A St. Lucie County teacher who let her kindergartners decide whether an autistic child could remain in class is returning to the classroom. ...more

November 11, 2009

The story of convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad nearing execution on Tuesday in Virginia for crimes he committed in October 2002 piqued my interest ("Beltway Sniper's execution looms," Nation and World, Nov. 10). The interest is in the vast and stark differences between Florida's and Virginia's death-row process. ...more

November 11, 2009

Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, who was suspended for the season after punching a Boise State player in the wake of the season opener, has been allowed to rejoin the Ducks. ...more

November 10, 2009

On Tuesday, Council voted 4-1 to approve a temporary contract that would bring back Tom O'Neill as city manager during the search for a permanent replacement. ...more

September 2, 2009

Lowry Park Zoo is back in good standing with the nation's premier accrediting agency for zoos and aquariums. ...more

March 28, 2009

Lowry Park Zoo staff and board members scoffed in December when the Association of Zoos and Aquariums suspended its endorsement of Tampa's zoo. Today, top zoo staffers are in Oklahoma City asking the very same group to reinstate its endorsement. They will try to convince the group Lowry Park Zoo has toughened its animal transfer procedures and will embrace the group's program that manages members' populations of selected wildlife. ...more

March 27, 2009

Florida State received four years' probation from the NCAA on Friday and will lose scholarships in football and forfeit games because of an academic cheating scandal. ...more

March 6, 2009

A law firm representing a former city police officer is threatening to sue the city for more than $200,000 because officials have not rehired or reinstated him. ...more

December 24, 2008

A law firm representing a former city police officer is threatening to sue the city for more than $200,000 because officials have not rehired or reinstated him. Kenneth Fong, whose allegations of payroll discrepancies ignited a scandal that led to the resignation of former police Chief Russell Barnes in August, is seeking lost pay and compensatory damages from the city, according to a letter sent to City Manager Steve Spina. Tampa attorney Steven G. Wenzel also asserts in the letter that Fong was not reinstated or rehired by the department as retaliation for whistle-blowing activities that led to Barnes' resignation, the reassignment of a city detective and embarrassment to city officials. By Wenzel's calculations, the city should pay "well in excess of $200,000," even if Fong is reinstated as a police officer ...more

December 22, 2008

Kenneth Fong, whose complaints about payroll discrepancies led to last month's resignation of Zephyrhills police Chief Russell Barnes, will not be rejoining the Zephyrhills Police Department. ...more

September 13, 2008