last week's 6.3 percent increase in April's pending home sales index, for example - there's a flurry of pronouncements that the residential real estate market has bottomed. ...more

June 19, 2008

Regarding "The Ugly Truth About Graduation Rates" (Our Opinion, June 7): A recent analysis by researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that 51 percent of Florida high schools had graduation rates below 60 percent. That's a deplorable statistic. More progressive overall strategies in the classroom would be an asset. But it's not only the school environment per se, but the parental home which is crucial. Good homes with loving people who are dedicated to the development of their kids usually spawn students who are stunningly successful. They motivate their kids to apply themselves in the classrooms and discipline them to be obedient to authority. ...more

June 10, 2008

The celebration of Mother's Day allows a chance to reflect on the challenges facing many women today juggling work, raising children and maintaining a household. Many families will celebrate the day with flowers, dinners and other tokens of appreciation. It should be a day filled with love and admiration for mothers everywhere, who all too often must overcome men's folly. ...more

May 11, 2008

Hernando County residents continue to increase their demands for emergency workers. Calls for service to city and county first responders went up as much as 20 percent during the year, though the spike is considerably less than 2006's. ...more

January 5, 2008

Advertisers have been spending a little money here, a little there trying to gauge how to sell their products on mobile phones. The efforts so far are best described as trials and pilots, lacking in comprehensive strategy. ...more

January 2, 2008

Last week, late in the evening, my wife and I turned on the local news. The story was the ongoing tragedy of 22-year-old former "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sierra. ...more

December 12, 2007

Last week, late in the evening, my wife and I turned on the local news. The story was the ongoing tragedy of 22-year-old former "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sierra. ...more

December 10, 2007

GIBSONTON The sight of students rushing the court at the end of a game is usually reserved for the end of district final or championship wins. But when the buzzer sounded after an Indian comeback over nearby rival Riverview, a roar went up and 40-plus students (including the junior varsity squad) rushed the team following East Bay's 33-32 victory against visiting Riverview. ...more

November 30, 2007

A Jewish human rights group launched a "last chance" hunt for surviving Nazis in South America on Tuesday, hoping to track down perpetrators of genocide before they die of old age. ...more

November 28, 2007

Rashard Lewis came out decidedly on top in a matchup of two frontcourt debuts. Yi Jianlian proved he could be dangerous with a little more experience. ...more

November 1, 2007