Section B

• 

  Post Office opens in Lakewood Ranch

  In Lakewood Ranch, new post office is step toward achieving separate identity (page 1)

• 

  A boost, and a fresh start in America

  SARASOTA (page 2)

• Manatee police briefs: Blood matches DNA of missing woman

  MANATEE COUNTY -- Investigators have determined that blood found in the stolen car of a missing (page 3)

• 

  Volunteers help library do business

  Due to budget cutbacks, the county's library system has the difficult task of serving the community  (page 4)

• 

  Meals on Wheels needs senior gifts

  Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee needs donations of stocking stuffers for seniors in need this (page 4)

• Florida's energy options laid out

  Florida can exceed Gov. Charlie Crist's goals for solar, wind, biomass and other renewable energy (page 5)

• 

  Suspect sought in stabbing

  Deputies have released the identity of a homeless man wanted in connection with a stabbing. (page 6)

• Manatee news briefs: Redevelopment begins at Bradenton park

  BRADENTON -- The city's Central Community Redevelopment Agency broke ground Wednesday afternoon for  (page 8)

• Pier owner alters name to irk city

  The owner of a pier in west Florida said he has renamed the structure to irritate city officials. (page 9)

• Sarasota County School Board may sue North Port over fees

  The county says it should not have to pay $500,000 city is trying to charge for services (page 1)

• 

  Teacher facing charge over girl

  He is accused of shopping with student and trying to kiss her (page 1)

• Newtown to see plans for recreation center

  The city will unveil design concepts today for the long-planned, $10 million Robert L. Taylor (page 1)

• More trouble for developer

  Venice builder hopeful about not losing a site to the bank (page 1)

• A careless moment, now called a felony

  Most of us have heard, and told, family stories about close calls involving children and a moment (page 1)

• 

  A First Step into the future

  Patty Moffitt, with the assistance of honorary chairs Phil Mancini and Michael Klauber, helped (page 11)

• Venice news briefs

  Bridges to close for boat parade (page 3)

• 

  Get set for season's sights and sounds

  The magic of the season can now be seen and heard in special events that herald in the holidays (page 4)

• 

  Former congressman joins Supreme Court

  In a courtroom packed with his family, friends, judges, lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist, Justice (page 5)

• 

  Review set for nurse accused of assaults

  The case of registered nurse Kevin Laing, accused of sexually assaulting a hospital patient in (page 6)

• Man alleged to have taken $700,000

  A former general manager of White Ford in Chiefland has been accused of taking more than $700,000 (page 6)

• Motorcyclist hurt in collision with car

  A Bradenton man was in critical condition Wednesday night after the motorcycle he was riding (page 3)

• 

  POLICE REPORT

  Deputies identify man wanted in stabbing (page 3)

• 

  Budget leader is tackling a big role

  Sen. J.D. Alexander will take on a historic challenge as the Senate's top budget chairman, moving (page 3)

• 

  Kiwanis grew with city

  In many ways, the development of Sarasota is intertwined with the growth of local service clubs. (page 4)

• 

  Forty Carrots gears up

  Club Forty, the annual fundraising party for Forty Carrots Family Center, will be hosted March 7 at  (page 4)

• 

  Home economics upgraded for wannabe culinary experts

  High schools upgrade culinary classes (page Cooking, catching on)

Section D

• Hawaii's latest lure: Obama tourism?

  It happened to Plains, when Jimmy Carter became president and a tiny hamlet in western Georgia (page 1)

• Business briefs: 30-year mortgage inches upward

  The average rate for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage on a owner-occupied, single-family home (page 1)

• Oil price concerns spill over from U.S.

