NORTH TAMPA - Construction of a groundbreaking cancer research center expected to create an estimated 165 high-paying science jobs is well under way near the University of South Florida. Construction workers wheeling heavy equipment kicked up clouds of dust this week at the site of M2Gen, a joint venture of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute and drugmaker Merck & Co., at 10902 N. Malcolm McKinley Drive. "You can see the first of four floors going up," Rick Garrison, chief operating officer at M2Gen, said Tuesday. ...more

June 5, 2008

The sun was shining and the sky was blue most of Monday afternoon at Cheval Golf and Country Club, where the Lightning held a charity golf outing. ...more

February 26, 2008

VENUS — Brad Krohn said it is "really exciting" for his company and it is "tremendously honored" to have received a $7 million grant for a proposed sugar to ethanol biorefinery in southern Highlands County. But Krohn, president of United States EnviroFuels, knows he has to get permits in place from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Highlands County before the first gallon of ethanol is produced. The Highlands County Commission must also sign off on the plant. It typically takes eight to 12 months for permitting, but Krohn is hopeful it will get done sooner. ...more

January 27, 2008

SEBRING — One school bus driver hopes the district's support workers vote down the tentative contract agreement Sunday so a better salary increase can be negotiated. According to the School Board of Highlands County, the tentative agreement reached Nov. 9 calls for an average salary increase of 4 percent and a total salary and benefit package increase of 5.86 percent. According to the tentative agreement, each pay step will increase by 2 percent. Each year everyone moves up a step, except the senior employees, who have reached the top pay step. About one-third of the 700 support staff are at the top of the salary schedule and will be getting a 2 percent raise. "When we vote on our contract, we are voting on a 2 percent increase — period," said Mary Hein, a bus driver. "We are not voting on 4 percent. It would be nice if they increased my step by 4 percent, but they are not." The substitute drivers would only get a 2 percent raise because their pay is solely based on hourly salary, she said. ...more

November 28, 2007

During the tumultuous twin budget hearings held last September, hundreds of residents raised the battle cry: Lower taxes and stop government spending. ...more

November 27, 2007

Alex Rodriguez won his third America League Most Valuable Player award Monday, easily defeating Detroit's Magglio Ordonez after compiling an astounding season at the plate. Rodriguez received 26 first-place votes and 382 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, while Ordonez had two firsts and 258 points. ...more

November 20, 2007

SEBRING — After continuing to work under last year's contract since the start of the school year, the school district's support personnel will likely get their annual salary increase along with a retroactive raise before the holidays. The Highlands County Educational Support Personnel Association and the School Board of Highlands County reached a tentative contract agreement late Monday afternoon. The tentative agreement calls for an average salary increase of 4 percent and a total salary and benefit package increase of 5.86 percent. ...more

November 14, 2007

The Highlands County Educational Support Personnel Association and the School Board of Highlands County reached a tentative contract agreement on Monday. ...more

November 13, 2007

Grady Little resigned as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, paving the way for Joe Torre to take the job. ...more

October 31, 2007

Mama, don't let your sons and daughters grow up to be doctors, lawyers or even plumbers. ...more

September 30, 2007