Natural Gas Florida

Florida has temporarily blocked Union Oil of California's plans to drill for oil and gas off the state's southwest coast, Gov. Bob Martinez announced Monday. Martinez said the state sent the U.S. Department of the Interior a formal objection to Unocal's plan to drill three exploratory wells, halting the company's plans until it appeals to Secretary of Commerce C. William Verity.

Florida has temporarily blocked Union Oil of California's plans to drill for oil and gas off the state's southwest coast, Gov. Bob Martinez announced Monday. Martinez said the state sent the U.S. Department of the Interior a formal objection to Unocal's plan to drill three exploratory wells, halting the company's plans until it appeals to Secretary of Commerce C. William Verity.

Terrorism suspect Jose Padilla, held 3 1/2 years by the government without charges, was supposed to get his chance Friday to answer the felony counts brought against him as an alleged backer of Islamic war overseas. But the judge postponed the procedure until next week. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber rescheduled for Thursday Padilla's plea and the hearing to determine whether he should be freed on bond.

The Bush administration announced plans Monday to move ahead with a scaled-down plan for oil and gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, heading off a political showdown between the president and his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, but failing to end the political storm. The administration's Solomon-like plan to permit drilling within a 1.