News Headlines for Altoona, Florida

Florida, Oklahoma play for college football crown (AP via Yahoo! News)
The Oklahoma Sooners and the Florida Gators meet tonight for the BCS championship. It's a matchup that includes a pair of Heisman Trophy winners, an SEC vs. Big 12 debate and more than its share of trash talk.

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This scenario is tough to spin for Florida coach Meyer (USA Today)
The world isn't massed against Urban Meyer's team this time. Florida boasts elite speed, momentum and one of college football's quintessential leaders in quarterback Tim Tebow enough to make the Gators 31/2-point favorites tonight when they meet Oklahoma for college football's national championship.

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BCS title game: No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 Florida (USA Today)
Breaking down all facets of the BCS title game on Thursday night between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Florida.

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Florida Lotto jackpot rises to $9 million in next drawing (Miami Herald)
The jackpot in the Florida Lotto game has grown to $9 million after no one matched the six winning numbers in the latest drawing, lottery officials said Thursday.

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Clark leads No. 23 Louisville past South Florida (AP via Yahoo! News)
Earl Clark scored 22 points and No. 23 Louisville shut down South Florida during a crcuial eight-minute stretch of the second half to pull away to a 71-57 victory in the Cardinals' Big East opener on Wednesday night.

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Florida Legislature expected to slash hospital budgets (Miami Herald)
Florida's legislators will vote Thursday on two plans to close the state's $2.3 billion deficit by slashing programs that, some hospital officials say, could set off a statewide healthcare system crisis.

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Florida land-buying program could be on chopping block (Miami Herald)
The Florida Senate is considering halting the state's premiere land-buying program, Florida Forever, as a way to stave off more pressing budget cuts.

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Florida Democrats feel like dancing -- at inauguration (Miami Herald)
When Stacy Ritter shows up at Florida's official presidential inaugural ball in the nation's capital, she'll be wearing a gown she purchased eight years ago.

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Florida ranked No. 10 in nation for quality of education (Miami Herald)
Florida ranks 10th in the nation in overall quality of education, according to the annual report card released by Education Week on Wednesday.

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Florida Legislature expected to slash hospital budgets (Miami Herald)
After weathering back-to-back budget cuts, Florida hospitals now face a $137 million reduction that could soon put the state's healthcare system into crisis and lead to the closure of some facilities, according to hospital officials and even one of the legislators tasked with slashing healthcare spending.

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