The Seminole Indian Tribe would get a monopoly on big-payout slot machines across Florida but would have to give up casino games under legislation unveiled by the state House on Friday. ...more

March 28, 2009

Attacks came from all sides against Seminole gaming on Thursday, starting with a call from the state Attorney General for federal prosecution of the tribe for operating card games prohibited in Florida. ...more

December 18, 2008

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday turned down petitions to rehear arguments on why an agreement between the Seminole Indian Tribe and the state over casino games should be valid. ...more

September 12, 2008

Jazz with Jim, an informal jazz concert, will be offered from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Carrollwood Cultural Center. ...more

August 6, 2008

Jazz with Jim, an informal jazz concert, will be offered from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Carrollwood Cultural Center. ...more

August 6, 2008

A Good Deal Undone Regarding "State Deal With Tribe To Gamble Goes Bust" (front page, July 4): ...more

July 12, 2008

An arson suspect who State Fire Marshal investigators say was badly burned at the Rancher's Restaurant fire remained in the Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County on Thursday, awaiting extradition to Highlands County. Rancher's Restaurant was located at 15765 State Road 70 E., about a quarter mile from the Okeechobee County border. The 40-foot wide by 120-foot long structure was destroyed and the damage was estimated at $178,000, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office. ...more

June 26, 2008

TAMPA - An Okeechobee man who set fire to a Highlands County restaurant got caught up in the blaze and was taken to Tampa General Hospital, according to the state fire marshal's office. ...more

June 25, 2008

HIGHLANDS COUNTY — A burn victim was charged Tuesday in connection with an arson fire that burned down the Rancher's Restaurant early Sunday morning, said Lt. Brandon Ball, with the State Fire Marshal's Office. Robert Lee Marcum, 34, of Okeechobee, was arrested after a warrant was issued for his arrest, prior to Marcum's release from a Tampa General Hospital burn unit and being charged with arson and burglary, Ball said. ...more

June 24, 2008

HIGHLANDS COUNTY — A fire that burned down the Rancher restaurant early Sunday morning was set deliberately, according to Sam Venzeio, State Fire Marshal spokesman. The 40-foot-wide-by-120-foot-long eatery was located at 15765 State Road 70, on the border of Highlands and Okeechobee counties, he said. The fire was called in at 1:12 a.m. Sunday. "We have developed a person of interest," Venzeio said Monday. "But, we're not releasing any name." One man, who is not a firefighter, was hospitalized at Okeechobee Hospital with serious burns and later was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital. His condition was unknown. ...more

June 23, 2008