Police are investigating the extent of a man's involvement with the Florida State Fair after the man, who is charged in a sex crime, said he owned and operated several rides and games there. Tampa police on Sunday arrested Alex Pala, 42, of Chicago, at the Days Inn at 2522 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Detectives said he tried to pay for sex with a 14-year-old boy, offering the child housing and several thousand dollars a month. ...more

February 17, 2009

A 42-year-old man who said he owns and operates several rides and games for the Florida State Fair tried to pay for sex with a 14-year-old boy in Tampa on Sunday, Tampa police say. Instead, he was met by law enforcement. ...more

February 16, 2009

TripAdvisor.com is known for the terse descriptions of hotel accommodations generated by travelers' ratings that range from "The hotel room was clean and pest free" to "The worst hotel on the planet." ...more

February 10, 2009

Deidre Fletcher, general manager of the Days Inn of Brooksville, has come up with a promotional package she hopes will score big with football fans. ...more

January 18, 2009

Belly dancing is part of the fare at Turquoise Mediterranean Grill in Plant City. ...more

July 14, 2008

PINELLAS PARK - A man living out of his conversion van has been charged in two rape cases, one in March at a mobile home park, the other one in May at an apartment complex, police said. ...more

June 3, 2008

Detectives in Manatee County arrested two men on Saturday in connection with an April home invasion on Anna Maria Island during which a woman was tied up after the homeowner was lured from the house. ...more

May 4, 2008

TAMPA - Stolen electronics worth $200,000 were recovered and two men arrested Saturday in what Tampa Police say was a theft ring that worked from Tampa to Miami. ...more

January 12, 2008