The My Safe Florida Home program has spent the majority of its money, despite being far short of its target goal of 400,000 free hurricane inspections. ...more

December 15, 2007

Low-income people looking for low-cost housing in Tampa should be able to benefit from city initiatives in line for the upcoming year. ...more

November 30, 2007

AVON PARK — After canceling their meetings the past two months because there weren't enough members present to have a quorum, the Main Street Community Redevelopment Agency advisory board found the quorum it needed Thursday, then decided they shouldn't bother anymore. In an unanimous decision, the Main Street CRA literally voted itself out of existence, eliminating one of the three advisory boards created earlier this year after questions came up over the legality of having multiple CRA boards. Main Street-area residents and businesses would now have to apply directly to the City Council, which doubles as the main CRA board, for a facade grant. Devon Donaldson, who chaired the now-defunct advisory board, said Sunday that he and the rest of the board realized several facade grant applications skipped their board, which the board members themselves thought was unnecessary. "We just didn't see a need for us to be there anymore," Donaldson said. "All of us are willing to serve, we just felt our energies were being wasted." ...more

November 5, 2007

State Department investigators offered Blackwater USA security guards immunity during an inquiry into last month's deadly shooting of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad - a potentially serious investigative misstep that could complicate efforts to prosecute the company's employees involved in the episode, government officials said Monday. ...more

October 30, 2007

City council gave its stamp of approval Tuesday to 11 improvement grant requests submitted by Temple Terrace area schools. ...more

October 20, 2007

AVON PARK — Police Cmdr. Michael J. Rowan, now serving as interim Avon Park police chief after the forced resignation of former chief Frank Mercurio, said Wednesday that he plans to apply for the open position. City Manager C.B. Shirey said he's already received 13 applications for the position. The new acting chief has been busy adjusting to the transition and wants to take his time to submit an application. ...more

October 5, 2007

County Commissioner Al Higginbotham can vote on a contentious trash issue the board might settle next month, the Florida Commission on Ethics has ruled. ...more

September 19, 2007