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Proposal Targets Teen Driving Habits

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2009

TAMPA - A Leto High senior has a chance to see whether her idea can become state law, although it might not make her popular with some of her peers.

Karishma Mahtani, 17, has proposed penalizing drivers of ages 15 to 17 who are pulled over for speeding or something else and discovered using handheld electronic devices. They would get an additional fine on top of the ticket they receive. Hands-free devices would be allowed.

A panel of legislators and judges chose Mahtani's idea over others submitted last month in the Hillsborough County "Ought to be a Law" contest. High school students presented possible bills, and Rep. Kevin Ambler and Sen. Victor Crist have agreed to sponsor the winning one during the next legislative session, in Tallahassee in March and April.

Ambler started Ought to be a Law at Gaither High in 2004 and expanded it to other high schools in ensuing years. One of the student bills was signed into law in 2007. The law encourages schools to partner with businesses to give students internship opportunities.

Courtney Cairns Pastor
Seminar Targets Black Women

Sisters: Take Charge, a conference to empower black women to take control of their physical, emotional and financial health, will be held Feb. 14.

The free conference includes workshops on healthy soul-food cooking, nutrition, treatment of fibroids, and financial issues.

Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant, a sex educator and Essence magazine advice columnist, will be keynote speaker.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at USF Health, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., but early registration by Monday is recommended.

To register, go to www

.sisterstakecharge.com or call 1-866-432-6462.

Cloe Cabrera

2 To Talk On Religion In Business

PLANT CITY - A seminar led by father and son Christian authors and evangelists will be conducted today and Saturday, sponsored by a local organization that promotes Christian values in the business world.

Henry and Richard Blackaby will speak on "Impacting Your Marketplace." They will talk about how to use religious faith in business.

Events include a breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. today, and seminars from 7 to 9:30 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $15 for the breakfast or seminar, or $25 for both events.

The seminar will be at the Trinkle center on the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College, 1206 N. Park Road. For information, call (813) 309-3558.

Dave Nicholson

Lot Work To Close Library Sunday

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Expect to find the Town 'N Country Regional Library closed Sunday.

The reason is that Tampa Electric Co. needs to cordon off the parking lot to put up 35-foot light poles.

The recently opened library is within the Town 'N Country Commons, 7606 Paula Drive. The library replaced the Westgate Library, which was torn down in 2007.

Patrons can visit the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., if library services are needed. The Upper Tampa Bay library is open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Jessica Balanza

Police Chief Talks Crime

ST. PETERSBURG - Armed with graph after graph showing improvements in the police department's performance, St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon on Thursday tried to beat back the impression among some city council members that the city has become less safe.

The approach worked with most, but not with all.

Councilman Wengay Newton, who represents the city's most violent district, broke into tears when he spoke of the parents of slain children who call him day and night. To Newton and his constituents, Harmon's charts were out of context.

"After a while, people get tired of it," Newton said. "They don't want to hear stats."

One of those graphs showed that homicides are down.

Robberies, however, are up by 8 percent. And burglaries are up 14 percent. Overall crime is down, Harmon noted.

Stephen Thompson

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