Around the Region

STATE

Gov. Crist hosts Hanukkah event

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist celebrated the first night of Hanukkah with a menorah lighting ceremony at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee.

The Jewish holiday began Sunday night and lasts eight days.

During the ceremony, attended by four rabbis and members of Tallahassee's Jewish community, Crist danced in a circle around the menorah holding hands with the rabbis.

Crist's new wife, who is Jewish, danced in another circle nearby with their wives.

It was Mrs. Crist's public debut as first lady after exchanging vows with the governor Dec. 12 in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

— The Associated Press

Gas averages $1.70 across state

MIAMI — The price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is averaging $1.70 a gallon in Florida.

AAA Auto Club South reported the price Sunday.

One month ago the average price was 34 cents higher, a year ago it was $1.34 higher.

On average the cheapest gas in a metro area in Florida is in the Tampa-St.Petersburg area.

That's about $1.64 a gallon.

The most expensive is in the area of West Palm Beach and Boca Raton.

Gas there is about $1.80 a gallon.

— The Associated Press

Young musicians join Perlman in Fla.

SARASOTA — A group of 35 musicians from around the world are at the University of Florida's campus in Sarasota to work with renounded violinist Itzhak Perlman.

Perlman and his wife Toby are hosting the fifth annual Perlman Music Program Winter Residency.

The program began Sunday and includes two weeks of lessons, chamber music coaching and performances.

All the students are between the ages of 12 and 20.

— The Associated Press

Units at Crystal River plant closing

CRYSTAL RIVER — An energy company has agreed to retire two coal-fired units at a power plant north of Orlando.

The Crystal River power plant is run by Progress Energy Florida and has a total of four units.

Environmentalists say the plant is one of the dirtiest in the nation.

An executive with Progress Energy Florida says shutting down the units will cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 5.5 million tons a year.

The two units were built in the 1960s and can generate enough power for 53,000 homes.

They'll be retired after the utility builds a nuclear plant 10 miles away.

The plant is expected to open in 2016.

— The Associated Press

Man loses arm in freak accident

FORT LAUDERDALE — A 22-year-old man's arm was cut off in what authorities called a freak accident in South Florida.

Authorities say that on Saturday the man had been riding an inner tube being dragged by a personal watercraft near the Hillsboro Inlet.

He had wrapped the rope connecting the two around his arm when a large wave apparently struck the inner tube and the watercraft.

The force of the wave tightened the rope with such force that it cut through the man's arm.

Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue spokeswoman said the man was conscious and alert after the accident.

His name and hometown were not released.

Authorities looked for the man's arm but could not find it.

— The Associated Press