly poor as Tampa Bay has been with the man advantage on the road for most of the season, it won Saturday on the strength of two power-play goals.

Teddy Purcell tied the score at 3 on a one-timer with four seconds left in a two-minute five-on-three power play in the third.

"You have the full two minutes," Purcell said. "So a goal in the first 10 seconds is just as good as a goal in the last 10."

In overtime, Purcell found Stamkos backdoor for a snap shot, Stamkos' league-leading 47th goal. Stamkos also scored in the second to pull the Lightning within 3-2.

"That was a big character win for us," Stamkos said. "We never give up."

Marty St. Louis, who logged more than 27 minutes for the second consecutive game, said it was Stamkos' first goal —with two minutes left in the second — that gave the team some life after falling behind 3-1. Stamkos, on an end-to-end-rush, sent a wrist shot past goalie Cam Ward.

"That was a big one," St. Louis said.

But the biggest goals came later from Purcell, who extended his points streak to nine games (six goals, 13 assists), and Stamkos, who said the Lightning got some breaks getting the late power plays. Hurricanes forward Brandon Sutter was called for roughing in overtime after running into goalie Mathieu Garon, who was outside the crease.

In overtime, Purcell patiently carried the puck from between the circles and faked a shot before passing to Stamkos near the left post.

"An unbelievable pass," Stamkos said.

With contributions from many, including Tim Wallace's first NHL goal and Garon's 25 saves, Tampa Bay has worked its way back into the playoff conversation after falling 10 points out of the eighth spot.

"These guys are competitive; they're warriors," Boucher said. "And they want the end of their season to mean something. And we always say, 'The shame is not in losing; the shame is in not fighting.' "

Lightning11114
Hurricanes03003
Lightning11114
Hurricanes03003

First Period1, Tampa Bay, Wallace 1 (Shannon), 5:58. PenaltiesMalone, TB (hooking), 19:06.

Second Period2, Carolina, Stewart 8 (E.Staal, Spacek), 5:23. 3, Carolina, Jokinen 10, 15:02. 4, Carolina, Stewart 9 (E.Staal, Tlusty), 16:18. 5, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 46, 18:00. PenaltiesCommodore, TB (tripping), 1:01.

Third Period6, Tampa Bay, Purcell 19 (St. Louis, Malone), 7:24 (pp). PenaltiesTlusty, Car (tripping), 3:15; LaRose, Car (hooking), 5:28; E.Staal, Car (slashing), 5:28.

Overtime7, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 47 (Purcell), 2:41 (pp). PenaltiesBra.Sutter, Car (roughing), 1:05. Shots on GoalTampa Bay 8-7-6-2—23. Carolina 8-8-9-3—28. Power-play opportunitiesTampa Bay 2 of 4; Carolina 0 of 2. GoaliesTampa Bay, Garon 23-16-4 (28 shots-25 saves). Carolina, Ward 22-19-11 (23-19). A17,116 (18,680). T2:27.

Grounded by Rick Scott, Cabinet members learn how to travel Florida without a state plane

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By Michael Van Sickler, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Sunday, March 4, 2012

STRANDED-IN-TALLAHASSEE — After logging 220,000 miles, Florida's chief financial officer said it was finally time to say goodbye to his Honda minivan "Blue Steele."

"Need some ideas on what to get next," Jeff Atwater tweeted recently to his followers. "Any suggestions?"

In Gov. Rick Scott's Florida, Cabinet members are a long way from the days when they hopped across the state in a Cessna jet. Scott made the state's two planes a symbol of government excess when he defeated a pair of rivals who used them.

But while taxpayers are saving because the planes have been sold and shipped out of state, real questions remain on whether the smaller travel bills are worth the costs — which are measured mainly in time. While Scott can move about the state in his personal private jet, Cabinet members are forced to drive or rely on Tallahassee's limited commercial air service.

Asked about the sale of the state planes, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam smiled and said, "It is what it is."

Scott fulfilled a campaign promise on his first full day as governor when he ordered the sale of the state's two airplanes: a 2000 King Air 350 and a 2003 Cessna Citation Bravo.

The decision was not without controversy. Senate Budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, argued that the sale required legislative approval. Atwater said it at least needed the blessing of the state's three Cabinet members: himself, Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The planes were not without controversy, either. Former Attorney General Bill McCollum, former CFO Alex Sink and former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp all were accused of using the planes for nonofficial business.

In the end, Kottkamp reimbursed the state $12,974 for flights his wife and son took, and the state Commission on Ethics did not pursue a case.

Still, Scott — a wealthy former health care executive — pounded both McCollum and later Sink for their air travel during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Scott sold the King Air for $1.77 million and the Cessna for $1.9 million, which netted the state $560,000 because the state still owed money on one of the planes. The sale also eliminated future operating and leasing costs of about $2.4 million a year.

Changes in travel

The decision to sell was easy for Scott, who can and often does use his own personal jet to do his job.

But what about the three other Cabinet members who travel? Do the savings offset making it more difficult for them to travel a state as big as Florida?

Bondi and Atwater say they fully support the sale and don't think the travel restrictions interfere with their job.

Bondi "prefers to cover the majority of her in-state transportation costs herself," said spokeswoman Jennifer Meale. Bondi has incurred $4,272 in travel-related expenses since taking office, Meale said.

That's in contrast to the air travel of McCollum. In his four years as attorney general, McCollum flew 181 times at a cost of $151,881 — an estimate based on a per-passenger basis.

