Facing fierce resistance, the Obama administration today backed off a plan to ban sales of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during warm weather. ...more

November 14, 2009

Florida's oyster and shellfish industry is reeling 10 days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration abruptly announced plans to restrict oyster sales during warm-weather months. ...more

October 30, 2009

Florida's oyster and shellfish industry is reeling 10 days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration abruptly announced plans to restrict oyster sales during warm-weather months. ...more

October 27, 2009

A photo of 20-year Valrico residents Karen and Charles Henderson hangs above a booth at the Beef 'O'Brady's restaurant on East State Road 60 in Valrico. ...more

March 4, 2009

Why did Moses spend 40 years wandering in the desert? Because he wouldn't ask for directions. ...more

February 28, 2009

The state of Florida is facing an unprecedented budget crisis. Our lawmakers will be meeting in special session in early January, where they will need to make difficult decisions to address the pressing needs of our state. One area of the budget under consideration is the Medicaid hospice benefit. Because of that, I am writing on behalf of some of our most vulnerable citizens, the terminally ill and their families that receive dedicated end of life care from hospice organizations across the state. The demographics of hospice patients might surprise you. Along with our aging population and cancer patients, hospice organizations also care for children, teens, young and middle-aged adults, heart disease patients, Alzheimer's patients and kidney disease patients. Anyone of any age diagnosed with a terminal illness is able to receive hospice care, where healthcare professionals and trained volunteers address all medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. ...more

December 30, 2008

If you don't know the raw facts, here are some: 23.6 million Americans have diabetes; diabetes is implicated, annually, in hundreds of thousands of deaths; in 2007, the economic cost of the disease was estimated at $174 billion; diabetes has three classifications - type 1, type 2 and gestational. ...more

December 10, 2008

If you don't know the raw facts, here are some: 23.6 million Americans have diabetes; diabetes is implicated, annually, in hundreds of thousands of deaths; in 2007, the economic cost of the disease was estimated at $174 billion; diabetes has three classifications - type 1, type 2 and gestational. ...more

December 10, 2008

High blood pressure is tough but can be helped if you're willing to check food labels. ...more

December 6, 2008

Researchers think the way to a healthy heart might be through your gums and teeth. ...more

November 29, 2008