ShopperTrak, a retail research firm, predicted Tuesday that total holiday sales will rise 1.6 percent compared with a year ago, which would be good news for retailers in the aftermath of last year's steep decline. ...more

October 21, 2009

Sears Holdings Corp. aims to get an edge over its competition this holiday season by getting shoppers to start saving for Christmas presents now through a new card that mimics an old-fashioned Christmas club account. ...more

August 18, 2009

TAMPA Operation Spring Cleaning, a two-day law-enforcement roundup of known felons and other criminals, ended today with a total of 122 arrests, police said. ...more

March 28, 2009

While The Salvation Army set a holiday donation record nationally, a sagging local economy accounted for a nearly 27 percent drop in red kettle collections for its Sebring unit in 2008 compared to the previous year, according to Major Mary Holmes. ...more

March 28, 2009

It begins with a sharp nock on the door, followed by shouted commands from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies. ...more

March 26, 2009

Turning more upbeat, President Barack Obama said Friday his administration is working to create a "post-bubble" model for solid economic growth once the recession ends. He said that means the days of overheated housing markets and "people maxing out on their credit cards" are over. ...more

March 14, 2009

Lawmakers got the bad financial news most were expecting Friday when state economists said they now expect general revenue to be down about $1 billion in the current budget year and more than $2 billion in the next one compared with estimates made four months ago. ...more

March 14, 2009

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is looking for donations of new or like-new children's books for its annual BookWorks childhood literacy program. ...more

March 8, 2009

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is looking for donations of new or like-new children's books for its annual BookWorks childhood literacy program. During March and April, people in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando and Marion counties are asked to donate new or like-new books for children ages 2-5. ...more

March 7, 2009

If the U.S. Postal Service has its way, people will be getting mail only five days a week. ...more

February 24, 2009