When consumers are holiday shopping this year, chances are pretty good that they will be charged the correct price. That's the conclusion of Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson following a pre-holiday scanner survey in which 54 stores in 27 Florida cities were inspected for scanner accuracy. ...more

December 13, 2009

Best Buy Co. wants to get your pulse racing over more than the hottest new laptops and televisions. ...more

November 11, 2009

Residents at Homewood Residence Freedom Plaza Brookdale Senior Living got a little wild at the residence Oct. 13. Jaime Massey, an animal ambassador with Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, brought a menagerie of six exotic animals to show to about 50 residents in the center's conference room. Massey brought animals from three different species' groups - representing "scales, feathers and fur" - describing the animals' native homelands, diets and unique aspects. Bev Hurley, Homewood's sales and marketing manager, said it was Lowry Park's first visit to Homewood Residence and was part of the center's ongoing speakers series. ...more

October 21, 2009

The buildings are gone, but there's still work to do at former truck weigh stations on Interstate 4 west of Thonotosassa Road. The remaining work includes removing old scales, laying sod on the site and placing a new sign for the Thonotosassa Road exit, said John McShaffrey, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation project. The contractor is expected to wrap it up at the end of July. ...more

June 13, 2009

The new band leader was impressed by the progress. Kerry Nichols stood on the podium in front of his new charges in Nature Coast Technical High School's orchestral group Thursday - his second day on the job - and tried to gauge their proficiency in scales. ...more

February 22, 2009

Attitude, the alligator, gets amorous whenever her friend, the garbage truck, rumbles by. Or she gets angry, thinking an intrusive reptile is lurking in her territory. Either way, the 25-year-old American alligator - the queen mum at Sarasota Jungle Gardens - acts weird. Twice a week, a city garbage truck growls nearby and hoists garbage bins into its cavernous maw, Attitude, who's been at the park for about 10 years, jerks her head up, hoists her tail and lets out a bellow for the ages. ...more

February 17, 2009

Two new truck weigh stations that will replace ones in Plant City will open Monday. ...more

January 2, 2009

The days are numbered for truck weigh stations on Interstate 4 west of Thonotosassa Road. High-tech weigh stations are nearing completion on I-4 between Mango and McIntosh roads. Shortly after those open in early January, the ones in Plant City will be demolished. ...more

December 2, 2008

The Hillis family of Lake Placid has come a long way since they finished 20th place at their first barbecue competition almost two years ago during the 24 Hours of BBQ in Sebring. ...more

November 17, 2008

Hillsborough County deputies searching Cory Cannon's home Wednesday in Valrico found 54 marijuana plants growing in a closet. ...more

November 13, 2008