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Cruise Industry Expects To Weather Bad Economy
Gas prices are leaping toward $4 a gallon, food prices are soaring, the economy is in a tailspin and families are cutting back expenses to weather the crisis. Cubans Watch for More Changes from Raul Castro Esperanza Rodriguez was one of the first in line last month to buy a cell phone after Cuba's new president, Raul Castro, swept aside long-standing restrictions that barred most people on this communist island from owning them. Florida's Space Coast Fears Shuttle Shutdown NASA's giant Vehicle Assembly Building looms on the horizon, and the launch towers that have sent American astronauts into space gleam in the bright spring sun near the Cape Canaveral shoreline. U.S. Coast Guard Monitoring Unrest in Haiti U.S. Coast Guard officials are closely monitoring events in Haiti on the chance that recent unrest on the impoverished island might trigger a new wave of boat people trying to flee toward Florida. Chinese Imports, Bad Economy Swamp Surfboard Shapers This sleepy beach town has long been a surfer's paradise, a carefree spot where craftsmen turned out hand-made surfboards in backyard shacks, dropping their tools to hit the water when the waves were good. In Cuba, a Sign of More Changes to Come? Just six weeks into his term as Cuba's new president, Raul Castro appears to be making his mark, rolling back restrictions that have long frustrated his impoverished people. Cuba's Urban Farms Thrive as Country Struggles to Feed Itself America Alarcon might teach a trick or two to organic farmers in the United States who want better market share even as they reduce their "carbon footprint" by cutting back on fuel used to grow and ship their crops. Some Good News and Bad Signs for Cuba's Economy The gleaming new tour buses pull beneath the posh hotel's portico, unloading scores of foreign tourists who set off a flurry of activity among a staff of Cuban desk clerks, bell hops and tour guides. Cuba's Neighborhood Watch Groups Remain Active The ancient loudspeaker bolted to the wall above the sidewalk crackles with feedback as a crowd of about two dozen neighbors joins in singing the Cuban national anthem. Cubans Closely Watching U.S. Presidential Race Politics is a hot topic here. Stories detailing the latest debate and the most recent vote totals appear frequently in the communist island's state-run newspapers and television broadcasts, and people on the streets chat about which candidate has the best chance to win. Raul Castro Named Cuba's New President As expected, Raul Castro was named Sunday as Cuba's new president, replacing his ailing brother, Fidel, who announced last week he would step away from power after nearly five decades at Cuba's helm. An Upscale, but Still Oddball, Place in the Sun You can still see chickens crossing the road near the busy intersection of Duval and Truman. Cubans Quiet but Curious about New Leader A few blocks from Havana's famed seaside walk, the Malecon, couples stroll hand in hand in the cool evening breeze. Children jabber as they rush to an ice cream stand, while nearby an elderly lady peddles popcorn in plastic bags to teens and toddlers. Fidel's Retirement Won't Bring Rapid Change Fidel Castro's departure as Cuba's president probably will not spark immediate change in the lives of everyday Cubans or a rapid thawing of the long-frosty relations between the communist-ruled island and the United States, analysts said after Castro's announcement Tuesday. Fidel Castro's Retirement and What Comes Next After nearly five decades in power, the ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro resigned on Tuesday. A look at why, and what's next. Key West Wary over Chances of Cuba Opening For decades tour guides have successfully hyped this town's close proximity and historic ties to Cuba, playing up the Cuban cigar factories that once thrived here, author Ernest Hemingway's fascination with both islands and a shared history of fishing, rum-running and other tropical pursuits. EPA Weighs In against Mississippi Flood Project A final showdown is looming over a decades-old plan by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a giant flood control system in the Mississippi River Delta following a key federal agency's decision to open a review that could lead to a veto of the project. Sheriff: 'Positive Link' Between Hilton, Missing N.C. Couple Investigators have established a "positive link" between Gary Michael Hilton and the case of an elderly North Carolina couple who disappeared in a popular hiking spot in Pisgah National Forest in October, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said Wednesday. Hilton May Be Linked to Woman's 2005 Disappearance in Bryson City North Carolina law enforcement officials are looking for links between Georgia drifter Gary Michael Hilton and the 2005 disappearance of a Florida woman who was planning a hiking trip in the state's western mountains. N.C. Couple Lived for Hiking, Each Other Irene Bryant loved the outdoors and nature so much she begged a neighbor to call if he ever spotted deer in the area so she could slip outside for a peek. Archaeologists Find Major Caribbean Indigenous Site The steep canyon walls echoed to the sounds of humans for nearly