Land-use planner Linda Pearson, a former county official who is now in private business, has filed to run for the Hillsborough County Commission seat held by Ken Hagan. ...more

March 4, 2009

Putting Rail On Map More than a year ago, the question was asked: "Why can't Tampa do this?" A rail line from Tampa Palms along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, west along Fowler Avenue, south along Nebraska to downtown Tampa, and west along Kennedy Boulevard, then northwest on Memorial Highway frontage road to Tampa International Airport. ...more

March 1, 2009

Republicans are up in arms about Gov. Crist's support of the stimulus package. Many are also surprised that the governor is contemplating a Senate run rather than standing for re-election. A possible reason for both relates to something I have pondered for some time: Florida should raise the sales tax by one cent, at least temporarily. The stimulus package, manna for our charmed governor, will likely enable Florida to balance its budget this year. But unless the economy improves significantly, next year we will be back to where we are now, cutting into the marrow of our already bare bones state programs. Perhaps the governor sees raising taxes in the near future as the only logical way to maintain the modest quality of life the state provides to its citizens, while understanding that, as a Republican, raising taxes would likely end his political career. The smart thing is to let someone else do it. ...more

February 14, 2009

Don Kruse, twice defeated in prior runs for the Hillsborough County Commission, said he will try again in the November 2010 election, this time for Commissioner Jim Norman's countywide seat. ...more

February 7, 2009

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Leto High senior Karishma Mahtani has a chance to make her idea a state law, but it might not make her popular with friends who like to text, talk on the phone or fiddle with MP3 players while driving. ...more

February 4, 2009

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Leto High senior Karishma Mahtani has a chance to make her idea a state law, but it might not make her popular with friends who like to text, talk on the phone or fiddle with MP3 players while driving. ...more

February 4, 2009

Whittled to its essence, three messages emerged from Friday's annual summit of Pasco's state legislative delegation, where lawmakers entertained the concerns of local elected officials and agency chiefs. ...more

January 25, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Angye Fox wasn't sure she would be comfortable at a nudist resort. ...more

January 15, 2009

The public relations director of clothing-optional Caliente Resorts has made some controversial decisions as she tries to attract younger residents. ...more

January 12, 2009

Higher taxes and other new sources of revenue loom on Florida's horizon - but not in time to stave off $1 billion in budget cuts now. ...more

January 6, 2009