James Brown knew all along that he wanted to open a museum to inspire people — especially the poor — to pursue their dreams. So he carefully saved all his belongings, from glittering suits and glossy shoes to the comb he used to neatly sculpt his hair. ...more

February 26, 2009

The Innocence Project of Florida is asking the Hillsborough County state attorney's office for additional DNA testing in the case of a Tampa man executed earlier this month. ...more

February 25, 2009

For genuinely civilized members of this (as far as we know, still) free nation, few acts of our democratic republic surpass executions for their ability to induce gooseflesh. ...more

February 13, 2009

Lisa DeCarr had a headache and didn't want to go to school. The 15-year-old asked her mother if she could stay home that Thursday. Her mother, Barbara DeCarr, agreed. It was the last time DeCarr saw her daughter alive. ...more

February 8, 2009

Lisa DeCarr had a headache and didn't want to go to school. ...more

February 6, 2009

My Aunt Pat called last week to remind us we were coming to the Christmas show at her church. I remembered sighing to myself last year when she first called to invite us. I knew about church Christmas pageants, having been in enough of them. But there was no escape. ...more

December 5, 2008

Judging by his attire - a bathrobe worn over a pair of jeans and a T-shirt - it seemed as though Mark "Tiger" Edmonds had embraced retirement. ...more

August 6, 2008

Dear Abby: Last year, my husband, "Steve," was scheduled for bypass surgery. He told everyone - all our friends and relatives - that he planned to stop smoking afterward. ...more

May 18, 2008

Parts 1 and 2 of this story were published April 20 and 27. When four-year-old Lisa slipped into my apartment naked, for the second time, I tried not to look shocked. Gemma quickly said, "Oh, I never put clothes on that one at 'ome. She just gets 'em filthy. Once she even stuffed 'er dress down the commode." I forced a smile, "Would you like some coffee?" "Oh, bloody good idea, that." I led the way to the kitchen where Lisa had already opened my refrigerator and grabbed a carton of yogurt. She shoved it at me. "Open this." "Sure." I pulled off the aluminum seal and handed it back. "Let me get you a spoon." But she had already dug into it with her fingers. Gemma yawned, ignoring her daughter, while I poured the coffee. ...more

May 3, 2008

The traditional Christmas get-together at grandma's house was put on hold Monday morning by a devastating fire. ...more

December 24, 2007