In the News

BOCA RATON -- NewBeauty, a glossy magazine devoted to the joys and perils of plastic surgery, has made its debut, published by Boca-based Sandow Media Corp.

FORT PIERCE -- Waterfront homeowners who fear that hurricane repairs to a sandy bluff will impede their access to the beach are seeking an injunction to prohibit county officials from undertaking any repairs on the road that runs between their homes and the shore of the Indian River. An environmental group has sued over the same repairs, arguing that environmental impact studies should be conducted first.

INDIANTOWN -- Builders are zeroing in on this unincorporated, one-stoplight Martin County town, with plans for seven residential developments that could bring thousands of homes to the area. Senior planner Martin Hudson says 1,498 residential units are currently in site planning but that number could ultimately grow to "several thousand." Hudson says the developments are in keeping with the community redevelopment agency's master plan. PALM BEACH COUNTY -- New contract terms that cut into overtime pay for farmworkers and the number of available positions for local tractor-trailer drivers led to a five-day strike by employees of Florida Crystal Corp.'s Okeelanta mill. A spokesman attributed the cuts to a decline in sugar consumption, higher foreign import quotas and hurricane damage.

PORT ST. LUCIE -- The city's planning board has approved plans to build 75 homes on 15 acres where city officials had hoped to develop a 100-acre park. The approval scraps a previously approved plan for 115 multifamily units on the site. The city wasn't able to negotiate an acceptable price but is continuing with plans to develop a park on the 85 surrounding acres.

RIVIERA BEACH -- A committee appointed to look into the city's struggling community redevelopment agency has blamed a lack of oversight and faulty budget practices for creating the agency's difficulties. A five-page report issued by the Financial Advisory Review Committee also blames the agency's consultant-driven environment. Committee chair Tony Gigliotti says the agency spent $2 million to $4 million more than it should have because it hired too many unmanaged consultants.

STUART -- A 20-year legal battle among non-profit hospitals competing for heart surgery programs has ended in an agreement that will allow Martin Memorial Medical Center, Boca Raton Community Hospital, Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach and Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach to perform cardiac surgery.

TREASURE COAST -- Economic development officials in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties are organizing to develop a "friendly, cohesive policy" for luring new businesses and jobs, says Bob Stevenson, chair of the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast, which is heading up the effort. The group hopes to produce a regional economic development plan by September.

WEST PALM BEACH -- The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has given the Norton Museum of Art a $1.7-million endowment to establish a curator's chair for art education.

The 350,000-sq.-ft. Palm Beach County Convention Center had its official debut, hosting a Sports and Leisure Expo and a Red Cross Charity Ball. This month the facility will be the site of a three-day financial expo.

Palm Beach Post editor Edward Sears has retired after 20 years, replaced by managing editor John Bartosek.