Charlotte County, Punta Gorda | featured news

WASHINGTON (AP) — National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden’s father says he has secured a visa to visit his son in Russia.
Lon Snowden and family attorney Bruce Fein aren’t saying when they’ll visit Russia.
They also say they haven’t spoken directly...

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police say at least eight people in the port city of Karachi have died after consuming homemade liquor.
Police officer Mohammad Sarwar said Sunday that 14 people from Christian-dominated slums in the city, Pakistan’s lar...

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s housing minister has given final approval to construct more than 1,000 apartments in Jewish settlements, just three days before Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are to resume in Jerusalem.
Sunday’s announcement said the new homes ...

BANNING, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters made steady progress Saturday in battling Southern California’s latest destructive wildfire, which burned 26 homes and threatened more than 500 others in the San Jacinto Mountains.
The so-called Silver Fire, which charr...

JEANETTE, Pa. (AP) — In his short life, the 2-year-old Pennsylvania boy who died days after he served as best man at his parents’ wedding touched the hearts of many people.
The Rev. Jan Zotter told a funeral audience Saturday that Logan Stevenson’s life “...

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines Co. has started service at Grand Rapids, Mich.
Dallas-based Southwest says flights began Sunday at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Southwest owns AirTran Airways, which previously provided the service.
The expanded G...

PORT CHARLOTTE — On the southern part of Las Vegas sits the home of Jake Hager.
It’s close enough to the city with its seemingly endless supply of sin but far enough that it doesn’t lack any culture and can still be a wholesome place to raise a family.
Ha...

This column should be read while listening to “Dirty Dog” by Juliana Hatfield (running time: 4 minutes, 24 seconds).
• Yes, it’s the preseason, but when the Bucs’ first live series of 2013 consisted of one incompletion and two plays for negative yardage ...

PORT CHARLOTTE — After the ball off Willy Garcia’s bat flew over the fence and onto the boardwalk, Charlotte found itself in a hole in the fifth inning on Saturday.
And while the Stone Crabs collected 14 hits and had their chances, the big inning was too ...

PORT CHARLOTTE — The Bark in the Park promotion that allows fans to bring their canine friends has become one used throughout all ranks of baseball.
For Charlotte catcher Luke Bailey, it held an even greater meaning.
Bailey’s fiance, Shelby Kousky, brough...