An internal audit warned last year that the state board that invests local government money should have a special committee to review overall risk in the agency's investments, and that it was relying on too few brokerages when buying securities. ...more

January 4, 2008

Since the Federal Reserve last met in October, credit has become harder to obtain, Wall Street has convulsed again and the housing slump has intensified. And policymakers at the central bank now appear to have changed their minds about the need to drop interest rates again. ...more

December 10, 2007

Based on the weather reports and restaurant listings you check out online, Yahoo has a good idea where you live. Based on searches you've done, the Web portal might also know where you want to go. ...more

December 1, 2007

Rising foreclosures will lead to billions of dollars in lost economic activity next year in the nation's major metropolitan areas, but homeowners and financial institutions have the ability to work together to contain the effects, according to a report compiled for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. ...more

November 28, 2007

Randy Ludacer's letter in the Sunday, Nov. 11 Highlands Today is so full of misinformation it needs to be answered. Mr. Macklin did not come out against people of Spanish descent. He was trying to get rid of the illegal aliens, and not Mexican bashing, as stated by Mr. Ludacer. Mr. Ludacer calls them undocumented workers; that is like calling drug dealers unlicensed pharmacists. It is not a cheap shot, or bashing a powerless minority, to try to rid this county of criminals. If you are in the United States and do not have the proper paperwork, then you are committing a crime and thus are a criminal. That seems to be what they don't understand. All government paperwork should be in English. ...more

November 17, 2007

More banks have tightened lending standards on home mortgages, the Federal Reserve said Monday in the latest sign of fallout from a spreading credit crisis. ...more

November 6, 2007

It's heartwarming to read good news about our fair city. In a time defined by plunging housing markets, fiscal uncertainty, a growing homeless population and infighting among our politicians, readers will be pleased to note that Tampa at least has been recognized as a great place to party. ...more

October 31, 2007

It's heartwarming to read good news about our fair city. In a time defined by plunging housing markets, fiscal uncertainty, a growing homeless population and infighting among our politicians, readers will be pleased to note that Tampa at least has been recognized as a great place to party. ...more

October 29, 2007

The World Bank and IFC have been taken to task because of the immense corruption pervading almost every avenue of so-called aid to impoverished nations, notable in Africa. Numerous examples of corporate corruption have illustrated this egregious practice which has further victimized the impoverished. The American division of the World Bank employs that all American principle of capitalism in "encouraging" free enterprise world wide. Unfortunately, the bank officials ensure income and profit for themselves first, thus, leaving the recipients of the aid worse off than they were before this "aid." In fact, the promising entrepreneurs in these proffered programs toward free enterprise have been the very victims of exploitation. The World Bank president was asked why the bank was providing loans to China, India and Brazil, classified as middle-income nations, when they hold 100s of billions of dollars of U.S. debt, why they couldn't utilize these enormous sums to fund their own development of environmental projects, etc. instead of aiding impoverished nations. He replied that this is good business, China and India will spread the wealth. ...more

October 28, 2007