Allyn Ramker has run the Turkey Trot every Thanksgiving since it started 31 years ago. So he wasn't about to stop this year, although the odds were against it. ...more

November 27, 2009

Bank closings for the year hit 100 on Friday when regulators shut down Partners Bank in Florida. Financial institutions nationwide have collapsed under the weight of soured real estate loans and the Great Recession. ...more

October 24, 2009

It's lunchtime at the Whistle Stop Cafe in historic downtown Plant City, where the waiters know your name and probably your order. If you prefer your iced tea unsweetened, you'd better speak up. ...more

February 22, 2009

Homeless In Library Recently I decided to go to the downtown branch of the Hillsborough County Public Library. To my surprise I found it has become a homeless shelter. Nearly everyone in the library had the typical homeless backpacks. The majority of these people were occupying the library's computers. Walking around I found that these individuals were not on job search sites but were watching movies, playing games and viewing other meaningless sites. Is this Tampa's way of dealing with the homeless problem, to keep them entertained at taxpayer expense? ...more

December 29, 2008

Suzanne Evans has a reason to gripe. Several actually, when you consider she's been in and out of work (mostly out) since her husband died three years ago. Most of the collectibles she spent years acquiring have been sold off to make ends meet and if it wasn't for her friends, Evans wouldn't have a bed at night. ...more

November 16, 2008

When it comes to elections, lyrics by songwriter Mark Knopfler might best describe the day-after feelings of those who believed passionately in their candidates or issues. ...more

November 8, 2008

Shares of WellCare Health Plans jumped Tuesday, a day after the company said it was restating more than three years worth of financial statements because of accounting errors. ...more

July 23, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Firefighter Dave Fraser has put down his ax and picked up the pen. And Newsweek magazine has taken notice. Fraser has a piece in this week's edition on the travails of turning 50 as a firefighter. It appears in the magazine's "My Turn" section. ...more

May 28, 2008