The Cone Ranch Advisory Committee, of which I am a member, was asked to listen to the proposal by Florida Conservation & Environmental Group and recommend to the Hillsborough County Commission the best way to preserve and protect Cone Ranch. ...more

November 6, 2009

Full-tilt pumping at wellfields in Pasco and Hillsborough counties will lower nearby lake levels and affect wetlands but likely won't bring a return to environmental damage seen before 2003, when the region's water supply relied solely on groundwater. ...more

March 29, 2009

Full-tilt pumping at wellfields in Pasco and Hillsborough counties will lower nearby lake levels and affect wetlands but likely won't bring a return to environmental damage seen before 2003, when the region's water supply relied solely on groundwater. ...more

March 28, 2009

For the fifth year in a row, the Florida Legislature is attacking local government control of wetlands permitting, especially aiming at Hillsborough County's Environmental Protection Commission (EPC). In the name of streamlining, legislators maintain that local wetland review duplicates that of other state agencies and is a reason for the state's economic crisis. Ha! ...more

March 19, 2009

It has been almost 22 years since this editorial page detailed the devastating damage boat propellers were doing to Tampa Bay and questioned why no government agency would take action to protect the sea grass meadows that filter water and sustain marine life. ...more

February 14, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press. ...more

October 6, 2008

After reading Ms. Earl's recent column, I have come to the conclusion that she truly lives in a Bizarro World. ...more

July 16, 2008

Care for children, the aged and the environment will get less money next year under a budget proposed Wednesday by Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean. ...more

June 5, 2008

If you're never quite sure if the ads for popular beauty products can be believed or not, relax. Our 4you Beauty Board has some veteran testers onboard, ready to try the latest and greatest when it comes to all things beauty. We'll share what worked and what bombed in the hopes of making life a little easier for you. ...more

February 8, 2008

North and Central Florida aren't feeling very neighborly as they battle over water from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers. ...more

January 14, 2008