The young man who killed eight people and committed suicide in a shooting rampage at a department store spent four years in a series of treatment centers, group homes and foster care after threatening to kill his stepmother in 2002. ...more

December 7, 2007

A regional hurricane shelter planned for Denton Avenue could be delayed after federal officials' demand it be strengthened to withstand 200 mph winds and tornadoes, county officials said last week. ...more

December 3, 2007

A year-long exercise that will guide the redevelopment of the Carrollwood area is getting ready to launch. ...more

December 1, 2007

Jeff and Diana Kerr fell in love with the Guatemalan baby girl the moment they saw her photograph. The Minnesota couple decorated her pink and white nursery with pictures of flowers and butterflies, but now they don't know whether the 8-month-old will ever become their daughter. ...more

November 23, 2007

As the holidays near, the Christmas House will become busier than normal and surrounding businesses will prosper despite the pall of financial problems that hang over the owner of this popular retail complex. ...more

November 19, 2007

Army Sgt. Bryan C. Luckey had a passion for aiding youth. He was dedicated to helping others and put people's needs before his own. ...more

November 8, 2007

This is more on the "Pucker Up" guest column. Another bogus claim is since President Bush was unable to prioritize Social Security he somehow participated in bailouts for corporations with shabby accounting practices. I have no idea what that means other than it is blatantly false. ...more

October 25, 2007

A year after he pledged to find 'common ground' with the Democrats who now control Congress, President Bush on Wednesday delivered a scathing assessment of their performance, accusing lawmakers of dragging their feet on legislation ranging from trade deals and domestic surveillance to federal spending and children's health. ...more

October 18, 2007

She's not Glinda, the Good Witch from 'The Wizard of Oz,' able to wave her magic wand and change things. In nine months on the job as House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi has learned to live with the limits of her power. ...more

October 14, 2007

JACKSONVILLE - The group charged with cleaning up the state's foster care system after one child went missing and another was found dead released its first recommendations for change Wednesday. Ideas ranged from collecting DNA samples from foster children to allow better tracking to ensuring all adults living in a foster home have background checks to following up on previous requirements from the Department of Children & Families that foster care children be seen on a monthly basis. ...more

October 11, 2007