Florida Highway Patrol closing 10 stations Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Highway Patrol is closing 10 stations Friday as part of the state's cost-cutting efforts.

FHP officials said Wednesday that the closures will not reduce the number of state troopers on the roads.

The closures are called for in the new $69.1 billion state budget that goes into effect Friday.

Those being shuttered are all in rural communities.

Four are in the Panhandle: Crestview, Marianna, Quincy and Madison.

The others are in Fruitland Park, Starke, East Palatka, Lake Placid, Arcadia and Naples.

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