Just 10 days and a world crisis ago, Tuesday night's gathering of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation was supposed to highlight a small, informal discussion of Israeli security issues by intelligence expert John Loftus. ...more

January 7, 2009

Just 10 days and a world crisis ago, tonight's gathering of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation was supposed to highlight a small, informal discussion of Israeli security issues by intelligence expert John Loftus. In the aftermath of Israel's ongoing military response to years of random bombing by terrorists in Gaza, however, the event became a rally for supporters of Israel's "Right to Self Defense." ...more

January 6, 2009

AVON PARK — There's a mock bomb somewhere in the lobby of the Public Service Academy headquarters, as teams of police cadets assigned to find it and document the search carefully carry out their duty. To protect and serve is more than a motto on some wall. It is an oath that far too often puts law enforcement officers' lives on the line. Yet, as law enforcement officers retire, are injured, quit or otherwise leave service, along come new recruits. South Florida Community College's Criminal Justice Academy, located at its Avon Park campus, prepares them for a career in law enforcement. ...more

January 27, 2008

Like many college kids, my daughter Hannah ended up with a credit card problem. But it wasn't the problem I feared. ...more

September 16, 2007