LAKELAND | Polk County's jobless rate swelled to 8.1 percent in October, the highest level in 11 years, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.<br>The county had 5,700 fewer jobs than it did in October 2007 as steep job losses continued to plague nearly every segment of the local economy.

WASHINGTON | Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state, making her the public face around the world for the administration of the man who beat her for the Democratic presidential nomination, two confidants said Friday.

LAKELAND | Polk County's jobless rate swelled to 8.1 percent in October, the highest level in 11 years, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.<br>The county had 5,700 fewer jobs than it did in October 2007 as steep job losses continued to plague nearly every segment of the local economy.

The following is a portion of the felony criminal case dispositions filed in Bartow for the month of June, 2008. For a complete explanation refer to the court files because the circumstances of each case vary. If the Judge withheld adjudication the person has not been judged guilty by the Court.

meetings<br>Plant City Christian Women's Connection<br>Features speaker Joyce Schneider; music by Marge Masek, Susan Gitlin and Lorene Hallberg. 1130 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2. Walden Lake Golf and Country Club. $13. <B>746-2541, 813-651-0383, </B>e-mail celicakix92@aol.com for reservations.<br>PERFORMANCES<br>Brian Bracey &amp; "One Reason"

The following is a portion of the felony criminal case dispositions filed in Bartow for the month of June, 2008. For a complete explanation refer to the court files because the circumstances of each case vary. If the Judge withheld adjudication the person has not been judged guilty by the Court.

The federal government is trying to protect critical habitat for the endangered smalltooth sawfish along Florida's southwest coast.<br>The rule, proposed Thursday, seeks to protect areas essential for the conservation and recovery of the sawfish ó their population has declined by 95 percent.

The State Department has renewed an appeal to Iran for information about a former FBI agent, Floridian Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iranian territory 20 months ago.

LAKELAND | Polk County's jobless rate swelled to 8.1 percent in October, the highest level in 11 years, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.<br>The county had 5,700 fewer jobs than it did in October 2007 as steep job losses continued to plague nearly every segment of the local economy.

TALLAHASSEE | Florida's budget gap grew to $2.1 billion on Friday as economists said the state's economy has some rough times ahead as it is buffeted by a global recession, but that it should begin a recovery in early 2010.