From the White House and Congress to the East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District and the Pasco Mosquito Control District. The votes that will be cast Nov. 4 in those races and the all the ones in between should be counted. If any aren't, however, in most cases the fault will lie with voters, not the equipment being used or the sinister forces some people devoutly believe "stole" recent elections. So be careful when voting with optical scanning voting equipment this Tuesday. ...more

November 1, 2008

The Highlands County commissioners got some good news, and also some warnings, on Tuesday about the increase in mosquitoes in the wake of Tropical Storm Fay. ...more

September 17, 2008

A portion of Suncoast Gateway Mobile Village, just east of the U.S. 19-Ride Road intersection in Port Richey, is again under water after persistent heavy rain. Over the years Pasco County has created a system of ditches and culverts in an area bounded by Ridge Road to the north and U.S. 19 to the west in an attempt to reduce the flooding risk in the area. This effort, alas, has not proven entirely successful. ...more

August 6, 2008

The idea that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few ran into a roadblock Friday: individual property rights. ...more

August 2, 2008

County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the 2008-09 fiscal year, the same rate homeowners paid this year. ...more

July 24, 2008

County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the upcoming 2008-09 fiscal year – the same rate homeowners paid this year. Property owners will, however, save an estimated $115 each in the coming year, however, thanks to statewide property tax reform, a slow economy and a trimmed down budget of $980 million. Homeowners in August will receive notices from the property appraiser showing their estimated taxes for the coming year. Those in the county's fire and rescue taxing district also must pay 99.6 cents per $1,000 as well as school taxes, water district and mosquito control district fees and other assessments. Those in municipalities pay local taxes. ...more

July 23, 2008

The high-pitched drone of mosquito trucks is becoming a constant for Pasco County residents as heavy rainfall has the Pasco Mosquito Control District hard at work eradicating the insects. ...more

July 13, 2008

What is the deadliest animal on the planet? Thoughts of the great white shark, the African lion or venomous cobras possibly come to mind. ...more

June 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The mosquito season is here and recent heavy rainfall in the Trinity and Hudson area is prompting action from the Pasco Mosquito Control District. Mosquitoes thrive on standing water to breed, and some isolated spots in West Pasco picked up as much as 4.5 inches of rain last week, according to Dennis Moore, the district's director. ...more

June 21, 2008