McCollum said the value of having the planes has been overlooked.

"The bottom line is, without a state plane, when you have real state business to do, it takes time, and time is a valuable thing," he said. "Without the planes, it's less efficient government. Or, it means you're not reaching the people of the state, especially the ones in remote areas."

The Tallahassee airport has direct flights to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa. But no direct flights to Orlando, West Palm Beach, Naples or Fort Myers. Getting to these cities requires flying first to Atlanta or Charlotte, or landing in one of the Florida cities that the airport does serve and then driving.

"You'd end up consuming a huge amount of time to go to those places," McCollum said.

Without the planes, Atwater relied on his minivan and saved taxpayers about $39,000. That's how much Sink cost taxpayers by flying on the state plane during her first year in office.

Atwater said that he doesn't mind the inconvenience, and that he has become accustomed to traveling by car.

He didn't always feel this way. Before he became Senate president in 2008, Atwater relied heavily on the taxpayer-financed friendly skies.

According to records with the Florida Department of Management Services, Atwater flew 95 times on trips that cost $88,000 in 2007. Because other passengers were on board, Atwater's portion of the bill was estimated at $14,965.

"In 2007 many senators used the state plane collectively in an effort to minimize individual trips and keep costs down," Atwater's spokeswoman, Anna Alexopoulos, said in an email. "After 2007, CFO Atwater assessed the associated expenses and determined that it was more practical and cost efficient to drive. For the past four years, he has traveled predominantly by car whenever possible."

Not as welcoming

Agriculture Commissioner Putnam hasn't been as welcoming of Scott's grounding.

Putnam has received $4,378 in travel reimbursements since taking office last year. His predecessor, Charles Bronson, dwarfed that expense with his use of the state plane. Records show that between July 2004 and the end of 2010, Bronson used the plane 578 times on trips. The estimated expense for flying Bronson: $310,000.

Yet not being mobile comes with its own cost. Putnam drives throughout Florida in either a state vehicle, where he doesn't receive a reimbursement, or his own vehicle.

Putnam said he's more limited in meeting with groups from across the state and has to be more selective in participating in events. His office in particular deals with issues and groups that are in faraway places not served by commercial air travel.

During the legislative session and during the weeks that Cabinet meetings are held, he lives in Tallahassee. But most of the year he's based closer to home in Winter Haven.

"It's more of a central location," Putnam said.

Michael Van Sickler can reached at mvansickler@tampabay.com.

Motorcyclist dies in Pasco crash

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By Keyonna Summers, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

NEW PORT RICHEY — Florida Highway Patrol troopers are investigating a Saturday evening crash that left a 21-year-old motorcyclist dead.

Quintin Humphrey of Hudson died at the scene of the accident, which happened about 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Little Road and Easthaven Court in New Port Richey.

According to a crash report, Humphrey was traveling south on Little Road in the left turn lane.

Delores Pong, 71, of New Jersey was traveling north in a 2004 Honda Civic. She paused at a yield sign then continued through the intersection.

Humphrey's 2001 Triumph motorcycle struck the right rear of Pong's car. Humphrey, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike and suffered fatal injuries.

Pong had minor injuries.

Investigators said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Man drowns after walking off dock

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By Keyonna Summers, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — A U.S. Army soldier from Colorado drowned early Sunday, authorities said, after he walked off an Indian Rocks Beach dock and into the Intercoastal Waterway while intoxicated.

Luis G. Serrano, 36, walked off the boardwalk behind the Holiday Inn Harbourside Hotel and Marina, 401 2nd St., according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. A witness called 911 and said Serrano missed a turn in the boardwalk and continued walking straight into the water about 5:30 a.m.

Pinellas fire rescue responders pulled his fully-clothed body from the water about 6 a.m., according to Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Marianne Pasha.

Serrano lived in Colorado Springs, Co., and was stationed at Fort Carson, Co., according to the Sheriff's Office. He was in the area for a week of training.

On Beer Week, regionalism and the joys of Sporcle

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By Ernest Hooper, Metro Columnist
Sunday, March 4, 2012

The Friday tbt* featured an advertising wrap promoting Tampa Bay Beer Week. But inside, readers found a special Times Newspaper in Education/Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office section aimed at preventing alcohol and drug abuse among teens and young adults.

The coincidence represented conflicting interests to some, but to me it worked. The section included information about Watchyourbac.com, a collaborative effort led by DACCO to inform college-age kids about blood alcohol concentration and self-monitoring alcohol use.

DACCO recognizes the importance of education. And who needs awareness more than folks enjoying a beer celebration? …

Why not a "Tampa Bay" postmark for all our cities? Why not a symbolic step towards embracing regionalism? …

Seen on the Brandon First Church of Nazarene marquee: Come Inside, We're All Messed Up. You'll Blend Right In. …

Look for entrepreneur Bill Edwards to be honored this month as part of a touring exhibit at USF St. Petersburg. The exhibit promotes peace and salutes Mahatma Gandhi, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist leader from Japan. Exhibit coordinators honor a philanthropist in each city and Edwards earned the designation for St. Petersburg.

The exhibit runs March 20-29 at USF St. Pete's Harbor Hall. …

The Patel Conservatory partners with 17 different agencies to provide arts services to at-risk kids, but they want to help more. It's taking applications for its 2012-13 community program through March 16. …

Discovered the trivia website Sporcle last week. I'm not just hooked, I think I'm in love.

That's all I'm saying.

