In his 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, one of the duties that held the most personal meaning to Michael Bilirakis was serving on the House Veterans Committee. As a Korean War veteran, he shares a bond with all who have served. Bilirakis, who left the House at the end of 2006, is now spearheading a project to ensure that the experiences of all local veterans are remembered in a way that will continue to serve their community. ...more

October 24, 2009

The upcoming dedication of Sgt. Smith Middle School will feature a patriotic theme to match its name. ...more

March 25, 2009

Troy Donaldson today earned the title of Pasco County Employee of the Year. County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano presented the proclamation to Donaldson for his bravery helping a traffic accident victim on July 30, 2008. ...more

February 24, 2009

University of South Florida starting right guard Matt Huners has been ruled academically ineligible and will not play in Saturday's St. Petersburg Bowl against Memphis. ...more

December 18, 2008

Two Pasco County employees were recently honored by the Holiday Rotary Club for their bravery in assisting traffic accident victims. ...more

November 15, 2008

It takes a brave soldier to do what Army Maj. Gen. David Blackledge did in Iraq. It takes as much bravery to do what he did when he got home. ...more

November 8, 2008

Novelist Christopher Buckley, son of the late William F. Buckley, recently endorsed Barack Obama on the Web site the Daily Beast. It resulted in his resignation from the National Review, the conservative magazine his father founded. Excerpts from his endorsement follow: ...more

October 19, 2008

"I Lost My Love In Baghdad," by Michael Hastings (Scribner, $24) ...more

July 20, 2008

"Skeletons at the Feast," by Chris Bohjalian (Shaye Areheart, $25) ...more

July 13, 2008

The U.S. Army has released a study that states that leaders in the United States were more concerned with winning the military battle in Iraq than what to do once it was concluded. That's not exactly earth-shattering news, since most of us already know that, but the historical report is interesting because it's the first major report issued by U.S. military criticizing civilian leaders. The study, "On Point II: Transition to the New Campaign" was written by Donald Wright and Col. Timothy R. Reese, along with the Army's Contemporary Operations Study Team, according to a Washington Post article. They say U.S. commanders lacked a realistic vision of what Iraq would look like after that triumph, according to the story. "The transition to a new campaign was not well thought out, planned for, and prepared for before it began," wrote Wright and Reese. "Additionally, the assumptions about the nature of post Saddam Iraq on which the transition was planned proved to be largely incorrect." ...more

June 30, 2008