The chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Tuesday warned that their ailing mortgage-finance companies will suffer further in 2008 because of a weakening housing market and rising home-loan defaults. ...more

December 12, 2007

Regarding "Mortgage CEO Wants A Federal Rescue" (Business, Dec. 4): The mortgage mess is about to get messier. The bailout proposed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will spread the mess to tax-exempt bond funds, stealing money from many retirees that have invested in the bond funds to get by in retirement. It all deprives income that eases the burden on the taxpayers of this country. ...more

December 5, 2007

BayWalk, the retail heart of downtown St. Petersburg, is up for sale. The Sembler Co., the St. Petersburg-based developer that built the entertainment and retail complex, confirmed Thursday that it just recently began seeking suitors for the 150,000-square-foot center. ...more

November 1, 2007

My boss is rude and cruel. She makes fun of people, then laughs at her own 'cute' remarks. She loves to catch mistakes and publicly reprimand employees. ...more

October 22, 2007

It's not your typical Sesame Street episode. There are no lessons in letters or numbers, but there are plenty of hugs and lots of talk about feelings. ...more

October 6, 2007

West Pasco is scheduled to regain a dealership dedicated to new Volkswagen models early next year. The showroom is now under construction in Holiday by Suncoast Auto Builders, under project manager Mike Johnson. ...more

September 22, 2007

This letter is in response to Mr. Royce's comments in regard to an appointed superintendent instead of an elected superintendent. By the tone of your comments, Mr. Royce, it sounds as though you might be vying for Wally Cox's job. You are sure quick to give your misinformed opinion. All of Highlands County's schools are not "D" schools. Our school educators and employees take a lot of pride in the hard work it takes to educate this county's children. Frankly, I think people are sick and tired of hearing misinformed people such as yourself spout false accusations. Although Mr. Cox has quite the impressive credentials, excellent reputation, years of experience in the system and apparently the support of Highlands County schools and families, you and your coffee buddy Mr. Tuck sound like two wanna-bes running for the CEO of the Highlands County School District. ...more

September 16, 2007

Health insurance premiums paid by workers and their employers rose an average of 6.1 percent this year, outpacing inflation and pay increases and taking a bigger chunk out of families' budgets, according to a new survey. ...more

September 12, 2007

Mortgage insurer MGIC Investment Corp. abandoned its $5 billion bid to buy rival Radian Group on Wednesday, saying it was in each other's best interest to concentrate on surviving in the faltering mortgage industry. ...more

September 6, 2007