Tampa man dies in motorcycle accident

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By Elizabeth Leva, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

TAMPA -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating a motorcycle accident that killed a 22-year-old man early Sunday.

Thomas James Nott of Tampa was driving his 2006 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on Crawley Road in Odessa about 2:15 a.m. when he attempted to apply his brakes on a curve and lost control, deputies said.

The motorcycle slid into a tree and Nott landed in a culvert, where he died at the scene. Nott was wearing a helmet.

An autopsy will determine if alcohol or drugs were involved, authorities said.

Hernando accident kills one

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By Keyonna Summers, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

BROOKSVILLE — A Tampa man died Sunday, a day after he lost control of his motorcycle along a Brooksville road.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say Orval Roy Estep, 70, was traveling north on Emerson Road, just north of Green Valley Trail, about 7:15 p.m. Saturday when he lost control of his motorcycle while attempting to negotiate a curve.

The bike hit a berm on the east shoulder of the road and overturned. Estep, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown and landed on the side of the road.

He was taken to Bayonet Point Medical Center, where he died Sunday.

Authorities say alcohol was not a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.


High winds cause minor damage, scattered outages

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Times staff
Sunday, March 4, 2012

Strong winds pushing through the Tampa Bay area early Sunday knocked down trees and power lines, causing property damage and scattered power outages.

While winds reached speeds of 40 to 50 mph in the storm system — the same one that spawned a deadly wave of Midwest and Southern tornadoes — the National Weather Service said the winds here were exclusively straight-line. There were no tornadoes detected on radar anywhere in the area.

But the system was strong enough to tear the roof off the Armenia Village condominiums in Tampa, displacing at least two dozen residents. Others across the Tampa Bay area reported downed trees and damaged porches and cars. There were no reports of injuries.

Tampa Electric Co. said most of the power outages in Hillsborough County were minor, affecting only a few customers. There were a few larger outages, mostly concentrated in the Town 'N Country and north Tampa areas, that affected as many as 200 customers.

Progress Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks said fallen trees and other debris knocked out power to about 31,000 customers in its coverage area, including 11,000 in Pinellas, 3,200 in Pasco and 350 in Hernando. The company had restored the majority of service by 4 p.m.

The temperature across the area was expected to dip into the 40s this morning, according to Bay News 9 meteorologist Brian McClure, and drop into the 30s in Pasco and Hernando counties. But it will warm into the 70s by the afternoon.

Times staff writers Keyonna Summers and Will Hobson contributed to this report.

Rick Santorum's history in Pennsylvania explains challenges of his campaign

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By Alex Leary, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

PITTSBURGH — Rick Santorum scrapped his way out of the basement of the Republican presidential primary by forcefully arguing he is a pure conservative with a record of defeating Democrats. Having demonstrated this prowess in a swing state like Pennsylvania, he says, shows he can win in November.

But there's the minor detail of Santorum's 2006 U.S. Senate re-election race.

He lost by 18 points.

Even after clearing away the caveats — he refused to back down from support for the Iraq war and his Democratic opponent had a legendary surname — the landslide still rings loudly in Pennsylvania and undermines the central argument of Santorum's campaign.

"I wrote him off," said Joe Horton, 42, a psychology professor at Grove City College, a Christian school 60 miles north of Pittsburgh. "There were fresher faces. But he's shown tenaciousness. Super Tuesday will tell a lot."

A review of Santorum's record and conversations with Pennsylvania voters explains how he got this far, a doggedness first noticed on the high school basketball court, and why he may not go much further.

"All of us who knew him were waiting for the moments of the last three weeks," said G. Terry Madonna, an expert on state politics at Franklin & Marshall College. "He's gotten way off message. He's narrowed the prospects for expanding his base and he's retreated to the base he already has."

Santorum's problem in Pennsylvania was not contained to Democrats. Republicans had grown weary with his record on spending and his growing persona as a cultural warrior, espousing the sharp views on gay marriage, abortion and contraception that recently have leapt into the presidential primary.

In 2003, he likened homosexuality to "man on dog" sex, drawing ridicule from a sex columnist who made up a crude definition for Santorum's name and pushed it to the top of Google searches. A 2005 book he wrote blamed "radical feminists" for convincing women they had to find happiness in the workplace, a controversy that hurt him among women in his re-election battle. And Floridians may remember him from this era due to his insistence that the U.S. Senate wade into the Terri Schiavo debate.

"He got too preachy," said Marilyn Harrison, 80, who remembers Santorum knocking on her door in Mount Lebanon in his first Senate run in 1994 and being impressed with his vibrant attitude. In 2006, Harrison crossed party lines and voted for Democrat Bob Casey Jr., whose father had been immensely popular as governor and shared Santorum's pro-life views.

"Santorum is out of step with the day," Harrison said. "I'm not against family values, but I don't want him imposing his version on others."

Early in his political career, Santorum emphasized small government conservatism, not religion. He grew into the role after being elected to the Senate and was influenced heavily by his wife, Karen, who dated an abortion provider in her 20s but came to have strong views against it. Devout Catholics, the couple has seven children. The change in focus gave him a national voice, but some supporters at home say it came at a cost.

"He would go off on these rants," said Michael Monday, 51, who owns a shoe store in Butler, where Santorum grew up, and has voted for him. "It was like he was doing it for himself. I wanted him to focus on us." Now Monday says he likes Mitt Romney's business background.

