Education challenge for Crist - Charlie Crist enters the governor's mansion at a crucial time for the state's university system, which will need billions more for new schools and just

Florida's incoming governor says the state needs to build one or more new public universities to enroll an estimated 50,000 new students in the next six years, but he doesn't forsee a need to raise taxes - or most student fees to cover costs.

Gov.-elect Charlie Crist, who takes office in January, said he's concerned Florida will prevent students from graduating from college because crowded state universities can't admit them.

"It's very difficult to get accepted to some of our state universities, and it's a concern of mine," Crist said.

"You know, I think we need to look at building more, frankly," Crist said in an interview.

Backing off a threat to legally challenge whether it is bound by a voter-approved ban on race and gender-based affirmative action, the University of Michigan joined the state's two other largest public universities in federal court Monday to ask for something else -- more time.

U-M and Michigan State and Wayne State universities said changing admissions and financial aid programs by Dec. 22 -- as the constitutional amendment requires -- would cause unfair treatment of students who want to join the incoming fall class and be a logistical nightmare for the universities.

Admission offers made to U-M applicants before the deadline would not be affected.

At MSU, where the ban would affect some financial aid programs, spokesman Terry Denbow said: "We want more time to look at how we can remain true to the law and to the commitments to students and their families."

Two years after an Arizona woman died from a controversial numbing cream, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered the Salt Lake City pharmacy that created and dispensed the drug to stop.

In a warning letter dated Dec. 4, the FDA told University Pharmacy to stop selling two drug "compounds," a Photocaine gel and a progesterone vaginal cream, saying the compounds are not generally recognized among experts as safe and effective.

To date, the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing has not taken any public action against University Pharmacy in regard to the 2004 death of Blanco Bolanos of Tucson. But as a result of the FDA's warning, the state is reviewing the case, said Department of Commerce spokeswoman Jennifer Bolton.