SEBRING — Pastor Mike Karl fell down a glacier last week, but considering he did it while on a cruise to Alaska, he doesn't mind the bruise. The cruise is just one of the perks Mike and Pat Karl received after being chosen as the 2007 recipients of the Judge Clifton Kelly Champion for Children Award. The Karls have run New Testament Church and Mission for 31 years and have served people more than one million meals and housing to get them back on their feet. Now the Children's Services Council and Foundation are looking for their next "Champion for Children," whose name will be announced at the ninth annual gala, Sept. 25. ...more

June 2, 2008

Updated security at the downtown government center is expected to be completed on Monday. ...more

May 31, 2008

United Airlines scrapped its latest attempt to combine with US Airways and create the world's largest carrier, formally backing away Friday from a deal that likely would have meant fewer routes and higher ticket prices for consumers. ...more

May 31, 2008

In a major diplomatic defeat for the United States, Britain broke ranks Wednesday and joined more than 100 nations in agreeing in principle to an international ban on cluster bombs, the small, insidious weapons that have killed thousands of civilians in the aftermath of battle. ...more

May 29, 2008

Some of us wear our patriotism on our sleeves. Or our lapels. Some stick it on the family car, in the shape of a yellow ribbon. It can be seen flying from the front porch or peeking out from under a sleeve, in an inky salute. ...more

May 26, 2008

In this time of an unpopular, protracted war, which is draining money from a struggling economy, the question of how to show patriotism is more complicated than ever. Some complain that the symbols we use to show loyalty to homeland have morphed into pro-war emblems. Stickers, flags, ribbons and pins carry new meaning, now that the war debate is politicized. Those who show them resent that the display is taken as a political stance. To them, it is still a deeply meaningful demonstration of their love of country — whether or not they love its politics. ...more

May 23, 2008

With the hope that early diagnosis and treatment of autism will lead to better lives for thousands of children and families, Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation Tuesday that could force many large insurance plans to cover the condition. ...more

May 21, 2008

VENICE - The parents of students in a Venice Elementary School special-needs class wanted things to get back to normal after police arrested their children's teacher on child abuse charges in February. ...more

May 18, 2008

In its last months in office, the Bush administration has decided to spend time and energy on upending long-standing restrictions on carrying loaded guns in national parks. ...more

May 11, 2008

The House voted for cheaper change Thursday, the kind that would make pennies and nickels worth more than they cost to make and save the country $100 million a year. ...more

May 9, 2008