We can sympathize with the people who have been struggling for years to pump life into New Port Richey's downtown. Exhibit A in their tale of woe is Main Street Landing, the mixed-use project that during the Florida property boom of the early part of this decade appeared to be the kick start downtown had needed. Given the current economic situation, however, trying to get the project back in gear right now might not be a good idea. ...more

March 18, 2009

The downward spiral of advertising revenue and circulation, coupled with rising debt, has claimed two more newspaper companies in a two-day span. ...more

February 23, 2009

Last month, the cash-strapped Pinellas School District decided to close or consolidate a number of elementary and middle schools. Sheriff Jim Coats announced this week a reorganization under which, he said, the Sheriff's Office could "serve citizens as efficiently as possible given the present and future budget challenges." ...more

February 7, 2009

Is the glass half empty? Is the glass half full? Is the glass about to fall on our big toe? We ask these questions in the wake of a report from the Florida Association of Realtors that housing sales along the Suncoast rose 16 percent in December, compared to a 3 percent decrease in November. Times being what they are, some people are choosing to see a gloomy lining to this silver cloud of housing news. ...more

January 28, 2009

When people were successfully making the case for approving the Penny for Pasco one-cent special sales tax during the March 2004 referendum, voters were told the Pasco School District badly needed its 45 percent share of the tax's annual revenue - more than $400 million over 10 years - because it was swamped by a huge annual influx of students. ...more

January 14, 2009

"Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating," by Mark Bittman (Simon & Schuster, $25) ...more

January 11, 2009

"Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating," by Mark Bittman (Simon & Schuster, $25) ...more

January 4, 2009

The economic realities of the present moment are stark: the nation's financial system has been teetering on the brink of disaster; businesses are finding it nearly impossible to borrow money; people are having trouble finding the money to buy houses and many of the people who have houses are finding it difficult to keep up with mortgage payments; the unemployment rate is rising; the revenue from taxes and fees governments rely on is coming in way below the estimates of only a few months ago. ...more

November 22, 2008

Environmentalists determined to escalate the fight against climate change are delighted with President-elect Barack Obama's promise to make burning carbon more expensive. ...more

November 16, 2008

Retailers, consumer advocates and the retirement community gathered at a public hearing Tuesday to rail against a plan by Tampa Electric Co. to raise electric rates. ...more

October 22, 2008