Atlantic

As weather watchers eye Tropical Storm Isaac in the southeastern Caribbean, what is likely to become Tropical Storm Joyce isn't far behind it in the Atlantic. We are still a few days away from an idea of where Isaac might impact the U.S., if at all. Meteorologists are debating whether the storm, currently expected to near south Florida by Monday morning, will track toward the Gulf of Mexico or up the East Coast. This is getting a lot of attention because of the Republican National Convention in Tampa next week.

Conservationists are decrying a move by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to loosen what critics say is already a lax restriction on shark finning, the controversial practice of slicing the fins off and discarding the body at sea. At its spring meeting Tuesday in Alexandria, Va., the fisheries commission voted to allow fishing boats catching smooth dogfish to more than double the ratio of fins to bodies that they bring back to...

A cocaine trafficking ring that for years distributed "vast amounts" of Honduran cocaine throughout the mid-Atlantic region has been busted, and three Maryland residents and 25 Virginia residents involved have been arrested, according to federal prosecutors. The drug ring, based in Northern Virginia, routinely paid couriers to fly into the United States from Honduras with cocaine stashed in shoes, decorative wooden frames and other "innocuous items" that would blend in with their luggage, according to a statement on the bust released Thursday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

On Memorial Day weekends, Kim Yates and Albert Kullman measure success by speed. Yates steers her bright yellow tow truck toward trouble, with the goal of getting disabled vehicles out of the roadway or back in business before traffic has time to clog. From his toll booth at the Bay Bridge, Kullman can make change for a $10 or $20 in under 12 seconds. "We want you on your way," Yates said. "Safely. " The summer season kicks off this weekend when 718,200 Marylanders are expected to leave town for the beach or mountains, 1.2 percent fewer than a year ago, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Atlantic Beverage Co. Inc. yesterday announced plans to terminate its frozen beverage division and take a one-time charge of $2.4 million to discontinue the operation.The division generated about 2 percent of Atlantic Beverage's roughly $25 million in annual sales. It could not be determined what effect the closing would have on its Flying Fruit Fantasy fruit shake, which has largely been a money loser since its debut in 1980.William E. O'Leary, Atlantic Beverage's president and chief executive, did not return several telephone calls for comment.

Flying Fruit Fantasy, a blended fruit concoction that got its start in Baltimore 14 years ago, is set to take a flying leap of its own with the sale of the wholesale business of Flying Fruit Fantasy, USA Inc. to Atlantic Beverage Co. Inc. of Baltimore."

After acquiring four companies in the past nine months, the Atlantic Beverage Co. Inc. yesterday reported earnings of $671,872, or 5 cents a share, for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a loss of $118,463 for the corresponding period in 1995.The Baltimore-based company's revenues increased significantly, to $39.7 million in 1996 from $6 million the year before.Atlantic Beverage manufactures and distributes meat products and beverages in 10 states.Locally, it distributes specialty, nonalcoholic drinks in the Baltimore and Washington areas.

Baltimore-based Atlantic Beverage Co. said yesterday that it has completed its previously announced acquisitions of sausage companies Prefco Inc. and Carlton Foods Inc. for undisclosed amounts.The two closely held companies had combined revenue of $117 million last year, Atlantic Beverage said. Atlantic Beverage had revenue of $17.3 million in the nine months that ended Sept. 30.Houston-based Prefco markets its own brand of smoked sausages, bacon and packaged lunch meats to supermarkets. It also markets unbranded boxed beef, pork and chicken products.

If the head of Europe's largest discount airline has his way, Baltimore area travelers could soon see advertising for really cheap flights across the Atlantic. Ryanair Holdings PLC Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Leary says he wants to bring his no-frills, bargain basement service to the United States in the next few years. And industry analysts say he might be the one to pull it off. O'Leary told European reporters last week that he plans to start an airline that would offer low-cost service from European cities to U.S. destinations including Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas and Florida cities.

MIAMI -- Hurricane Emily picked itself up yesterday and began regaining power after a day's demotion to tropical storm rank.It regained it and then some, drawing energy from the heat of the subtropical Atlantic Ocean. The storm's return to hurricane force was announced by the National Hurricane Center at 7 p.m. Even before then, forecasts said it was not only coming back but growing a lot stronger than before: Steady wind speed past 90 mph with gusts faster than 100 are expected by 2 p.m. today.

The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards on Monday night at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center , capping a weekend of gastronomic events in New York City . Spike Gjerde of Baltimore's Woodberry Kitchen attended the awards ceremony and was among the five finalists for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, one 10 regional categories in the JBF Awards. But Baltimore is still without a JBF Award winner in a chef category. The Mid-Atlantic winner announced on Monday was Johnny Monis of Koni in Washington.

