Angela Merkel gets a 20-minute private chat Friday in the Oval Office followed by a working lunch.

TALLAHASSEE — Shore-based shark fishing, which attracts sharks already near land to feed in areas that often have low visibility, is increasing in conflict with where people swim and surf. And now, amid calls to restrict or ban shark fishing from beaches, piers and bridges, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday directed staff members to craft new rules. Commissioner Michael Sole, a former secretary of the Florida Department of [...]

WASHINGTON - Congress will consider tightening the rules on service animals allowed to accompany passengers on airliners under legislation introduced this week. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., has introduced an airline bill that would align the definition of a service animal to fit the stricter regulations in the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Burr, noting that things have gotten out of hand when people try bringing support kangaroos onto a plane, said in a news release that [...]

A white shark dubbed Hilton recently made a close approach to the Florida Panhandle and is now headed for the Mississippi River delta in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the shark-tracking website Ocearch.org .The shark was originally caught and tagged off the coast of Hilton Head, S.C., and was named after the community.It measures 12 feet, 5 inches in length and weighs a whopping 1,326 pounds.So far, [...]