Polls show Santorum, 53, leading Romney in Pennsylvania, but voters do not think either can defeat President Barack Obama. Just 13 percent feel strongly that Santorum could beat the president compared with 45 percent who feel strongly that he cannot, according to a Feb. 25 Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll. The state has voted for a Democrat in every presidential election since 1992.

"I think my vote would be wasted (on Santorum)," said Bob Olsavicky, a 62-year-old Republican from Butler who also likes Romney. "I thought his career was over and was shocked to see him even go this far."

• • •

Butler, less than an hour's drive north of Pittsburgh, is a middle-class town still rebuilding from the decline of the steel industry. Santorum's parents worked at the VA hospital and lived in an apartment on the grounds.

"He was the all-American boy, just all-around good guy, very polite," said Larry Goettler, a businessman. "We used to call him the Rooster. He had this shock of black hair that stuck up."

Goettler said Santorum's work ethic came through on the basketball court. "No one would describe him as a good athlete, but he never quit. Many times I thought he wouldn't get off the floor and he always did."

Santorum got knocked around so much he had to tape his glasses together.

"He was a debater. He could argue any point," Goettler said. "He was never rude about it, but he was very emphatic about it. He hasn't changed a bit."

Santorum did not grow up poor but his roots (his grandfather, an Italian immigrant, worked in the coal mines) have been an asset. On the campaign trail he has had a more natural connection with voters than Romney, the Harvard-educated multimillionaire. Santorum talks about bringing up all people, frets over the decline of upward mobility and has long worked on antipoverty measures.

• • •

Santorum always earned low voter ratings from unions but he took positions that benefited the jobs back home. He voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement and for limits on steel imports.

Santorum pushed for a balanced budget amendment and helped enact welfare reform, but he also fought against cuts in food stamps. He supported a minimum wage hike and voted against others.

Taken together, the record shows a more nuanced history than the unwavering conservative he projects today. In that regard, Santorum lines up with Romney, who says he had to sometimes take positions as governor of Massachusetts that reflected the political landscape.

"When you run in a state that's got a million more Democrats, you have to find ways to compromise and build bridges," said Vince Galko, a state Republican consultant who worked on Santorum's Senate campaigns.

His protectionist votes were only the start of his problems with conservative activists, who saw him as a hand of big government. Santorum voted for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, a massive expansion of the program, and for No Child Left Behind, the education policy conservatives say imposed too much federal control on states. He bragged about the political pork he brought home.

"We're going back into 1990s and wondering why Republicans — whether they're from Massachusetts or Georgia or Pennsylvania — weren't pure and strict conservatives on spending," said Madonna, the professor. "Well, very few of them were. There's a new standard in place."

Longtime friends say Santorum's enduring quality is that he means what he says and that his religious views get outsized attention from the news media.

"A lot of the things he says are very common sense, but it's sort of become a sport to criticize him of late," said Heather Heidelbaugh, an Allegheny County council member. "For Pennsylvania to elect a Santorum, he couldn't be a wacko right-winger."

Supporters mobilize against lawmakers' decision to close Hillsborough Correctional Institution

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By Steve Bousquet, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Sunday, March 4, 2012

TALLAHASSEE ­— Legislative leaders decided in weekend budget talks to close Hillsborough Correctional Institution in Riverview, the state's only faith- and character-based prison for women.

A show of force by HCI supporters last year kept the prison open and those advocates, including retired women from Sun City Center, began mobilizing again Sunday.

But the debt-ridden Department of Corrections developed criteria that resulted in the prison being rated the least efficient in the state.

"I'm disappointed," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "I think the volunteers and the former inmates there showed us the success of that facility."

Hillsborough's recidivism rate is much lower than most others.

Fasano speculated that Hillsborough's closing may have been "a little bit of payback" against senators from Tampa Bay, all but one of whom helped kill a proposed expansion of prison privatization.

Closing Hillsborough will save about $10 million, and the prison's 275 inmates will be transferred to a women's lockup in Lowell. The approximate 130 full-time officers will be offered jobs at other prisons, and HCI guards have already been assigned new jobs elsewhere.

Driver dies in crash with party bus on Courtney Campbell Parkway

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By Stephanie Wang, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

TAMPA — A vehicle and a party bus collided early Sunday on the Courtney Campbell Parkway, killing the vehicle's driver, Tampa police said.

The crash happened around 3:30 a.m., at a stoplight near a boat ramp past the Tampa Shriners Hospital, said Tampa police spokesman Lt. Brian Gant.

The vehicle was turning from the boat ramp on the parkway's south side to go toward Clearwater. The party bus, occupied only by the driver, was heading eastbound toward Tampa. It struck the turning vehicle, Gant said.

The vehicle's driver died at St. Joseph's Hospital. Police did not release the victim's name.

Police also did not name the driver of the party bus, and it was unclear whether that driver was injured in the crash. Police are still investigating which vehicle had the green light to determine who was at fault.

St. Petersburg bar apologizes for ladies night snub of transgender woman

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By Dan Sullivan, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Alex Borrego walked into Bishop Tavern and Lounge with friends Thursday night looking for an evening of fun.

At the door, a bouncer invited Borrego and one of her friends — a drag queen — to partake in free drinks as part of the Tavern's weekly "ladies night." But later, as the pair sipped vodka and cranberry juice from their pink cups, another bouncer approached.

"You guys don't get to participate," they were told. "Because you're dudes."

Borrego, whose driver's license lists her gender as female, showed her ID, but the bouncer was unrelenting.