a thousand years before Columbus arrived in the Americas. Those voices were lost after Europeans settled the Caribbean, however, as the Taino Indians were nearly wiped out by disease and enslavement. Stone Mountain Firm Active in Historic Preservation Stumbling onto an intricate, 1,400-year-old rock carving in the Puerto Rican rain forest conjures romantic visions of Hollywood-style archaeology: Indiana Jones defying danger and evil enemies to preserve ancient treasures with mystical powers. Statehood Issue Dominates in Puerto Rico The governor is under criminal investigation, crime and unemployment are soaring and the economy is faltering as foreign firms are shutting down factories. Governors Declare Progress Made in Water Dispute After five hours of "candid" discussions, the governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama agreed Monday to a framework for resolving the tri-state water dispute with a deadline of Feb. 15. Proud, Humble Oystermen Fear Losing a Way of Life The little homes and the oyster-shucking houses near the waterfront don't presume to elegance. A lot of them are tumbledown, with crunchy oyster shell driveways, cock-eyed porches and walls that lean a bit in one direction or the other, testament to some long-ago hurricane blow. Legacy of Jewish Settlement in Dominican Republic Lives On Framed by lush vegetation and spreading palms, the simple wood-framed house of worship off main street isn't so different from the other small churches you find on this Caribbean island. Boomers Fuel a Boom: U.S. Retirees Buying in the Caribbean Fifteen years ago this beachfront village was a bohemian paradise where windsurfers and backpackers could buy a week of sun and sand for what they might pay per day at pricier Caribbean resorts. Trinidad Mud Volcanoes Attract Tourists, Unsettle Residents It looks more like a kid's muddy playground than anything remotely menacing, but farmer Vishnu Gopieow doesn't let that slow down his barker's patter. Caribbean Terror Threat: Overblown or Real? With bustling shopping malls, jammed highways and towering construction cranes dotting its skyline, this booming Caribbean capital resembles heartland America, not some faraway land where anti-U.S. sentiment holds sway. Cuba Faces Challenge with Growing Life Expectancy The ladies at Havana's Siervas de San Jose Home for Elderly Women laugh and chat in the sunny courtyard of the historic mansion, clapping their hands and singing when visitors arrive. Cuba's Chinatown Being Restored as Tourist Magnet The tourists who come to Havana for cigars, mojitos and a dose of Latin American culture sometimes get a shock when they take a turn near the famous Partagas Cigar factory and find themselves standing beneath a huge arch that resembles the roof of a Chinese pagoda. Cuban Agents Appeal Convictions The long-running case of five men sent to prison for working as Cuban agents on U.S. soil returned to court Monday when their lawyers argued before a federal appeals panel that prosecutors made improper statements and the evidence used to convict them was insufficient. Cubans Pin Hopes on Atlanta Court Hearing Cuba is not shy about celebrating its heroes, and none are more regularly praised than a group known here simply as "The Five." Billboards carry their faces, school children recite their biographies and broadcasters frequently update their status. Cuba in Limbo a Year after Castro Cedes Power A year after Fidel Castro stunned the world by stepping aside due to a serious illness, Cuba remains in limbo, stuck between loyalty to Castro's hard-core communism and a growing desire among its people for change. Tiny Montserrat Struggles in Shadow of Steaming Volcano After more than a decade, Danny and Margaret Sweeney have nearly lost track of the number of times their lives have been disrupted by angry outbursts from the towering volcano that looms over this speck of a Caribbean island. Tiny Antigua Battles U.S. over Internet Gambling Pat Campbell was fresh out of high school with good grades when an Internet gambling firm offered her a job with an unexpectedly attractive salary. Cuba's Debate: Is It Real or Window-Dressing? The economics minister uses phrases like "developing our human capital" while citing ways the government is battling to improve daily life for its people. Dissident Ignored in Cuba, Threatened with Jail in U.S. Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo insists he is not a man without a country, but Cuba barely tolerates his presence and the United States has threatened to jail him should he return to Miami. Cuba to Upgrade Facilities in Battle for Caribbean-Bound Tourists Chiara Penati always heard that Cuba was all about sun, sand and tropical breezes. Coming from Italy, she never dreamed she would find Old Havana's architecture to be intriguing. Cuba Struggles to Rebuild Aging Infrastructure Every day the hotel lobby fills with foreign businessmen and tourists who come with their laptop computers to take advantage of the wireless Internet service the hotel provides for a small fee. Castro's Health, Future Role Still a Mystery He's met with foreign dignitaries, smiling and looking strong in photographs. He's issued a string of energetic statements on a broad array of topics. He's even broken a long silence