Pasco County commissioners want to get to the bottom of the oil drilling issue, so they are planning a local workshop in January. "They said it's a done deal," County Commission Chairwoman Pat Mulieri said Tuesday about proposals to lift a ban on drilling near Florida coasts. ...more

December 1, 2009

The Tampa Port Authority on Tuesday OK'd a $150,000 request by Tampa Historic Streetcar for fiscal 2009-10 by a 4-3 vote. ...more

August 19, 2009

I've had a few questions lately about this idea of Florida getting oil-drilling revenues to help with its sagging budget - and things like schools. If you're swayed by this argument and big oil's latest push to put rigs off the tourism state, then you need to know something: Oil money from federal leases cannot be used for that kind of stuff. It can only be used to clean up the mess and damages from drilling. ...more

June 16, 2009

Forecasters predict a relatively mild hurricane season this year. If their projections bear out, it couldn't come at a better time. Floridians face the worst recession since the 1930s, with double-digit unemployment rates, broad job losses across several industries and a disastrous real estate market clogged with foreclosures and vacant homes. In a state reliant on tourism and housing, a major hurricane could plunge the economy into an even steeper decline. Perhaps we'll be fortunate again. If not, here's a look at the grave effects of a major storm on Florida's historically vibrant economic engines: housing, tourism and jobs. ...more

June 14, 2009

Mayor Pam Iorio is visiting Canada this week, talking trade, transit and green initiatives with business and government leaders north of the border. ...more

June 2, 2009

Only a few years ago, Pinellas County and city officials were worrying aloud that condo developers were going to snatch up all the county's waterfront property, driving off the Pinellas tourism and hospitality industry. Long before that could happen, the state's real estate market collapsed, bringing the condo development craze to a halt. ...more

May 30, 2009

A 13-year project to create an artificial reef off the Florida Keys for sport divers and anglers has culminated with the scuttling of a 523-foot-long former U.S. Air Force missile tracking ship. It took just a minute and 54 seconds Wednesday to sink the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg after demolition experts triggered a series of explosives that lined both sides of the ship's bilge area below the waterline. The ship settled on the bottom of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in an upright position. ...more

May 28, 2009

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

May 12, 2009

The Hernando County Tourist Development Council will meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow, April 23, at the Best Western near Interstate 75. ...more

April 22, 2009

TAMPA Airlines seeking relief from rising fuel costs are trimming flights nationwide or using smaller aircraft. That's resulting in the loss of hundreds of seats on Tampa International Airport flights, compared with a year ago. ...more

June 25, 2008