A heated dispute ensued. Words were exchanged. And the group left the bar.

Afterward, a few in Borrego's group, which included three female-to-male transgender people, launched a Facebook campaign to boycott Bishop Tavern and Lounge, 260 First Ave. N.

The group understood the bar's denial of her friend's participation in "ladies night," Borrego said. But as a legal woman, her treatment was nothing short of discrimination, she said.

Borrego was born male, but went through two years' worth of hormone adjustment and gender-change measures to become female.

"Legally, I'm a woman," Borrego said. "And to deny me to participate in ladies night — that's very disrespectful."

By midday Friday, the Facebook group had attracted more than 250 fans, who issued messages of support for the boycott.

The controversy quickly caught the attention of Dean Marshlack, owner of Bishop Tavern and Lounge, who got in touch with Borrego and her friends Friday and apologized profusely.

"Our staff, in my opinion, didn't do anything with the intent to harm somebody," Marshlack said. "I don't think the bouncer's statement came from a place that was meant to be harmful. I think it came from a place of being misinformed."

Marshlack said he plans to speak with his staff about the incident and ensure that from now on, transgender people will be treated with respect. The Tavern also wants to work with the community to raise awareness of transgender issues.

Late Friday, a public apology was also posted on the Facebook and Twitter pages for Bishop Tavern and Lounge.

"Bishop strives on being one of St. Petersburg's premier nightlife destinations for everyone, without prejudice," the apology read. "We really appreciate the fact that we live in such a diverse community. This event has given us the opportunity to better educate our staff to ensure everyone has a pleasant experience regardless of who you are."

After the apology, Borrego's friends discontinued their call for a boycott. Their boycott page will come down in the next few days, they said. But their larger cause will continue.

"I definitely want to keep the issue alive," Borrego said. "I still think there is an issue at hand. It is discrimination at the core."

Despite the apology, Borrego said she has no plans to be a return customer at Bishop Tavern and Lounge.

"It's just principle," she said.

No. 16 Florida Gators end regular season with third straight loss, 74-59 to No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Two weeks ago, Florida and Kentucky were among the top teams in the SEC, but suddenly things have changed. No. 1 Kentucky's quest for SEC perfection came to a successful conclusion Sunday, while No. 16 Florida's struggles continued.

Kentucky (30-1, 16-0 SEC) took an early lead, withstood a couple of runs, then pulled away for a 74-59 victory in the sold-out O'Connell Center. The Wildcats have won 22 straight games and finished undefeated in league play for the first time since their 2003 team. The 1966 Kentucky team is the only other in league history to finish with a perfect SEC record in the past 56 years.

Florida (22-9, 10-6), now 0-9 against Kentucky when the Wildcats are No. 1, has lost five of its past eight games.

"I told them prior to the game, look, the bottom line is if we lose we're still the No. 1 seed, it doesn't change our seeding, it doesn't do anything," UK coach John Calipari said. "But it's about pride. And I know you guys want to win. And we play to win. We're not playing not to lose, we play to win. … So, that was the message prior to the game. Go have fun and play. And I thought at the start of the game we were really good."

Kentucky shot nearly 55 percent from the field in the first half and led by as many as 16 before Florida pulled to within eight at halftime. Sophomore center Patric Young (21 points, nine rebounds) dunked with 16:31 remaining in the game to pull Florida within 46-44, capping a 22-8 run.

But Kentucky responded to every run. Trailing 59-55 with 9:05 remaining, the Gators scored four the rest of the game.

"I thought we had some really good, decent looks during that stretch, but the ball just didn't go in," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "And like they've done all year long, and with their talent level, when you don't finish a possession out, but you don't guard a possession, then you really put yourself in a position where you're vulnerable and they score. And then I thought (Anthony) Davis made some unbelievable plays. And (Terrence) Jones didn't play well against us in Lexington. He was great" Sunday.

Jones scored Kentucky's first eight and finished with 19 points and four rebounds. Davis had a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Gators shot 38 percent from the field in the game and 18.2 percent from 3-point range in the second half (27 percent — 6-of-22 — for the game).

"We were right there in the game and we had some open looks," said Florida senior Erving Walker, who had eight points and five assists in his final home game. "If we had hit those, that could have changed some things."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabaytimes.com.

No. 16 Florida Gators lose 74-59 to No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Two weeks ago, Florida and Kentucky were among the top teams in the SEC, but suddenly things have changed. No. 1 Kentucky's quest for SEC perfection came to a successful conclusion Sunday, while No. 16 Florida's struggles continued.

Kentucky (30-1, 16-0 SEC) took an early lead, withstood a couple of runs, then pulled away for a 74-59 victory in the sold-out O'Connell Center. The Wildcats have won 22 straight games and finished undefeated in league play for the first time since their 2003 team. The 1966 Kentucky team is the only other in league history to finish with a perfect SEC record in the past 56 years.

Florida (22-9, 10-6), now 0-9 against Kentucky when the Wildcats are No. 1, has lost five of its past eight games.

"I told them prior to the game, look, the bottom line is if we lose we're still the No. 1 seed, it doesn't change our seeding, it doesn't do anything," UK coach John Calipari said. "But it's about pride. And I know you guys want to win. And we play to win. We're not playing not to lose, we play to win. … So, that was the message prior to the game. Go have fun and play. And I thought at the start of the game we were really good."

