AVON PARK — Construction for the targeting systems to be used for the Avon Park Air Force Range's live bombing operations has been pushed back somewhat, but the operations are still slated to begin February 2009, a Navy spokesman said. U.S. Fleet Forces Command spokesman Jim Brantley from Norfolk, Va. said that infrastructure should be built sometime during the summer, though he couldn't be more specific. In January, he anticipated that these installations would have been completed either in April or this month. Negotiations on the contracts for this work took longer than originally planned. ...more

May 27, 2008

This may be the best time to go to New Orleans. Tourist crowds are down, but spirits seem way up ...more

May 23, 2008

I hope you're not eating breakfast. It was 20 years ago when I first saw "the jar" on a desk in the humane education room at the SPCA Tampa Bay in Largo. It was filled with formaldehyde - and a large canine heart oozing spaghettilike worms, some of them up to a foot long! ...more

May 21, 2008

Because of rising demand for ethanol, American farmers are growing more corn than at any time since World War II. And sea life in the Gulf of Mexico is paying the price. ...more

December 18, 2007

Mr. Beadle, first let me congratulate you on being so well informed on the goings on at the Avon Park Bombing Range. By the way, the name "Bombing Range" should be a hint. The sound that you hear, sir, is the sound of freedom. Jets flying at Mach 2 or better generate a sonic boom. Would you rather those jets bear the mark of the stars and stripes, or a crescent moon? And would you like the Air Force public relations people let you, and everyone else on the planet, know how they are preparing for the next attack on our country, or to not so quietly go about their business? My guess is that you migrated south to our great state from some well insulated Midwestern cave. ...more

November 15, 2007

Federal scientists think they can link pollution flowing down the Mississippi River to red tide blooms that in recent years have devastated tourism, fishing and other water-related businesses along Florida's Gulf Coast. ...more

November 8, 2007

Federal scientists think they have linked massive pollution outflows from the Mississippi River to intense red tide algae blooms that in recent years have devastated tourism and water-related businesses along Florida's Gulf Coast. ...more

November 7, 2007

The House handed President Bush the first veto override of his presidency Tuesday, voting overwhelmingly to save a $23 billion water resources bill stuffed with pet projects sought by lawmakers from both political parties, including almost $2 billion for Everglades restoration projects. ...more

November 7, 2007

Things To Do is a list of some of the most interesting upcoming events. For a complete list of Tampa Bay area events, see this week's Friday Extra. ...more

October 31, 2007

In a move to reduce debt and raise capital, TECO Energy said Monday that it will sell its shipping business, TECO Transport Corp., to a Miami-based investment group for $405 million by the end of the year. ...more

October 30, 2007