After 26 years, Otto's Hardware is closing. "I don't like it," said Jim Searles, a customer for two decades. "It's convenient, the people are friendly and they're all very helpful whenever you have questions. I hate the idea of the big places taking over. I'd rather give my business to the local guys." ...more

November 26, 2007

After 26 years, Otto's Hardware is closing. "I don't like it," said Jim Searles, a customer for two decades. "It's convenient, the people are friendly and they're all very helpful whenever you have questions. I hate the idea of the big places taking over. I'd rather give my business to the local guys." ...more

November 26, 2007

The average resident of India knows much more about America than the typical U.S. citizen knows about India. ...more

November 23, 2007

Four years ago, Pam Prysner and her family moved from busy Westchase in northwest Hillsborough County to a small horse ranch in rural Lithia. ...more

November 17, 2007

It's a nickname no principal could be proud of: "Dropout Factory," a high school where no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year. ...more

November 2, 2007

Could Polk County's future population be capped at 1.4 million? A group headed by John Ryan, a veteran Polk County environmentalist and planning activist, has a plan to do just that, and he says he's willing to work to put it on the ballot. ...more

October 31, 2007

A bus collided with a train in eastern Cuba, killing at least 28 people and injuring another 73, including 15 in critical condition, state media reported Sunday. ...more

October 8, 2007

It's too early to say whether the visit last week from presidential candidate Mitt Romney's son is the first of many stops through this part of Florida, but we hope so. ...more

September 30, 2007

Improving the roads that run through the rural areas north of Interstate 4 has become a paramount concern because that sector will undergo tremendous growth during the next 20 years, officials said. ...more

September 26, 2007