Oct. 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, which means Father Bill Swengros once again will bless the children's pets at St. Stephen Catholic School. And it's extremely important to my 11-year-old son, Ian, that his Yorkie, Cookie, be sprinkled with holy water from the aspergillum (the holy water sprinkler thingamajiggy) and be duly blessed by Father Bill. ...more

March 9, 2009

Four years ago, an American bulldog named Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson, Richard Neal, in a house on Yale Circle - and the boy's injuries were so severe he needed 128 stitches, Tolison said. ...more

February 25, 2009

Four years ago, an American bulldog named Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson, Richard Neal, in a house on Yale Circle - and the boy's injuries were so severe he needed 128 stitches, Tolison said. ...more

February 25, 2009

When the American bulldog Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson about four years ago, the boy needed 128 sutures, Tolison said. ...more

February 18, 2009

When the American bulldog Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson four years ago, the injuries were so severe that the boy needed 128 sutures, Tolison said. ...more

February 17, 2009

For many dogs awaiting adoption, the speed with which they find a home might rest not on their breed, gender or age but on one trait that has no bearing on their personality or temperament. ...more

December 14, 2008

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite won a fourth term Tuesday, fending off Democratic challenger John Russell for the third time. ...more

November 5, 2008

SARASOTA - A judge denied bond for a teenager accused of beating a rival to death outside a house party. ...more

August 7, 2008

The mood in the Rays' clubhouse before Wednesday's game was decidedly mellow, with a string of Bob Marley tunes wafting from the speakers in place of the usual hip-hop selections. ...more

July 31, 2008

How to fill our prisons in 12 easy steps: 1. Abuse a child. 2. Leave him/her in the home to suffer further abuse; provide minimal services to the family. Let the abuse continue or take that child into foster care. Offer minimal/no services to family of origin. ...more

May 31, 2008