Kentucky shot nearly 55 percent from the field in the first half and led by as many as 16 before Florida pulled to within eight at halftime. Sophomore center Patric Young (21 points, nine rebounds) dunked with 16:31 remaining in the game to pull Florida within 46-44, capping a 22-8 run.

But Kentucky responded to every run. Trailing 59-55 with 9:05 remaining, the Gators scored four the rest of the game.

"I thought we had some really good, decent looks during that stretch, but the ball just didn't go in," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "And like they've done all year long, and with their talent level, when you don't finish a possession out, but you don't guard a possession, then you really put yourself in a position where you're vulnerable and they score. And then I thought (Anthony) Davis made some unbelievable plays. And (Terrence) Jones didn't play well against us in Lexington. He was great" Sunday.

Jones scored Kentucky's first eight and finished with 19 points and four rebounds. Davis had a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Gators shot 38 percent from the field in the game and 18.2 percent from 3-point range in the second half (27 percent — 6-of-22 — for the game).

"We were right there in the game and we had some open looks," said Florida senior Erving Walker, who had eight points and five assists in his final home game. "If we had hit those, that could have changed some things."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabaytimes.com.


St. Petersburg leaders mull whether to make downtown bars pay for security

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By Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — This week city leaders will start mulling a cover charge for downtown's bars and clubs.

The City Council will get its first look Thursday at a proposed ordinance that would give the city more control over the city's bustling nightlife. The methods differ, but the goal is the same: requiring downtown clubs to hire off-duty police officers to help defray the city's rising cost of security.

It's time to share the burden of keeping downtown safe, said Mayor Bill Foster.

"We recognize that the city is benefiting as well and we'll carry our load," Foster said. "We just can't carry all of it."

• • •

The mayor said he wanted to give the council a "menu" of options that would apply only to bars and clubs downtown and around Tropicana Field.

One option: charge every establishment a flat security fee.

Another: require "midnight" permits that bars would have to obtain to serve alcohol after 12 a.m. The permit would require businesses that can hold more than 200 patrons to hire at least two off-duty officers and their own security personnel on Fridays, Saturdays and special events.

Smaller bars won't have to hire officers unless they start getting into trouble: three or more incidents involving police in a six-month period.

Bars could be fined $500 for each violation, or have their midnight permits suspended. Bars that serve drinks after midnight in defiance of the ordinance — without a permit, without the required security, after repeated warnings — could be shut down. The owners and managers could even face arrest.

"That's the big stick," said Assistant City Attorney Mark Winn, who drafted the proposed ordinance. "Obviously we don't want to go there. Our goal is compliance. But some people are harder to get there than others."

The ordinance will get its first public viewing at a council committee meeting Thursday.

"All of the interested parties and stakeholders will lobby council for what they perceive to be the best idea to handle the challenges we have," Foster said. "We're still a long way from putting something on the books. But I think there's an appetite to do something."

Previous efforts to get bars to voluntarily hire extra officers have failed. Enough is enough, said St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon.

"The bottom line is, if they don't comply we're going to have to shut them down at midnight," Harmon said. "We obviously want to work with them. We want to make them successful. But we need them to do the right thing."

City Council member Steve Kornell agreed. The clubs had a chance to solve the problem. Now the city will have to solve it for them.

"I don't want to regulate anything," Kornell said. "But we can't afford to let one or two businesses that don't do the right thing make our downtown a place people don't want to go."

• • •

The nightlife in downtown St. Petersburg picked up in 2010 when the city pushed closing time to 3 a.m.

But the cost is falling unfairly on the Police Department, Harmon said.

He's had to dedicate too many police resources to a small number of downtown businesses at night, he said, leaving the rest of the city with less manpower during the day.

Only a handful of bars have hired off-duty officers to reduce the city's costs — and most bars don't hire any extra help.

The most recent example is Scene Premium Night Club at 211 Third St. S.

The 15,000-square-foot club is one of downtown's biggest. On Tuesdays, the club's most popular night, the place can draw up to 1,000 people, police said.

Police commanders complained that owner Richard Fabrizi had stopped hiring off-duty officers, wasn't searching patrons and wasn't doing enough about the pervasive smell of marijuana inside.

Then someone fired a gun inside the club around 2 a.m. on Feb. 8, police said, sending two men to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Fabrizi vowed to bolster security and hire off-duty officers. He hired one extra officer the first Tuesday after the shooting, but hasn't hired any in the two Tuesdays since, according to St. Petersburg police Maj. DeDe Carron.

The club owner said it's all a misunderstanding. Fabrizi thought the city would automatically send off-duty officers. The club has to request them.

Fabrizi said he's fine with being forced to pay, saying his clubs in other cities face similar restrictions. But he favors making everyone pay a security fee.

"It should be across the board," Fabrizi said. "If you're a bar and you stay open until 3 a.m., you should pitch in. But I don't think you can say you don't have to pay just because you only hold 150 people."

Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8472.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers finalizing deal to keep impending unrestricted free agent Jeremy Zuttah

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs coach Greg Schiano has formed a solid opinion on at least one of his new players. Then again, Jeremy Zuttah isn't so new to Schiano.

Zuttah, 25, and the Bucs are putting the finishing touches on a contract extension that will keep the offensive lineman off the free agent market, the Tampa Bay Times has confirmed. Zuttah, capable of playing all line positions, was drafted in the 2008 third round after playing for Schiano at Rutgers. He was scheduled to become a free agent with his rookie contract expiring.

