If you've never heard of My Safe Florida Home, the state's free hurricane inspection program, chances are you soon will. ...more

January 14, 2009

Our legislators are presently deciding on cuts to accommodate the reduced income due to the recession. Undoubtedly the old and sick will, as usual, bear the brunt of these reductions. ...more

January 13, 2009

As Legislators aim to cut $600 million in state education funding, the School Board of Highlands County and South Florida Community College are looking at additional spending cuts that would not compromise student education. ...more

January 8, 2009

Steven Augello is not a public speaker, just a grief-stricken father. ...more

January 1, 2009

According to a News Service of Florida report, a lot of Florida business owners are holding their breath, waiting to see if legislators start cutting sales tax exemptions. We understand the anxiety, but that's exactly where they should look first when trying to figure out how to deal with a $2.3 billion and growing deficit. ...more

December 21, 2008

Don't rule out "Ginny For U.S. Senate" signs just yet. U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, is pondering a potential bid for the seat that Republican Mel Martinez will leave vacant now that he's decided not to run for re-election in 2010, Pete Meachum, Brown-Waite's chief of staff, said Wednesday afternoon. ...more

December 4, 2008

By all the commentaries I have seen, Black Friday two days ago is about to be followed by a darker, tougher and meaner year for millions of Americans, including a lot of us in the Tampa Bay region. ...more

November 30, 2008

The Iraqi Parliament ratified a long-delayed security agreement on Thursday that lays out a three-year timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. ...more

November 28, 2008

The U.S. economy's health has completely deteriorated. Our market activity and that of our major global trade partners has slowed significantly, leading to a decrease in U.S. exports and consumer expenditures. America endured negative growth in GDP down to -.03 percent in the third quarter. The unemployment rate grew at an alarmingly rapid rate in the last quarter. When the fourth quarter statistics emerge, the U.S. economy will likely be in a full blown recession. ...more

November 25, 2008

A heated parliamentary debate on the U.S.-Iraq security treaty was called to an early close Wednesday as lawmakers loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr scuffled with security guards for the foreign minister and the speaker of the legislature and his two deputies. ...more

November 20, 2008