When Stevenson was a member of the Capital Athletic Conference, the program took home regular-season crowns in 2009 and 2011. The No. 4 Mustangs have an opportunity for another league championship, but as members of the Middle Atlantic Conference. Stevenson (13-2 overall and 6-0 in the league) only have to defeat No. 16 Widener (9-4, 5-1) on Saturday night to capture the regular-season title, and coach Paul Cantabene said the accomplishment is a coveted honor. “Any time you can win a conference title, it's good for the program,” he said Thursday.

In the off-season, Ocean City often adds some new feature for tourists: a miniature golf course perhaps, a seafood restaurant or maybe a bar that caters to the beachgoing crowd. But here's a possible addition that might not be so welcome - parking meters north of 10 t h Street. On Friday, the Ocean City Council is expected to be briefed on a proposal to create a whopping 4,800 paid parking spaces. The most ambitious version of the plan would require visitors to pay for parking at any space along the streets on the Atlantic Ocean side of Coastal Highway from 10 t h Street to the Delaware line.

Janet Hirsch says she has always been an adventurous eater, willing to try new things. But the Catonsville resident never ate pork ribs, Delmonico steaks or even turnips -- until last year. That's when Hirsch joined Friends & Farms, a Columbia-based company that connects consumers and farmers through weekly food shares. “The quality of the meat we get is fantastic,” she says. “And it turns out turnips are really good. I like them.” Hirsch, who picks up her stocked $51 food basket weekly, says she started with Friends & Farms in September to eat more local, sustainable foods and find new inspiration for mealtime.

Seismic testing for oil and gas off Maryland and other Atlantic coast states could cause widespread harm to whales, dolphins, sea turtles and fish, as well as to fishing and tourism, an environmental group warned Tuesday. Oceana said the federal government's own environmental impact statement estimates 138,500 whales and dolphins could be injured if seismic "airguns," which generate blasts of noise underwater, are used to explore for oil and gas along the Atlantic coast.  The Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is weighing applications to conduct offshore seismic testing from Delaware to Florida.

Cards started turning and dice began rolling early Thursday morning at Maryland Live, already the largest slots casino in the Mid-Atlantic. Opened just 10 months ago, the casino next to an Anne Arundel County outlet mall rakes in more money from slot machines than any other casino from New Jersey to West Virginia, including those in Atlantic City. And now it has added table games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat, taking a big step toward becoming the Mid-Atlantic's dominant full-scale casino.

Pressure from rival drink sellers cut into Atlantic Beverage Co. Inc.'s sales last year, and costs to launch a "fruitshake" product wiped out its profits.But Atlantic Beverage managers believe 1995 will bring improvement. Competition should diminish, and the Flying Fruit Fantasy shake should turn a profit in the July-September quarter, said President William E. O'Leary.Atlantic Beverage's 1994 revenue declined by 6.3 percent to $24.6 million, the company said yesterday. It lost $37,735 for the year, compared with a loss of $610,984 for 1993.

An article in yesterday's Business section about Atlantic Beverage Co. Inc. incorrectly reported the name of the company's chairman.He is Eric D. Becker.The Sun regrets the errors.Atlantic Beverage Co. Inc., formerly called Maryland Beverage Co. Inc., plans to raise about $10 million in an initial public stock offering.The company is a wholesale distributor in the Baltimore and Washington areas of specialty nonalcoholic beverages, including such brands as Royal Mistic, Elliott's Amazing Juices, Crystal Geyser, Deer Park, Tetley and Boku, according to a prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

No. 5 Maryland maintains a 45-43 lead in the series with its Atlantic Coast Conference rival, but No. 13 Virginia has won seven of the past eight meetings. The Terps (6-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference) entered the week ranked second in Division I in scoring (14.0 goals per game), but have averaged just nine goals in their past two contests. The Cavaliers (5-4) have lost three straight games for the first time since 2004 and four of the past five. This is Virginia's first game in the ACC this season.

Steven Leibowitz is trying to run as fast as he can, but the trail is muddy and tree roots are hiding under the soil, slowing him down. Now there's a stream blocking his path, with no way to cross, save a few widely spaced rocks. But Leibowitz can't give up. He has to keep running. It might sound like a scene from "The Hunger Games" or "The Blair Witch Project. " But for a runner in the XTERRA Trail Run Series, it's just the path to the finish line. XTERRA, a national multisport company, puts on races that are much more than your average 5K on the street.