Zuttah's considered the Bucs' top priority among their impending unrestricted free agents. Kicker Connor Barth is a close second, with his fate expected to be decided prior to today's franchise-tag deadline. General manager Mark Dominik has said he will franchise tag Barth if a multiyear deal isn't reached by today, thereby keeping Barth off the market.

Zuttah has started 44 games and is almost as likely to play center as he is guard. He started 14 games in 2011, mostly at left guard. When injury-prone center Jeff Faine has gone down, Zuttah has performed well as the starter there.

Terms of the deal weren't available.

Coaching hire: The Bucs hired Ron Turner as quarterbacks coach, FoxSports.com reported. He reportedly interviewed for the offensive coordinator job, which ultimately went to Mike Sullivan. Turner, brother of Chargers coach Norv Turner, coached the Bears' quarterbacks while also serving as offensive coordinator from 1993-96 (Schiano was on the staff for part of that time). Turner, 58, has been on the Colts' staff the past two seasons, including as quarterbacks coach in 2011 before being let go at the end of last season.

NFL: More bounties?

NEW YORK — The NFL's investigation that found the Saints paid bounties to players for knocking opponents out of games is far from over.

The NFL will be "addressing the issues raised as part of our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of the game," league spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday.

Those issues could include previous seasons, too.

Several players around the league have said the Saints and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams weren't the only ones with such a system. Former Redskins safety Matt Bowen said Williams had a similar bounty scheme when he was in Washington.

Aiello would not comment on other reports. He added that the NFL will look at "any relevant info regarding rules being broken," saying that is "standard procedure."

Williams has been summoned to New York to meet today with league officials and possibly commissioner Roger Goodell, ESPN reported.

The Saints maintained a bounty pool of up to $50,000 the past three seasons, the NFL said. Payoffs came for inflicting game-ending injuries, among other events. All payouts for specific performances in a game, including interceptions or causing fumbles, are against NFL rules.

The league said 22 to 27 defensive players were involved in the program and it was administered by Williams, with the knowledge of coach Sean Payton.

Williams was hired in January by new St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher to lead the Rams defense.

Seahawks: Running back Marshawn Lynch signed a four-year, $31 million deal, with $18 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers finalizing deal to keep OL Jeremy Zuttah

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs coach Greg Schiano has formed a solid opinion on at least one of his new players. Then again, Jeremy Zuttah isn't so new to Schiano.

Zuttah, 25, and the Bucs are putting the finishing touches on a contract extension that will keep the offensive lineman off the free agent market, the Tampa Bay Times has confirmed. Zuttah, capable of playing all line positions, was drafted in the 2008 third round after playing for Schiano at Rutgers. He was scheduled to become a free agent with his rookie contract expiring.

Zuttah's considered the Bucs' top priority among their impending unrestricted free agents. Kicker Connor Barth is a close second, with his fate expected to be decided prior to today's franchise-tag deadline. General manager Mark Dominik has said he will franchise tag Barth if a multiyear deal isn't reached by today, thereby keeping Barth off the market.

Zuttah has started 44 games and is almost as likely to play center as he is guard. He started 14 games in 2011, mostly at left guard. When injury-prone center Jeff Faine has gone down, Zuttah has performed well as the starter there.

Terms of the deal weren't available.

Coaching hire: The Bucs hired Ron Turner as quarterbacks coach, FoxSports.com reported. He reportedly interviewed for the offensive coordinator job, which ultimately went to Mike Sullivan. Turner, brother of Chargers coach Norv Turner, coached the Bears' quarterbacks while also serving as offensive coordinator from 1993-96 (Schiano was on the staff for part of that time). Turner, 58, has been on the Colts' staff the past two seasons, including as quarterbacks coach in 2011 before being let go at the end of last season.

NFL: More bounties?

NEW YORK — The NFL's investigation that found the Saints paid bounties to players for knocking opponents out of games is far from over.

The NFL will be "addressing the issues raised as part of our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of the game," league spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday.

Those issues could include previous seasons, too.

Several players around the league have said the Saints and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams weren't the only ones with such a system. Former Redskins safety Matt Bowen said Williams had a similar bounty scheme when he was in Washington.

Aiello would not comment on other reports. He added that the NFL will look at "any relevant info regarding rules being broken," saying that is "standard procedure."

Williams has been summoned to New York to meet today with league officials and possibly commissioner Roger Goodell, ESPN reported.

The Saints maintained a bounty pool of up to $50,000 the past three seasons, the NFL said. Payoffs came for inflicting game-ending injuries, among other events. All payouts for specific performances in a game, including interceptions or causing fumbles, are against NFL rules.

The league said 22 to 27 defensive players were involved in the program and it was administered by Williams, with the knowledge of coach Sean Payton.

Williams was hired in January by new St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher to lead the Rams defense.

Seahawks: Running back Marshawn Lynch signed a four-year, $31 million deal, with $18 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

State lawmakers struggle to make budget deal as session clock ticks

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By Steve Bousquet, Michael Van Sickler and Tia Mitchell, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Sunday, March 4, 2012

TALLAHASSEE — Racing against the clock, legislators labored Sunday to settle spending differences and agree on a $70 billion budget with five days left in the session.

They made progress in all-day talks that ended at 8 p.m., but today will be another marathon day as lawmakers left some of the most contentious issues to the final hours. They include how much money to spend on public schools, whether to take $300 million from universities' reserves and whether the House will go along with the Senate in making Florida Polytechnic in Lakeland the state's 12th university.