  Gas prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice market edged down nearly a penny to $1.871, despite (page 1)

• Further signs of turmoil

  Reports indicate the recession is certain to linger (page 1)

• 

  Auto workers willing to give

  To save their industry, they indicate they will make concessions (page 1)

• Corporate report: Lakewood Ranch company declares cash dividend

  Gevity HR Inc. -- The Lakewood Ranch-based professional employer organization declared a (page 2)

• Business buzz: Wealth adviser picked for Top 150 ranking

  Medical Economics magazine recently named Sarasota wealth management adviser Rick Helbing with (page 2)

• Gifts of the financial type can be appropriate this year

  It won't have the "wow" factor of an iPhone, but a Roth IRA or other money-minded gift may have (page 3)

• We're in a recession? Tell us something we didn't know

  Welcome to the recession. (page 3)

• Who's the 'other woman?' She is

  Dear Annie: I am a 40ish divorced woman. Several months ago I met "Daniel" and fell head over heels. (page 5)

Section A

• 

  Quest to reopen Midnight Pass runs into a harsh critic

  In an e-mail, regulator says project should be denied (page 1)

• 

  Episcopal church faces split

  Growing disenchantment fuels a challenge to unity (page 1)

• 

  Another Bush has eye on U.S. Senate seat

  As ex-governor weighs a possible run, others in the GOP stand by (page 1)

• For city, a lien program is a loser

  Leaders rethink wisdom of costly pursuit of code violators (page 1)

• Treasury may jolt mortgage industry

  By DAVID CHO, ZACHARY GOLDFARB and DINA ELBOGHDADY (page 1)

• 

  Factoring in the fumes from farms

  STERKSEL, the Netherlands -- The cows and pigs dotting these flat green plains in the southern (page 11)

• Afghanistan signs cluster bomb pact

  In a last-minute change, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan agreed on Wednesday to join some 90 (page 11)

• 

  One-term senator

  Mel Martinez won't be remembered as one of Florida's great members of the U.S. Senate. (page 12)

• Reinvestment in business is key

  Will the USA get better or worse under President Obama? It all depends upon how money is used. (page 12)

• State lawmakers fail citizens on health coverage

  Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature must be so very proud to have Florida at the bottom, along (page 12)

• Wall Streeters appear oblivious to grim reality

  Every evening when I watch the financial news on television, there is always a spot showing the (page 12)

• Sell transportation, not ego booster

  My advice to U.S. automakers: Build a modern version of the original Volkswagen Beetle. (page 12)

• Congress has really big legacy costs

  With reference to the letter regarding "Legacy costs are intolerable for U.S. automakers," I'd like  (page 12)

• Analysts spout doom and gloom

  For the past year or so, we have watched our saving plans of all types slowly swirl down the (page 12)

• Single-payer health care costs less

  Regarding the Nov. 24 article "Researchers question private Medicare plans": (page 12)

• Mobilize the village in defense

  On Feb. 6, 2006, three Pakistanis died in Peshawar and Lahore during violent street protests (page 13)

• Gunman says he did it for family

  The only gunman captured during the terror attack on Mumbai said he was promised that his (page 2)

• 

  Suddenly, Jews feel less secure on Indian soil

  MUMBAI, India (page 2)

• 

  For a very public man, a business post

  By PETER SLEVIN (page 3)

• Grammy Award finalists unveiled

  Two of the biggest selling albums of the year -- Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" and Coldplay's "Viva (page 6)

• Obama's jobs program targets energy efficiency

  President-elect Barack Obama and leaders in Congress are fashioning a plan to pour billions of (page 9)

Section C

• Young Tarpons topple Mantas

  When Tom Massolio sends a group of Tarpons onto the court, the Charlotte High boys basketball coach  (page 1)

• 

  Tuberville steps down at Auburn

  Tommy Tuberville stepped down Wednesday after 10 years as Auburn's coach, a reign that included a (page 1)

• 

  Gators' No. 1 concern

  Florida's Percy Harvin might be the fastest decoy on the field in the Southeastern Conference (page 1)

• No-ball drills key to Bulls' success

  When defensive end George Selvie participated in his first practice for the West Virginia game as a  (page 1)

