The Jewish High Holy Days begin at sundown tonight with Rosh Hashana and conclude in nine days with Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. This beginning of a new year is a time of spiritual reflection and prayer for Jews, who will pay special attention to reading the Torah, the Hebrew Scriptures' first five books, most of which is believed by traditionalists to have been written by Moses according to God's instructions. Above, Rabbi Lazer Rivkin of Tampa, regional director of Chabad of Central Florida, looks at a Torah printed on deerskin or goatskin, likely from Turkey and about 125 years old. This holy text is part of a collection of antique scrolls from around the world in the Torah Museum, founded by scholar David First of Riverview. To learn more about the museum, read the Faith & Values page in Saturday's Tribune. ...more

September 18, 2009

The woman who runs a troubled Hillsborough County day care center has been arrested on child abuse charges, and the center has had its license yanked. Yet Just for Kids remains open. ...more

June 27, 2009

The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up the cause of Herb Quintero, the tackle shop owner who was fined by the city of Clearwater after he had a mural of game fish painted on his shop. uintero said he was threatened with additional fines after he covered the mural with a banner-size copy of the First Amendment. The ACLU filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tampa this morning, claiming the mural is a work of art and exempt from city codes dictating commercial sign requirements. The $690 Quintero has paid in court costs and fines stem from the city's position that the mural is not art but rather a sign related to his business. ...more

February 24, 2009

Austie Heacock began taking a walk Monday for veterans who can't. Heacock calls it a hike, but it's really a long trek - 150 miles or so across the state - to benefit the Wheelin' Sportsmen, which provides the disabled with opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities including hunting, fishing and birdwatching. ...more

February 4, 2009

State environmental officials have approved a report from Raytheon that starts the clock ticking on cleanup of a groundwater pollution plume that has been spreading for decades through a St. Petersburg neighborhood. ...more

January 31, 2009

State environmental officials have approved a report from Raytheon that starts the clock ticking on cleanup of a groundwater pollution plume that has been spreading for decades through a St. Petersburg neighborhood. ...more

January 30, 2009

A day after a Port Richey father was charged with murdering his baby, a state review found child welfare authorities failed to protect the little girl. ...more

January 28, 2009

A 24-year-old father of twin baby girls was arrested at his home Monday evening, accused of killing one of the infants in December after being bothered by her cries, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. ...more

January 28, 2009

Becky McIntyre, regional director for Good Shepherd Hospice, said Wednesday she was delighted that the Sebring City Council approved building an inpatient hospice facility on Tuesday night. It will be the first of its kind in Highlands County. ...more

January 22, 2009

Becky McIntyre, regional director for Good Shepherd Hospice, said Wednesday she was delighted that the Sebring City Council approved building an inpatient hospice facility on Tuesday night; the first of its kind in Highlands County. ...more

January 21, 2009