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By Bob Tolley

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- As NSBNews.net has pointed out, our wonderful city has outdone itself yet again, spending $13,250 for a New Year's Eve party on Flagler Avenue while many of our citizens sit at home worried about the rent money, and all too many others homeless in the parks, with little or no food to eat or a bed to sleep in.

When are these taxpayer-supported events that do nothing more than support the bars going to stop? Isn't that the responsibility of the business owners on Flagler Avenue? The CRA money is supposed to enhance blighted areas -- not support a drinkfest that benefits the few businesses that don't want to invest more of their own money.

By Stan Escudero

DAYTONA BEACH -- Rick Santorum won the Iowa Caucus vote in more ways than some may realize. In fact, he and Romney split the top spot at 25% each with only a handful of votes separating them. Santorum started near the bottom, but surged at the end in Iowa.

His prize? A huge media splash, probably a large boost in donor contributions spurred on by non-stop TV coverage and possibly, though less likely this year, decisions by some of the less successful rival candidates to drop out of the race.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is in the driver's seat early in the 2012 campaign toward the GOP nomination after his narrow victory in Iowa as Florida Republicans await their chance to vote in the Jan. 31 primary.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A win is a win, even by eight votes and Mitt Romney, dubbed the "Massachusetts Moderate" by former House speaker Newt Gingrich, kept his front runner status over upstart upstart Rick Santorum in the Iowa caucus.

Gingrich is holding out hope is past associations with President Regan back in the 80s will jump start his Conservative label with GOP voters who are of the opinion that Romney represents the best hope of Keeping President Obama from another four years in the White House.

ORLANDO -- It's pretty much a given that when the 61st annual NBA All-Star game is played here at the Amway Arena, Dwight Howard will be the starting center. But he may not be alone.

Three other Magic players are on the All-Star ballot: Point guard Jameer Nelson, shooting guard Jason Richardson and small forward Hedo Turkoglu. Richardson has had a phenomenal start in the early going of this contracted season following the lockout, but Howard is clearly the star attraction not only on the Magic squad, but the league as a whole.

All eyes will be on the four-time All-Star with the likely trade talk swirling gain as the NBA's best come to town with the likes of LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The last time Orlando hosted the All-Star game was 1992, with Magic Johnson's return to the NBA after his shocking announcement that he had contracted the HIV virus. Johnson won the game's most valuable player award.

Highlights of the Feb. 9, 1992, game were shown Wednesday as the Magic and the league joined in announcing the start of balloting for the All-Star Game. Magic Johnson led the West to a 153-113 blowout over the Eastern Conference all stars.

Howard said he's pumped about the game: "It is special having it here. We've been talking about this for the last couple of years and how we were going to make this game very exciting and good for our city... We're looking forward to putting on a good show for Orlando.''

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard tells media Wednesday he supports teammates Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jason Richardson joining him on the 2012 NBA All-Star ballot.

ORLANDO -- If Dwight Howard had his way, he'd have teammates Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jason Richardson joining him in the marquee game, but he's the only shoo in with the ballot unveiled Wednesday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In a city led by a mayor who owns a wine bar, the tolerance for public drinking New Year's eve on Flagler Avenue should come as no surprise.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Volusia County Council gave its county manager unanimous endorsement Thursday to immediately seize control of the finances of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, and in a separate, but related matter, it was announced that a public meeting will be held later this month in New Smyrna Beach to address CRA spending practices.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Just one day after the Volusia County Council authorized County Manager Jim Dinneen to seize control of the books of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, NSBNews.net has learned that Nicole Carni has been suspended and offered an "exit strategy."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ellen Darden has withdrawn her name as an announced candidate for the Volusia County Council seat representing Southeast Volusia.

Darden notified NSBNews.net in an e-mail, stating in part: "I have made the decision to end my candidacy for the District 3 seat on the County Council."

She added, "After a number of weeks in discussion with my husband about this race, I have made the decision not to continue.