Casino cruise ship to dock at Port of St. Petersburg - 2004-02-13
A local port is betting that a new entertainment casino ship will generate a lot of profits.

Finishing touches are being put on the Ocean Jewel at the Port of Tampa, which will have eight decks and a 2,000-passenger capacity. It will be docked at the Port of St. Petersburg.

David Metz with the city of St. Petersburg says when it does arrive, it will bring millions of dollars in revenue to downtown.

Parking fees from passenger vehicles and various docking and handling fees at the port will amount to between $500,000-$900,000 a year for the city.
Read the full story at Bay News 9

Howard officials chilly toward casino proposal - 2004-02-13
Gov. Bob Ehrlich's proposal to possibly develop a gambling casino on Interstate 95 in Howard County has prompted a defiant response from a number of local Democratic legislators.

"Not in my lifetime," said Del. Frank Turner, a Columbia Democrat whose district includes most of I-95 in Howard County. "I think they'll have to take a tractor and run over a couple of us before they build a casino in Howard County."

The possible Howard County casino is part of an Ehrlich proposal to build two slot-machine emporiums along Interstate 95 in Maryland.
Read the full story at Columbia Flier