about his own medical condition, insisting he is able to eat solid food and maintain a stable weight. Cubans Allow Small Number of Private Businesses It's nothing but a simple shed with a counter stuck in the front yard under a shade tree. The menu — a tiny chalkboard hung from a rusty nail on the wall - offers only two items: pizza and ice cream. Churches in Cuba Draw New Converts Twenty years ago, when Catholic priest Ramon Suarez celebrated Mass at a small church in rural Cuba, only a handful of parishioners showed up for services. Cuba's 'Battle of Ideas' More Than Propaganda They call it the "Battle of Ideas," but it's far more than just a propaganda war against Cuba's archenemy, the U.S. government. Castro's Health Still a Mystery After Failure to Show at Parade Fidel Castro's health and his role in Cuba's future remained a mystery Tuesday after the ailing communist leader failed to appear at a massive parade celebrating International Workers' Day. Beethoven In the Barrios For Poor Venezuelan Kids Gabriela Saman looks something like an angel with her long pigtails and luminous eyes, but this five-year-old Venezuelan girl doesn't fill her days with dolls and coloring books. The Rich (And Poor) Get Richer In Venezuela, But Can It Last? Ricardo Diaz has rarely seen a year like 2006, when high-priced luxury cars almost flew out his family's small showroom in an upscale district of this bustling capital. Cuban Eye Program Provides Care For Thousands Jose Gomez bounds around the patio of a sunny vacation cottage near the beach, giggling as his mother gently tosses him a soccer ball. Saving Colonial Gems: Cubans Restoring Old Havana It's one of the hemisphere's architectural treasures, but in a country of scarce resources, saving the crumbling buildings of Old Havana might easily have been overlooked. U.S. Building In Havana Sparks Another Front In Propaganda War Dressed in tidy uniforms, Cuban schoolchildren file solemnly past a forest of flagpoles into a small meeting room, listening as a gray-haired matron describes the story behind Cuba's newest national monument. Caribbean Braces For New U.S. Passport Rules As the owner of a small bed and breakfast on Grand Bahama Island, Mike Acosta has battled hurricanes, competition with luxury resorts and the vagaries of winter weather in the northern United States, where unexpected warm spells can put a crimp in his business. Cuban Terror Suspect Indicted Federal officials Thursday filed new charges against an anti-Castro Cuban exile and former CIA operative whose case has drawn international attention because of suspected links to the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people. In Venezuela, Oil Wealth And Marxist Rhetoric His picture is plastered all over the place, scotch-taped to the walls of a community radio station in a poor barrio, pasted to a shelf inside a humble cobbler's shop, emblazoned on T-shirts sold in stands at a busy corner near the city center. Chavez Boosts Image At Home With Anti-U.S. Rhetoric Rosa Renjinfo proudly holds out the composition book, flipping through page after page of school lessons painstakingly copied in a neat, cursive hand. Observers Praise Haiti Vote As Counting Begins International observers on Wednesday praised the heavy turnout and the relatively calm vote in Haiti's national elections, saying it was a crucial first step to restore stability. Haitians Jam Voting Centers In Bid For Stability Haitians jammed polling places by the thousands Tuesday, some standing in line for hours to cast ballots for a new president and government they hope will bring stability to their troubled country. Nervous Haitians To Vote For New President The polls open Tuesday at 6 a.m., but Silian Telius won't dare venture out to vote for a new Haitian president until the afternoon, and only then if the streets remain calm. Preval Takes Early Lead In Haiti Election Former president Rene Preval jumped to an early lead in Haiti's national elections and seemed on his way to an almost certain victory as the new leader of his troubled Caribbean nation. Remote Mayan Village Still Suffering Wilma's Impact Donato Tun's modest hut in the jungle of the Yucatan peninsula has never been anything close to posh, but with its cement floor, large open doors, swinging hammocks and roof thatched from palm fronds, it has a certain charm. Mexican Resort Scrambles To Recover From Powerful Hurricane Jesus Gomez Vale used to make good money working as a waiter serving up cold beers and pina coladas to tourists sunning on this Mexican resort's famous beach. New Orleans Counting Desperately On Return Of Tourists Gloria Williams has waited tables for 13 years at the Five O'Clock Grille on Bourbon Street, and was never bored at work. Progress Toward Reopening New Orleans' Schools Is Slow Hurricane Katrina left five feet of murky brown water in the band room at St. Augustine High School and flooded the sparkling new business and technology wing, causing millions of dollars in damage. Many Families Still Searching For Missing Loved Ones Patricia Herbert thought the nightmare was ending when her 82-year-old mother was loaded onto a helicopter on Aug. 31 and airlifted out of the chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina. Residents Fear Levees Might Break Again