Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin met with an independent investigator Friday to testify about allegations she abused her powers during a long-running personnel controversy that has now distracted from her Republican vice presidential campaign. ...more

October 25, 2008

No local races are as hotly contested in Highlands County as the sheriff's race. No race draws as much attention, nor as much nastiness. This election season we have two extremely strong candidates. When all the nonsense being spouted on both sides is pushed aside, incumbent Sheriff Susan Benton and Ron Grimming both are well qualified and would serve our county well. ...more

October 24, 2008

A state ethics investigation has cleared Pinellas Property Appraiser Jim Smith and other county officials of wrongdoing in a controversial land deal between Smith and the county. The report by the Florida Ethics Commission, released Wednesday, also cleared former Pinellas County Attorney Susan Churuti and County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan. ...more

October 23, 2008

The presentation of Hillsborough County's Ralph Hughes Moral Courage Award today will be free of controversy if the latest recipient has anything to say about the matter. ...more

October 15, 2008

The presentation of Hillsborough County's Ralph Hughes Moral Courage Award on Wednesday will be free of controversy if the latest recipient has anything to say about the matter. Dave Brown, who will receive the award at the county commission meeting, said he will not mention the board's recent decision to rename the honor for Hughes, a conservative political activist and campaign contributor. ...more

October 14, 2008

A crowd cheered as a even larger Confederate flag was hoisted above Interstates 4 and 75 on Sunday. ...more

October 13, 2008

The giant Confederate flag at Interstates 4 and 75 will be replaced with a larger version. ...more

October 12, 2008

The Bush administration is hammering out final details of a plan that would allow the government to inject cash into banks in exchange for ownership stakes in an effort to shore up confidence in the faltering financial system, according to officials and sources who have been in contact with the Treasury Department. ...more

October 10, 2008

The Port Richey City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to interview potential members for the city's proposed Charter Review Committee. The committee would study the charter, the document that makes Port Richey a city and specifies how it operates, and recommend any changes the committee believed are needed. Council would then have to decide whether to ask city voters to approve any proposed charter changes. ...more

September 27, 2008

Highlands County Commissioner Barbara Stewart and Sheriff Susan Benton are in the middle of a controversy that has everyone talking. Depending on whom you support, trying to figure out who is to blame is next to impossible. For people who don't have a point of view either way for either woman, both of these high-ranking public officials deserve blame for this even becoming a issue. ...more

September 26, 2008