For the fifth year in a row, the Florida Legislature is attacking local government control of wetlands permitting, especially aiming at Hillsborough County's Environmental Protection Commission (EPC). In the name of streamlining, legislators maintain that local wetland review duplicates that of other state agencies and is a reason for the state's economic crisis. Ha! ...more

March 19, 2009

There was a time, long ago when the Earth was young, that not only was the Florida Legislature an effective body, but it often had strong leadership from Hillsborough County. ...more

March 11, 2009

County commissioners no longer have the final say on the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District. ...more

November 5, 2008

Scott Thompson of Winter Haven has deep roots in Florida citrus and ranching. He is from the third generation citrus growers, cattle ranchers and farmers. ...more

October 12, 2008

I guess the ink is dry on the "talking points" generated by the Spring Hill Fire Board. Now the barrage of information can begin. ...more

July 31, 2008

RE:" ISO Rating More Than Meets The Eye, Fire Boss Says," in the July 25 edition of Hernando Today. ...more

July 29, 2008

Explosive Issues The concerns expressed by C. Melancon in the Jan. 5 Tribune regarding the effects fireworks have on her dogs, the response by the sheriff and the working of the state's fireworks task force ("Treated To Holiday Noise," letters) bears careful watching because, look out, we are about to be pre-empted again by state law! ...more

January 14, 2008

The No Child Left Behind Act has never been a friend to Florida, though the state was a leader in adopting the accountability standards the act supposedly promotes. ...more

January 7, 2008

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir, 1911. ...more

December 3, 2007