A law firm representing a former city police officer is threatening to sue the city for more than $200,000 because officials have not rehired or reinstated him. Kenneth Fong, whose allegations of payroll discrepancies ignited a scandal that led to the resignation of former police Chief Russell Barnes in August, is seeking lost pay and compensatory damages from the city, according to a letter sent to City Manager Steve Spina. Tampa attorney Steven G. Wenzel also asserts in the letter that Fong was not reinstated or rehired by the department as retaliation for whistle-blowing activities that led to Barnes' resignation, the reassignment of a city detective and embarrassment to city officials. By Wenzel's calculations, the city should pay "well in excess of $200,000," even if Fong is reinstated as a police officer ...more

December 22, 2008

Pinellas County deputies say a used automobile dealer was rolling back odometers on vehicles he was selling. ...more

December 19, 2008

The CRA here hasn't had a public hearing since March 2007, but it's possible that a public hearing wasn't required, said the deputy mayor, a city councilman and the city attorney. ...more

December 11, 2008

Florida's revenue could plummet $1.5 billion lower than predicted a few months ago -- to $3.3 billion -- a conference of state economists suggested this morning. ...more

November 21, 2008

Bay area elections supervisors are laying plans to deal with what they fear could be hundreds of people who have problems voting Nov. 4 because of the state's "No Match, No Vote" law. ...more

October 10, 2008

DayJet, which discontinued its on-demand passenger service Friday without notice, said it worked unsuccessfully through Thursday to secure financing. ...more

September 23, 2008

Reference is made to the Sept. 12 article in which the sheriff's attorney, Mike Durham, described the leader of a controversial evidence audit as "a disgruntled former employee." If Mr. Newell was a disgruntled part-time employee of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, it is apparently the first time in his reported 34 year career as a law enforcement officer that he had been, as described, "disgruntled." ...more

September 21, 2008

Another police officer was paid for hours he spent teaching at Pasco Hernando Community College, according to a city investigation released Tuesday. ...more

September 17, 2008

Paula White has returned to the Without Walls pulpit to reinvigorate the ministry. ...more

September 13, 2008

Kenneth Fong, whose complaints about payroll discrepancies led to last month's resignation of Zephyrhills police Chief Russell Barnes, will not be rejoining the Zephyrhills Police Department. ...more

September 13, 2008