The economy picked up speed in the summer, growing at a brisk 3.9 percent pace, the fastest in 1 1/2 years and an impressive performance even as a credit crunch plunged the housing market deeper into turmoil. ...more

November 1, 2007

Supporters and opponents of taxing waterfront homeowners to pay for canal dredging are heading toward a showdown Dec. 18, when the city council decides whether to move forward with the plan. ...more

October 31, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - More than two months after chairman John Bryan committed suicide, the city council is scheduled this afternoon to select a successor. Five people have applied to fill the remainder of Bryan's term, which is up in January 2010. Bryan's District 2 covers the northern reaches of St. Petersburg. Council members, who must live in the districts they represent, are paid $39,330 annually. ...more

October 18, 2007

City council members will seek to replace the private consulting firm that has been advising them on a multimillion-dollar dredging project. ...more

October 11, 2007

AVON PARK — Growth concerns and how to deal with the city's future were the top issues Avon Park city council candidates were quizzed on during a candidate forum Tuesday. Although the forum was held by a newly created Hispanic activist group, race issues did not feature prominently during the discussion organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens, which came to Highlands County in response to last year's stalled illegal immigrant ordinance. ...more

October 4, 2007

Central city residents say they will raise their concerns about a proposed jet fuel pipeline through their neighborhoods with the Tampa City Council, starting with today's council meeting. ...more

October 4, 2007

AVON PARK — The race for Avon Park's city council and mayoral seats already has gotten testy, but not because of any differences between the candidates. ...more

September 12, 2007

LAKE PLACID — Police Chief Phil Williams hopes to prevent future injuries from traffic accidents. Williams wants the town council to consider placing a camera at the Interlake Boulevard and U.S. 27 intersection in an effort to curb red-light violators. The camera would snap a photo of a vehicle's license plate as a driver passes through the busy intersection. A police officer would then decide whether a vehicle owner deserved a citation for ignoring the red light. "I've seen many people hurt real bad at that red light from people running a red light," said Williams. "We have to decide if this is right for Lake Placid. If it will help lessen traffic accidents and some of the injuries like the ones I've seen, then I support it 100 percent." ...more

September 10, 2007

TAMPA - The city council will discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory and negotiations for the 10-acre property when it meets Sept. 20. ...more

September 6, 2007

Tuesday marks the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93. ...more

September 5, 2007