It happened one day, near the end of World War II, aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, one of finest ships in the American fleet. The Lex was an aircraft carrier, and that made it a large, rather irresistible target. ...more

August 3, 2008

Republicans living in Florida's 16th District have an extremely difficult decision to make when they cast a vote for U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming primary election. In fact, it might be the most difficult choice they've made in years. ...more

July 30, 2008

SEBRING — On Lemon Street, where drug dealers have ruled and crime has been present for decades, there are now faux red brick sidewalks, new blacktop, white concrete curbs, street lamps and palm trees. The ninth Juneteenth celebration, said Robert Saffold, turned out to be the best because Washington Heights has been restored. ...more

June 21, 2008

AVON PARK — The city whose council considered and then rejected a city bill that would have made English its official language will host a state convention Saturday for an activist group known for protesting against illegal immigration, and sometimes illegal immigrants. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps will gather at the Jacaranda Hotel for what its state director Bill Landes called a "training session." "It's not an open meeting," he said. He estimated 15 to 20 Minutemen members from throughout the state to attend the convention, including Chris Simcox, the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps' cofounder. The convention begins at 1 p.m. He expected a few protesters might show up but hoped the members wouldn't be too uncomfortable. ...more

June 17, 2008

With the issue of Florida's Democratic convention delegates settled - sort of - previously neutral Florida superdelegates are starting to choose sides in the Clinton-Obama race. ...more

June 3, 2008

SEBRING — There are lots of interesting things to know about Hal Valeche. He was a carrier pilot in the Vietnam War who trained at Mirimar Naval Station. He was a Wall Street investment banker. He got into Yale at 16. But even more interesting is how well versed he is on "American Idol." After being interviewed at Inn on the Lakes, he stood out front and asked which contestant had the greatest chance of winning. ...more

May 29, 2008

AVON PARK — She would have supported the 2006 Avon Park housing ordinance. She advocates English only for government signs and ballots. And she would require all illegal aliens to return to their country. But she's not anti-Hispanic. She sponsored a house resolution urging Congress to fund the Indian River Lagoon South Restoration Project, and she supports the Everglades restoration. But she shirks the label "environmentalist." And Gayle Harrell calls Tim Mahoney an accidental congressman. "He was simply the luckiest guy around," said Harrell, who is running against two other Republicans for the 16th district nomination. "He would not be in the U.S. Congress if the Foley scandal had not happened." ...more

May 28, 2008

Editor's note: This is the first profile of the three Republicans running to challenge U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney for 16th District in the U.S. Congress. SEBRING — Tom Rooney is almost stereotypically Irish. He's tall, red-haired, flush-faced, freckled, and built like a lumberjack. Actually, he's a former tight end, an Army veteran and an attorney. His favorite rockers, according to his Facebook page, are the Dublin group U2. ...more

May 26, 2008

SEBRING — U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, a self described "blue dog Democrat," called the federal stimulus checks only the first of four steps needed to boost the economy out of the recession. "The president is still having trouble saying 'the R-word,'" Mahoney told about 60 people at Monday morning's meeting of the Highlands County Homeowners Association. ...more

May 12, 2008

Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida is in a position to help move along a bill that could lower property insurance rates in disaster-prone states, but hasn't been aggressive enough in doing so, said the two Democratic House members sponsoring the legislation. ...more

April 15, 2008