Highlands County will receive $302,000 to help the homeless. The grant comes from a $1.5 billion federal stimulus fund, said Richard Reinhardt, executive director of Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless. ...more

March 27, 2009

A Shameful Scam The last time I was at Lowry Park Zoo the admission was $6. Recently, I paid $17 and was very pleased. It is a small, intimate and beautiful park. ...more

December 17, 2008

Do you ever despair of making it through December with your faith intact? Are you tempted to walk away from the performance art Christmas has become? ...more

November 29, 2008

As world financial markets continue to roil, credit card users may see higher fees, higher interest rates and lower credit limits. Credit card companies are raising rates as high and often as possible in response to the credit crisis, credit counselor Harold Stephenson says. ...more

October 16, 2008

This economy has left people behind on credit card bills, short on mortgage payments and low on cash to cover basics such as gas and food. Those are gaps in the budget that have to be filled, and too often, people are raiding their 401(k) to come up with the extra money. ...more

August 31, 2008

The Federal Reserve and other regulators initiated steps Friday to end "unfair and deceptive" credit card industry practices assailing consumers who are already struggling to cope in a bad economy. ...more

May 3, 2008

Despite remarkably quick passage, the government's economic aid plan and its cash rebates may come too late to prevent a recession this year. For many experts, however, the $168 billion boost to the lagging economy may mean the difference between a short downturn and something much more serious. ...more

February 10, 2008

It's called the Family Justice Center. I'm not sure justice is the appropriate word, but whatever they want to call it, it's about to disappear. The facility, which serves as a gathering place and center for more than 30 services for victims of domestic violence, is scheduled to shut its doors Feb. 8. ...more

January 30, 2008

More evidence of a dramatic slowdown in consumer spending surfaced Monday, as Sears Holdings Corp. warned a drop in sales would result in a profit shortfall and the world's largest retail trade group issued a downbeat sales forecast for 2008. ...more

January 15, 2008

Check your credit card bills closely. Some credit card companies are raising interest rates on customers even if they pay down their balances, on time, every month. The reason they cite is the customers' credit ratings have fallen elsewhere. ...more

December 5, 2007