The Fourth of July brought old-fashioned fun to the Pasco County Fairgrounds. The annual Sparklebration included apple pie and hot dog eating contests, balloon artists, clowns and more, and parachutists from Skydive City in Zephyrhills dropped in with flags. Major sponsors were Medical Clinic and Dade City Business Center. Other sponsors included The Tampa Tribune; Pasco County Tourist Development Council; CenterState Bank; West Florida, N.A.; State Farm Insurance, Baldy Boyd, agent; Growers Fertilizer Corp.; Tampa Electric Co.; San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union; Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc.; First National Bank of Pasco; Jarrett Ford; Pasco Regional Medical Center; Smile Design; and Bank of America. ...more

July 8, 2009

State Farm Florida on Friday appealed stipulations that Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has put on its plan to withdraw from the state's property insurance market because of the high risk of hurricanes. ...more

March 7, 2009

Kenneth J. Warzyn of New Port Richey says attempts by Florida officials to punish State Farm for withdrawing from the state's property insurance market could backfire and hurt seniors. ...more

February 7, 2009

The last few days there have been numerous letters to the editor in Highlands Today and also The Tampa Tribune regarding the State Farm Insurance abandonment of the state of Florida homeowners insurance. I wonder why I haven't seen anything about the 25 percent increase awarded to Progress Energy which took effect on Jan.1? This outrageous increase hits us during one of the country's worst economic recessions in recent memory. I have written letters to Governor Crist and our local Rep. Denise Grimsley trying to get them to rescind or even delay this increase. The governor forwarded my letter to the Public Service Commission and I received a letter from them outlining the reasons why the increase to Progress Energy was awarded. They tell me that one of their reasons was the increase in the cost of fuel and another was the building of a nuclear power plant. ...more

February 6, 2009

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee and his son Weston, a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol, are keynote speakers today at the annual Battle of the Belts high school safe driving awards ceremony. ...more

January 15, 2009

The state insurance commissioner has again denied State Farm Florida's proposed 47 percent rate increase for property coverage against hurricanes and other perils. ...more

January 13, 2009

The state insurance commissioner has again denied State Farm Florida's proposed 47 percent rate increase for property coverage against hurricanes and other perils. ...more

January 12, 2009

An administrative law judge has rejected a 47.1 percent rate increase request by State Farm Insurance, the state's largest private property insurer. ...more

December 12, 2008

State Farm Insurance is asking regulators for permission to raise homeowner rates an average of 67 percent statewide, up from its original request of 47 percent. ...more

December 12, 2008

TAMPA State Farm Insurance is now asking regulators for permission to raise homeowner rates an average of 67 percent statewide, up from its original request of 47 percent. The original request was rejected in August by Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. The new request comes amid State Farm's appeal before Administrative Law Judge Daniel Manry, who is expected to issue a ruling this month. ...more

December 11, 2008