TAMPA Jacey Laundree, the sister of one of the two Apollo Beach restaurant workers who said they were kidnapped and raped in August by three unknown attackers, spoke out Monday night about the impact the incident has had on her family. Rigoberto Moron Martinez, Vicente Reyes-Carbajal and 13-year-old Jose Walle were charged in the rapes as well as in a similar attack at a St. Petersburg restaurant in July. Martinez also faces another rape charge in Hillsborough County. ...more

November 18, 2008

Whatever happened to good common sense? It seems to have largely departed from the scene. Make no mistake. When we depart from common sense, we will be left with nonsense. If the Supreme Court of the Land were to hand down a decision saying, "After long deliberation and much soul searching, it has been concluded that the law of gravity is hereby declared unconstitutional," many trusting souls, including some Republicans, would say, "Oh goodie! I will now climb a high building, flap my elbows, and float freely all over the county!" "Ridiculous!" you say. "Everybody knows that the perpetrator would suddenly hit the ground with a loud splatt!" We could not repeal the law of gravity by judicial edict. But similar nonsense is solemnly pronounced with straight faces by courts high and low. ...more

December 5, 2007

Don't Sweep Under Rug Regarding "Hogan Defense Faults Seat Belt" (front page, Nov. 8): ...more

November 9, 2007