When Middleton High School was put on a state list of 13 schools that face closure unless they improve academically, Fred Hearns decided he had to act. ...more

December 6, 2008

I thought John Allman's Aug. 31 article on Middleton High School was very informative and well balanced. It would have been interesting, however, to report what a few more students and parents in the traditional non-magnet program there had to say about the current state of the school and what they hope to get out of Middleton. ...more

September 5, 2008

George S. Middleton High School sits near the heart of a predominately black, East Tampa community, a state-of-the-art facility surrounded by churches, small neighborhood stores and public housing. ...more

September 2, 2008

George S. Middleton High School sits near the heart of a predominately black, East Tampa community, a state-of-the-art facility surrounded by churches, small neighborhood stores and public housing. ...more

August 31, 2008

Middleton, an all-black school for nearly 40 years, represents the struggle alumni faced — and overcame — during segregation. And it's a source of pride for community leaders who fought to re-open the school in 2002, three decades after a federal court order locked its doors. Since then, however, Middleton has struggled to live up to its legacy. ...more

August 29, 2008

So unbeknownst to most, the Twist was the creation of some young African-Americans dancing in the street on Central Avenue in Tampa. Apparently they shall forever remain anonymous, and the fame associated with creating arguably the most powerful dance tune of all time will forever belong entirely to Chubby Checker and Hank Ballard. ...more

July 8, 2008

Here's a word association test. When I say "Chubby Checker", you say... "The Twist." At least most folks make that connection, because it was that tune that rocketed him to stardom. Chubby, who's real name is Ernest Evans, appeared at Busch Gardens last week as part of a Fourth of July celebration. But few people know that the Twist had its genesis in Tampa. ...more

July 8, 2008

Five men thought to be responsible for a string of burglaries at Polk County retail stores were arrested Wednesday after a break-in at a Target store. ...more

May 30, 2008

For more than 100 years, the city's black residents have made an indelible mark on Tampa's history. Many of the sites of black struggles and accomplishments have landmarks that are familiar. But their stories aren't nearly as well-known. There's Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, Jose Marti Park in Ybor City, the Jackson House and the spot where Ray Charles made his first recording. ...more

February 11, 2008

BEAUFORT, S.C. - The body of a Largo, Florida, construction worker missing for nearly two weeks has been found in a South Carolina river. ...more

December 4, 2007