Clockwise from top left, Commissioners Jim Norman, District 5; Brian Blair, District 6; and Mark Sharpe, District 7, represent voters in all of Hillsborough County. ...more

January 27, 2008

The existing structure of the Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough County was adopted in the 1980s to improve accountability after several commissioners were arrested and convicted of taking bribes from developers. ...more

January 26, 2008

Little Harbor's proposal to convert up to 450 residential units at its Bahia Beach condominium and hotel resort into daily rental units drew heavy fire from residents at a zoning hearing last week before a zoning hearing master. ...more

January 23, 2008

Things are heating up in Wisconsin. After the second snowiest December on record in the state capital - and with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Tuesday - the Legislature abolished a statewide ban on heated sidewalks, stairs, entrances and pedestrian walkways. ...more

January 18, 2008

While most of us try to be opened minded about youth fashion these days, some things just leave us old fogeys rubbing our heads trying to figure out some meaning to all this madness. The list of these things we can't understand is long, but nothing is more confusing than the desire to wear pants so big that they mysteriously stay up, but not before exposing inches of boxer shorts. Before we criticize, though, we must recall that our own parents weren't too big on rock and roll, long hair and just about anything else we wore or did. That's probably true of every generation since Adam and Eve looked at their offspring and asked, "Where in the world do you think you're going wearing that?" ...more

January 13, 2008

I really don't know where to start; I will try to keep it simple. This is regarding the former retired military man who wrote the "The Patraeus Report (Betray-us);" his rank, won't be mentioned because his venom towards the military and our president is only substantiated in his mind. At a time when support is desperately needed for our troops, this kind of accusation is almost criminal. However, he attained his rank is a mystery to me, as this former officer is apparently beyond understanding and needs help. With 37 years spent in reserve or active service, he has learned the word "I" usefully for his benefit. ...more

January 7, 2008

Rudolph Giuliani came to Tampa the day after Christmas and spent more than an hour with the Tribune's editorial board seeking the paper's support. ...more

January 6, 2008

Actor Denzel Washington was born Dec. 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, N.Y. In the 1980s, millions of television viewers knew him as Dr. Phillip Chandler on the popular drama "St. Elsewhere." Today, he is one of Hollywood's leading actors through starring roles in films such as "Malcolm X" and "The Hurricane." ...more

December 28, 2007

Japan's prime minister apologized Tuesday to four people who contracted hepatitis C from tainted blood products and promised to enact legislation to compensate them. ...more

December 26, 2007

SEBRING — Construction crews began work on Phase Two of the Sebring Parkway in July, doing mostly off-road work near Sebring High School. On Jan. 2, those construction crews will start the serious road building work, causing the complete shut-down of Eucalyptus Street, between Center and Grapefruit streets, for at least four and possibly as many as six months. This section of the parkway will replace the current two-lane Eucalyptus Street with a five-lane roadway with turning lanes. Phase Two of the parkway also will convert the current Highlands Avenue into a five-lane roadway, running all the way to U.S. 27. ...more

December 20, 2007