For the 60-day session to end on time Friday, a final budget must be agreed upon and printed by Tuesday. To balance the budget, lawmakers are considering taking $300 million from universities' reserve accounts.

"The reserve issue is problematic," said Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, a Florida State graduate who is protective of FSU in the budget. "A lot of schools thought they were doing the right thing by saving money, but they can be hit the hardest."

Budget negotiators did agree on the size of cuts to hospitals, nursing homes and mental health programs.

Hospital reimbursements will be cut by 5.64 percent, except for rural and children's hospitals, which will be spared that cut. The hospitals' rate cut was 7.5 percent, but lawmakers reduced the impact with an infusion of one-time money.

"The hospitals of Florida have had a very good evening," said Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.

In a Capitol hearing room packed with lobbyists, the House and Senate swapped budget offers and some community projects made the cut. Senators agreed to the House offer to give Pasco County $1 million for a local initiative targeting prescription drug abuse, and $700,000 more to the Pasco Sheriff's Office to investigate complaints of child abuse. Both Pasco projects will be funded with one-time money, which means they are one-year projects.

Lawmakers also spent $2 million for real-time signage on Florida interstate highways to warn motorists of crashes and problems, in the wake of devastating crashes on Interstate-75 near Gainesville.

Following questions by Democrats, lawmakers removed budget language that would have allowed the Department of Corrections to move money between budget categories "for outsourcing efforts."

In the most divisive vote of the 2012 session, the Senate voted 21-19 to reject a proposed privatization of all prisons in 18 South Florida counties. Some anti-privatization lawmakers and lobbyists were on high alert for a possible last-minute maneuver to keep privatization alive, but it didn't happen.

Republicans said they were not giving the prison system authority to expand privatization, and when Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston asked why the language was needed, Republicans quickly eliminated it.

"The budget is really pretty thin on cash," said Senate Budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales. "I don't think anybody's quite satisfied, but I think we're making good progress on a budget that will work for Florida."

Most rank-and-file state workers will not receive a pay increase for the sixth year in a row.

Denny Hamlin wins NASCAR race at Phoenix

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Times wires
Sunday, March 4, 2012

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Denny Hamlin spent nearly two months of the offseason in the Scottsdale area, hoping to get away from racing for a while and reinvigorate himself for the 2012 season.

It seemed to do wonders, leading to victory at a place where he had one of his biggest disappointments.

Hamlin pulled away when NASCAR's best closer ran out of gas, then had to sweat out his own fuel mileage before completing a confidence-boosting win in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

"It's a little bit of satisfaction there, for sure," said Hamlin, who is now the overall Sprint Cup points leader. "It's a bittersweet track."

It was, in fact, the site of one of his worst memories as a driver.

Hamlin seemed to have a comfortable lead over Jimmie Johnson in the penultimate race of the 2010 Chase for the Championship when his title hopes were derailed at Phoenix by a fuel strategy that backfired. Forced to pit for fuel late in the race, he scrambled to finish 19th while Johnson was fifth.

Hamlin left the desert dejected after his lead was trimmed to 15 points and ended up losing the title the next week to Johnson, who earned his record fifth straight title.

Hamlin then had a bit of a hangover to start last season and never really clicked, ending up ninth in the standings.

That's where his return to the desert comes in.

Trying to get away from the constant race chatter around the Charlotte, N.C., area, Hamlin rented a house in Paradise Valley for seven weeks. He then finished fourth at the Daytona 500 with new crew chief Darian Grubb after qualifying 31st.

Hamlin started 13th Sunday and briefly led a couple of times before beating Kevin Harvick off the line after a caution with 59 laps left. Harvick put a scare into Hamlin toward the end but ran out of gas on the final lap.

Hamlin was concerned about gas as well, but he had just enough for a celebratory burnout after his 18th career win.

"When I come back here (and win), it puts 2011 to rest," Hamlin said. "It's a year I'd soon like to forget, and now we can focus on winning a championship."

Harvick, who won three races at the finish last season, had Hamlin lined up for another.

But as he closed on the No. 11, Harvick's car turned off and the No. 29 coasted over the line ahead of Greg Biffle for second.

"Those are the types of things you've got to do to take the chances and when you're close enough to at least coast around, they did a good job," Harvick said.

It was a nice win for Hamlin crew chief Grubb, who led Tony Stewart to his third Cup title last year but was fired a week later. Grubb landed with Joe Gibbs Racing and seems to have clicked right away with Hamlin.

"I guess you could say it's a little bit of vindication, but I really don't think that way. I just try to take the high road," Grubb said.

EAST BAY RACEWAY: AJ Maddox outdueled Jimmy Ballew late Saturday, capturing the Sprints on the opening night of the season at the track. Other winners: Eric Moon (Street Stocks), Roger Crouse (Late Models, his 28th straight year with a win at the track) and Don R. Quinn (4-cylinder Bombers).

. FAST FACTS

Sprint Cup points

Through 2 of 36 races. The top 10 drivers plus two wild cards (based on wins) after 26 races make the Chase for the Championship.

Driver Pts. Back

Denny Hamlin 89—

Greg Biffle 83 6

Kevin Harvick 81 8

Matt Kenseth 79 10

D. Earnhardt Jr. 72 17

Martin Truex 71 18

Mark Martin 71 18

Joey Logano 70 19

Kyle Busch 66 23

Carl Edwards 63 26

Note: Points unofficial; NASCAR posts official points today.

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