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NSBNews.Net provides Volusia County with 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage for a 21st-century world. This website can also be accessed through VolusiaNews.Net

What with petty dictatorships moving from the Middle East into American governorships, it’s America’s turn to cast off the pretense of democracy and submit to the moneyed monarchy of the GOP.

NSBNews.Net provides Volusia County with 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage for a 21st-century world. This website can also be accessed through VolusiaNews.Net

Courtesy photo / Stetson University professor Becky Oliphant tells CNN in an iReport posted on the cable giant's website on the disaster in Japan that her contigent was unhurt when the quake struck Friday, though one student got separated from the group for 90 minutes.

DELAND -- Stetson University professor Becky Oliphant and Gary Oliphant, also on the Stetson faculty, were in Japan on a week-long, business-study trip during spring break when they got caught up in the devastation of Friday's massive earthquake, prompting her to file an iReport with CNN.

Courtesy photo / Stetson contingent is all smiles before disaster struck in Japan. There were no injuries reported in the group.

NSBNews.Net provides Volusia County with 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage for a 21st-century world. This website can also be accessed through VolusiaNews.Net

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Crossroads Christian Church in New Smyrna Beach put out an appeal Friday on its Facebook page pleading for prayers in the community for those caught up in the massive devastation in Japan that has claimed 800-plus lives with scores more injured and missing.

NSBNews.Net provides Volusia County with 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage for a 21st-century world. This website can also be accessed through VolusiaNews.Net

Courtesy photo / Andrew Ouellette, 13 of Port Orange, faces a felony bribery charge after trying to talk his way out of a speeding ticket while riding his Yamaha sport bike at 3:30 in the morning, according to a deputy's report.

PORT ORANGE -- A 20-year-old motorcyclist was charged with bribery early Saturday morning by offering money to a Volusia County Sheriff's deputy to get out of a speeding ticket and wound up going to jail instead.

NSBNews.Net video by Henry Frederick

/DAYTONA BEACH -- Waitresses shaking their boobs and butts is nothing new for the beer-drinking crowd on Main Street during Bike Week. But hotties dancing on bar tops while simulating sex acts with each other is new. And it's wild. These waitresses are far more aggressive than the gals in the movie "Coyote Ugly."

NSBNews.Net provides Volusia County with 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage for a 21st-century world. This website can also be accessed through VolusiaNews.Net

DAYTONA BEACH -- Things are looking up at Daytona Beach International Airport economy wise. Passenger traffic at the airport increased 2 percent in February compared with the same month a year ago.

Last month, 43,757 passengers flew in and out of the county-operated airport. This compares with 42,803 travelers recorded in February 2010.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Bike Week 2011 is almost over. Here is another of our exclusive videos shot earlier in the week on Main Street in Daytona Beach where the number of bikers has steadily increased after a slow start eight days ago.

NSBNews.Net provides Volusia County with 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage for a 21st-century world. This website can also be accessed through VolusiaNews.Net

Courtesy photo / Volusia Schools Superintendent Margaret Smith urges county residents to 'make their voices heard' regarding proposed cuts in education spending by the governor.

DELAND -- Volusia Schools Superintendent Margaret Smith said if Gov. Scott's proposed budget with a 10 percent cut in spending is enacted, governor's budget of a 10% cut is enacted, the district budget here will be reduced by $44.5 million, the equivalent or 936 additional positions in all categories.