The thousands of National Guard troops sent to reinforce the U.S.-Mexican border two years ago have almost completely withdrawn, despite pleas from border-state governors once skeptical of using soldiers to catch illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. ...more

June 21, 2008

The European Parliament approved new rules Wednesday designed to standardize the dramatic differences in member countries' treatment of illegal immigrants, whose presence is one of the most heated political issues in Europe today. ...more

June 19, 2008

AVON PARK — The city whose council considered and then rejected a city bill that would have made English its official language will host a state convention Saturday for an activist group known for protesting against illegal immigration, and sometimes illegal immigrants. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps will gather at the Jacaranda Hotel for what its state director Bill Landes called a "training session." "It's not an open meeting," he said. He estimated 15 to 20 Minutemen members from throughout the state to attend the convention, including Chris Simcox, the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps' cofounder. The convention begins at 1 p.m. He expected a few protesters might show up but hoped the members wouldn't be too uncomfortable. ...more

June 17, 2008

Roaming across Europe on a glamorous weeklong goodbye, President Bush does not sound like a man with dismal poll ratings, dwindling influence and just seven months left in office. ...more

June 14, 2008

This recession and/or inflation that we are experiencing may cause some of us to reduce some of our household expenses in order to have a little money left until the next payday. Most of us living here in Florida use certified pest control to take care of those little critters that want to invade our homes. That is one expense that you probably should keep and not try to use the DIY (Do it yourself) bug bombs. Almost yearly some homes or apartments are blown to pieces because too many bombs were set off without turning off ignition sources. ...more

June 5, 2008

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked parts of an Oklahoma law targeting illegal immigration, saying the measures are probably unconstitutional. ...more

June 5, 2008

SEBRING — Bill Nelson lives in Tallahassee, but he started Friday morning in Fort Myers. A northeasterly drive in his dark gray Nissan Pathfinder took him to town hall meetings in LaBelle, Moore Haven, then Sebring. He had to be back in Washington at 9 a.m. Saturday to argue the case for seating the Florida delegation at the Democratic National Convention, so Florida's U.S. senator had to arrive at the Orlando airport by 8 p.m. Friday to catch a flight to Washington. But U.S. Airways canceled the red-eye, so his aides made hasty phone calls to people he expected to meet at 3:30 p.m. in Sebring City Hall. Could they be there 30 minutes early? Nelson needed to fly from Sebring in a private plane so he could make the 6:15 flight in Orlando. ...more

May 31, 2008

Frances Earl has been given the privilege and honor by Hernando Today to appear on the editorial page, and I would expect Ms. Earl to be more informative when writing her columns. ...more

May 28, 2008

Everyone has an opinion on illegal immigration, and those ideas vary from every extreme to all kinds of shades of gray in the middle. All of these ideas are acceptable and appreciated when debating this issue. It's the basis of our democracy. What's troubling, though, is that racism underlies some folks' take on immigration, although they will never admit it, and it can cloud the debate. ...more

May 27, 2008

Well, the news is out... ...more

May 24, 2008