In the classic Bill Murray military comedy "Stripes," Murray's character, John Winger, gets dumped by his girlfriend, who said she needs someone who will grow with her. "Talk about massive potential for growth!!" Winger, a committed and newly jobless slacker, shouts as the girlfriend walks out of his life for good. We flashed back to that scene when we read the comments John Hagen offered after being named the president of the Pasco Economic Development Council. ...more

November 25, 2009

Pasco County's residential construction and real estate markets have been hammered to the canvas and show no signs of getting back on their feet. So Pasco officials anxious to reshape the county to their liking appear ready to pounce. ...more

October 28, 2009

Three bits of economic news may lift the veil of gloom a bit, especially for some in the Tampa area. Based on that and other data in recent weeks, analysts and the stock market have responded positively, with the Dow Jones industrial average up 120 points Wednesday. ...more

August 13, 2009

Some Bay area homeowners are pricing their homes to sell, but others still seem to have unrealistic expectations, according to California-based ZipRealty. ...more

July 24, 2009

The former property manager at BayWalk, St. Petersburg's downtown entertainment and retail complex, killed himself Wednesday, authorities say. ...more

June 11, 2009

Andreas Wacker of Hudson says America is reaping what it has sown. ...more

April 29, 2009

The Florida House has passed two 2010 ballot proposals offering property tax relief, but both face long odds in the Senate. ...more

April 27, 2009

Laura Roper of Lakeland says she and her husband feel trapped by their mortgage even though they aren't yet behind on payments. ...more

March 14, 2009

The U.S. Postal Service is asking if the city would be interested in buying its downtown facility at 301 W. Reynolds St. or an adjoining parking lot. ...more

February 20, 2009

Financial services firm USAA will add more than 400 jobs in Tampa as it shuts down locations in Sacramento and part of a site in Norfolk, Va. ...more

February 13, 2009