A man convicted of raping and murdering an 11-year-old boy lost an appeal Friday seeking to halt his upcoming execution when the Florida Supreme Court rejected his claim that lethal injection protocols could cause him extreme pain and suffering. ...more

June 28, 2008

SEBRING — Creating a smaller budget, due to reduced state funding, should not be done by eliminating teaching positions, School Board of Highlands County members said Tuesday. To provide time for more discussion, the board discussed tabling the reappointment roster – the listing of teachers and administrators who will have jobs with the district in 2008-09. But with the contract year ending June 30 and the next scheduled school board meeting on July 8, that would have left a gap where employees would not have a job. ...more

June 25, 2008

Mexico threw open the doors to its judicial system Tuesday, allowing U.S.-style public trials and creating a presumption of innocence. ...more

June 18, 2008

Several months ago, my wife and I visited Biloxi, Miss.; and I was moved to write an article.... ...more

June 14, 2008

Several months ago my wife and I visited Biloxi, Mississippi and I was moved to write an article about what I saw and the people that I talked to concerning the Katrina hurricane and the response of businesses and the people. This week we returned to Biloxi and I continue to be impressed with what has happened and continues to happen there. ...more

June 14, 2008

No doubt, when unions were first started, they were meant for good, but like many other things, many of the leaders became power hungry, and it has at this point become a detriment to many. I understand that in many cases, belonging to a union ensures one of health care or some other necessity the employee is in need of. In so doing, they are gaining control in the workplace that gives them power over decisions that should not be theirs, making it detrimental to society as a whole. It is my understanding that in some cases, you either belong to the union and vote as you're told or lose your employment. It is easy to see how they are getting control of our government. They acquire much money through these dues and use it to elect candidates that are opposed to the very things that the employee holds dear. This is not what our system should be endorsing. God tells us in his Holy Word that, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Money is buying power, and power used the wrong way can bring destruction. Let us pray for God's intervention. We have people in our government whose lifestyle is neither healthy or in keeping with God's will. ...more

June 12, 2008

One hundred eighty-eight: That number is less than half of the number of "gifted" students we have in Hernando County. That is the number who signed up for the new gifted center at Explorer K-8. The first question that comes to mind is: What happens to the rest of the gifted students? Are they now left without the proper classes and education that is geared for them? ...more

June 6, 2008

There are so many critical issues in our country that must be expressed. We sometimes wonder if we are ever heard by our government and our official politicians? ...more

June 4, 2008

As his special day approaches, how do you best remember your dad on Father's Day? ...more

June 3, 2008

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal prosecutors have gone too far in their use of money laundering charges to combat drug traffickers and organized crime. ...more

June 3, 2008