A historic land deal aimed at helping restore the dying Everglades, and lauded by Gov. Charlie Crist as "monumental as the creation of our nation's first national park," may end up dead in the water. ...more

February 24, 2009

After swiftly naming his Cabinet nominations, President Barack Obama has been beset with problems. ...more

February 9, 2009

Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination to be Barack Obama's commerce secretary, according to an Associated Press report. ...more

January 4, 2009

Florida stands to save more than $100 million a year with competitive bidding and other changes in the way it awards contracts, two state lawmakers from the area say. State Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin, and state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, recently filed legislation to establish an advisory committee to evaluate the state procurement and contracting process. ...more

December 31, 2008

Noteworthy items from the Aug. 11 Plant City Commission meeting include: •Commissioners unanimously agreed to earmark $30,000 in the 2008-09 budget toward upkeep of the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Under terms of the agreement discussed only briefly, city staff and board members of the East Hillsborough Historical Society - the building's primary tenant - will meet to determine how the sum will be allocated. ...more

August 20, 2008

The Sarasota Family YMCA will not compete for a $150 million, three-year state contract next summer to run child welfare services in Pinellas and Pasco counties. ...more

November 7, 2007

TAMPA - The Sarasota Family YMCA will voluntarily end its contract next summer to run child welfare services in Pinellas and Pasco counties. In exchange for agreeing to step away from those counties, the YMCA will receive a one-year extension of its contract to provide similar services in DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. ...more

November 6, 2007

The Sarasota Family YMCA likely will have to compete for a multimillion-dollar state contract next year to provide foster care and adoptions in Pinellas and Pasco counties. ...more

November 1, 2007

Bob Butterworth recently stood before more than two dozen child welfare leaders and told them the experiment that put private agencies in charge of Florida's social services system is a success. ...more

October 29, 2007