Wastewater Carries Signs Of Drug Problems A city's sewer plant doesn't just treat human waste; it also can tip off law enforcement officials about a local drug problem. Using just a teaspoon of wastewater, Oregon State University researchers recently measured levels of everything from caffeine, cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine from cigarette smoke) and prescription drugs to methamphetamines, cocaine and Ecstasy. The community urinalysis wouldn't flush out single users but could eventually help officials track the spread of drugs, the researchers said. When drugs break down in the body, their byproducts end up in excrement and urine. That waste flows from toilets to treatment plants. Caffeine is the ingredient Americans consume and excrete the most. The scientists also found higher concentrations of "recreational" drugs such as cocaine on weekends. Levels of prescription drugs and meth were constant. Chicago Tribune ...more

October 18, 2007

The lines on a draft county plan that could define future road corridors show a network of dots and color coding even in the most remote southeast corner of Hillsborough County, igniting a debate that has been smoldering in recent years. ...more

October 11, 2007

Things To Do is a list of some of the most interesting upcoming events. For a complete list of Tampa Bay area events, see this week's Friday Extra. ...more

October 10, 2007

Safer Energy Source In his letter ('Jackson No Journalist,' Oct. 3) Carl Roth makes arguments that we believe must be addressed. His questioning of Tribune columnist Tom Jackson's integrity is unwarranted, and to imply that Jackson is moonlighting with our company is scurrilous. ...more

October 8, 2007

Following up on a threat from July, three environmental groups on Monday sued two federal regulatory agencies in an effort to overturn the development permits issued this year to the builders of the Cypress Creek Town Center. ...more

October 2, 2007

The time has come to define and dignify the term environmentalist, since the national and world focus is once again on Earth issues. ...more

September 30, 2007

Lobbyist John Thrasher, a lawyer and former speaker of the Florida House, makes a bogus but convincing case against the Hometown Democracy amendment that voters will possibly consider in November 2008. ...more

September 24, 2007

Compost And Recycle At a time when local governments are tightening their belts, and as our good governor leads the fight to reduce emissions, Pasco County is looking at a costly, taxpayer-funded expansion of an incinerator that spews poisonous greenhouse gas emissions. ...more

September 19, 2007

Debate is raging over Hometown Democracy, a proposed constitutional amendment that would give voters - and not city or county commissioners - the last word on local growth plans. ...more

September 12, 2007

The proposed amendment to Florida's constitution called Hometown Democracy is a few hundred thousand petitions short of making it to the 2008 ballot. Yet debate is already raging over the plan to give voters – and not city or county commissioners – the last word on local growth plans. Early Tuesday, about 250 builders, land-use lawyers, planners and media types paid $39 a plate for the Tampa Bay Business Journal's breakfast face-off on the issue at Pepin Hospitality Centre. ...more

September 11, 2007