Fla. highrise has 32 stories, but just 1 tenant

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO, Associated Press Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Vangelakos’ southwest Florida condominium has marble floors, a large pool overlooking a river and modern furnishings that speak of affluence and luxury. What they don’t have in the 32-story building is a single neighbor.

The New Jersey family of five purchased their unit four years ago, when Fort Myers was in the midst …

As Oklahoma mining town fades, holdouts give up

By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press Writer  – Fri Jul 31

PICHER, Okla. – Two years ago, Orval “Hoppy” Ray vowed it would take someone meaner than him to make him leave the town where he was born.

But now the crusty, 84-year-old former miner is moving out, leaving behind a blighted, ghostly landscape, its soil, water and air poisoned by generations of lead-ore extraction that produced bullets for both world wars.

After two heart attacks and a tornado …