Julie Maggio nearly cries when she remembers the times her close-knit family shared in their neat brick house in the city's Lakeview neighborhood. Many Katrina Victims Desperate To Find Work April Alexander showed up for the job fair at the downtown hotel dressed in a neat green suit, her hair done just right and her attitude brimming with confidence. Homeless Katrina Victims Bounce Between Despair And Determination Lonnie Shanks misses sitting on his small back porch in the cool of the evening, listening to the sounds of kids playing and neighbors chatting over fences as the day winds down. Landmark New Orleans Cafe Reopens All is far from right in this corner of the world, but on Wednesday the ordeal of rebuilding a city flattened and flooded by Hurricane Katrina got a little more bearable. In Mississippi, Army Engineers Under Fire For Wetlands Project Like most other residents of Mississippi's southern Delta region, Barbara Browning remembers the flood of 1973, which covered miles and miles of the pancake-flat farm fields. Insult On Top Of Injury: New Orleans Fears Saints Will Leave Town Many of them have lost their homes, their cars, their jobs and most of their possessions. In some cases, they've even lost family members. Cash-Strapped New Orleans To Lay Off 3,000 City Workers Cash-strapped city officials said they will lay off 3,000 municipal workers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, even as they struggled to convince residents to return to the city with promises that essential services will soon be up and running. Rural Parish Still Looks For Relief — Five Weeks Later Five weeks after hurricane Katrina roared through coastal Louisiana, there is little evidence in lower Plaquemines Parish of a recovery effort, but plenty of frustration. Hurricane Rita Lashes Coast HOUSTON — After sparking one of the largest evacuations in the nation's history and a heartbreaking new flood in battered New Orleans, Hurricane Rita swept toward the heart of the nation's petroleum industry and a dawn landfall Saturday on the Gulf Coast. Massive Evacuation Triggers Anger, Frustration, Humor The world is turned upside down. Neighborhoods are ghostly empty, parking lots of giant shopping centers are deserted, gas stations and fast-food restaurants are shuttered, and not a soul is in sight. Rita Sparks Massive Gridlock As Texans Evacuate With babies crying, dogs barking, radiators overheating and gas gauges dipping toward empty, hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents packed sweltering highways Thursday in a desperate bid to flee as Hurricane Rita marched toward landfall. Che Guevara: Revolutionary Icon Draws Tourists To Cuba His face has become an icon of the turbulent 1960s, an emblem alongside love beads and long hair of a generation that questioned authority and took to the streets to protest war, racism and corporate greed. After Emotional Gulf Tour, Bus Says Region 'Will Rise Again' Wrapping up an emotional tour of hurricane-devastated Gulf Coast communities, President Bush assured desperate victims Friday that the region "will rise again." Chaos, Desperation Grow In New Orleans As Officials Scramble To Regain Control Chaos grew in stricken New Orleans on Thursday as violence and looting spread, even as officials scrambled to rush more National Guard troops and police to the city to restore order and evacuate Hurricane Katrina's increasingly desperate victims. Katrina's Devestation Unfolds As Rescue Effort Continues Rescue crews in boats and helicopters scrambled to save victims of Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday, even as devastating flood waters rose on the streets of New Orleans from breaches in vital levees. Katrina Evacuees May Face Long Wait Before Returning Home Paula Navo and her family high-tailed out of their New Orleans-area home on Sunday, convinced that it was foolish to stick around and see what sort of mayhem Hurricane Katrina might have in store. Bay Of Pigs Museum A Touchstone Of Castro's Cuba The sprawling resort nestles beneath swaying palm trees, fronted by a beach of golden sand lapped by azure waves. |
Mike Williams Mike Williams began his newspaper career at the Robertsdale Independent, a Baldwin County, Alabama weekly. With no formal newspaper training, he learned the business by writing for all sections of the paper, taking photos, laying out pages and even helping burn plates for the press. From there he joined the Montgomery Advertiser, where he was part of a team investigating the nation's largest hazardous waste dump, a year-long project that won the 1984 Edward J. Meeman Award from the Scripps-Howard Foundation. After a short stint at the Birmingham News, he joined the Miami Herald in 1985, covering courts, police and general assignments. He joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's National Desk in 1989 as Florida correspondent. In 1991 he received a National Press Foundation Fellowship for three months of Spanish study in Mexico, and in 1992 was part of the Constitution's team covering the Barcelona Olympics. Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau 400 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 750 Washington, D.C. 20001-1536 Phone: 202-331-0900 |
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