In 2008, a super-modern, hi-tech, state-of-the-art oil drilling rig was installed 250 miles off the Coast of Australia. As I write this, Australians are grappling with a massive spill that stretches more than 85 miles long and covers nearly 9,000 square miles. The latest estimates show that hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil have spilled and continue to spill from this brand new rig, which burned out of control for at least several weeks. ...more

December 19, 2009

A record crowd of 458 people decided to get a little exercise before enjoying their Thanksgiving meal in Thursday's 17th annual Turkey Trot 5K at Highlands Hammock State Park. ...more

November 28, 2009

Calling herself an "average citizen" who wants to encourage businesses to produce good-paying jobs, Kelli Stargel has announced a run for Republican Paula Dockery's District 15 state Senate seat. ...more

November 13, 2009

Two weeks ago, when Hillsborough County Commissioners Kevin White and Al Higginbotham helped kill a proposed homeless community on East Hillsborough Avenue, they promised to look for a suitable alternative. ...more

October 21, 2009

Gambling is getting easier for Floridians. That's because the Florida Lottery is rolling out the first of 1,000 instant ticket vending machines this week, starting in Tampa and Fort Myers. ...more

August 19, 2009

A state senator says he has had it with the taxpayer-supported agency that promotes tourism in Florida. ...more

May 12, 2009

Bans on using state dollars for university embryonic stem cell research and student trips to Cuba and other terrorist-linked countries will not be in Florida's budget. ...more

May 3, 2009

A united Florida Senate has passed a $65.6 billion state budget. ...more

April 16, 2009

It's an epic battle as battles go. A small, scrappy barrier island caught in the crossfire between a Goliath state budget and perilous deficits that threaten to topple the kingdom. ...more

March 28, 2009

A bill aimed at undercutting acceptance of evolution in Florida science classes, which kicked up a fuss but didn't pass in the Florida Legislature last year, apparently is going nowhere this year. ...more

March 28, 2009