• 

  Bulldogs take a pass on air attack

  When he was a tight end for the DeSoto County High football team in the late 1980s, Gary Morton (page 1)

• Tar Heels shut down Buckeyes

  Jessica Breland scored 29 points and second-ranked North Carolina held No. (page 2)

• 

  Smith leads Vols past 'Dogs

  Tyler Smith had the first triple-double in school history, helping No. 10 Tennessee romp to an 87- (page 2)

• Bobcats' Noriega torches Mustangs

  LAKEWOOD RANCH- Shaun Noriega torched Lakewood Ranch for 30 points as North Port rolled to a 73-49 (page 2)

• GOLF: Lamielle shares top spot in PGA Q-school

  LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Sarasota's Joey Lamielle fired a 7-under-par 65 Wednesday to claim part of a (page 3)

• Lamielle, Dunlap do well at school

  Chances at fame and fortune in golf come few and far between. Nobody knows that more than Joey (page 3)

• Cornish knocks off No. 7 seed; into round of 16

  Stephanie Cornish has had little trouble winning all over the world lately. (page 4)

• 

  Orlando upends Timberwolves

  Dwight Howard had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis also scored 23 points to lead the (page 5)

• 

  Rangers need shootout to win

  Petr Prucha returned from exile to score his first goal of the season late in the third period, and  (page 5)

• 

  Texas Tech trying to hang on to Leach

  Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers says the school is negotiating a contract extension with (page 6)

Section E

• 

  New CD reviews

  Britney Spears (page 10)

• 

  Car, concert and comedy lisitings

  BARS (page 11)

• 

  Top 10, opening this week

  TOP 10 (page 16)

• By the way

  TODAY 12.4 (page 2)

• Calendar

  MISC. (page 20)

• 

  New DVD releases

  DVD SALES (page 20)

• Arts briefs

  FAMILY SPIRIT (page 23)

• 

  Hot this week

  ROSEMARY RISING IV (page 3)

• 

  Let's do lunch

  LET’S DO LUNCH (page 30)

• Local beats

  PUSHING ON UP: Port Charlotte’s grit-soaked heavy-metalists Pushmower plowed over 16 local acts (page 6)

• 

  New Christmas canon

  "Listen Up" is a monthly look at CDs that may have fallen through the cracks but deserve a spin. (page 10)

• 

  Ceremonies and concert remember Pearl Harbor

  Never forget. (page 2)

• 

  New sets offer classics for giving and viewing

  DVD sales might have slumped recently, but you would never know it from the super-duper collectors'  (page 20)

• 

  Jewish family caught in tides of war

  Claude Miller's haunting new movie, based on a novel by Philippe Grimbert, is called "A Secret" (page 21)

• 

  Arts and crafts' aristocracy

  With nearly 20 years in ceramics, Sarasota sculptor Scott Causey thinks he has his patrons' tastes (page 23)

• 

  A chocolate-coated fantasy

  Visions of sugar plums can be replaced by dancing Oompa Loompas this holiday season as the Manatee (page 24)

• Theater, classical music, dance and gallery listings

  PROFESSIONAL THEATER (page 24)

• 

  Holidays in plaid

  The Plaids are back with a little holiday trimming for "Plaid Tidings" at the Venice Theatre (page 25)

• 

  Fixated on fajitas

  Utamaro Sushi Bar (page 30)

• 

  It knows when you smile

  The Sony HDR-CX12 believes you should never have to say "cheese" again. (page 36)

• The beginning of the endless

  Dear Goddess: I'm a 21-year-old student who's been dating a 45-year-old man for three and a half (page 37)

• 

  Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is ...

  We all have them. (page 4)

• 

  You are getting funny ...

  Rich Guzzi considers himself part-Tony Robbins, part-Tony Soprano -- a blue-collar New Yorker who (page 8)

• 

  You deserve a drink, or 3

  With less than three weeks until Christmas, we thought you should get an early present. In fact, we  (page 9)