Opponents of a franchise agreement with Tampa Electric Co. tried to force Mayor Pam Iorio's hand, but in the end, they didn't have enough support to make it happen. ...more

December 5, 2008

I usually hear from my distant cousin in Italy at Christmastime. The day after the election, though, an e-mail popped up. ...more

November 16, 2008

You can't begin to catalogue all the big moments in this Rays season, but there was time to start while waiting out the rain Saturday night for Game 3 of the World Series. One of them, undeniably, was a loss. ...more

October 25, 2008

There's no one the Rays would rather have on the mound tonight than James Shields as they try to bounce back from a potentially devastating Game 5 loss. And their gutsiest pitcher feels pretty good about the situation himself. ...more

October 18, 2008

This is a defining moment for the world economy. We are living through the first financial crisis of this new global age. And the decisions we make will affect us over not just the next few weeks but for years to come. ...more

October 18, 2008

For the last fortnight, the political conventions have been providing their usual fare: lots of stagecraft, non-stop schmooze-control, celebrity scrutiny, "defining-moment" speeches and over-analysis fodder for pundits and partisans. The ambience is equal parts pep rally, infomercial and Rotarian reunion. Time was when these conventions actually chose a presidential candidate. Back when smoke-filled back rooms were no mere metaphors. Now these gatherings rubber-stamp and coronate candidates. Which explains, in part, why some of Hillary's Harridans won't concede. The other part is that for those women who have outsourced their identities to Hillary Clinton, this election is no longer about the party and the country – it's about them. But enough, at least in this space, on that. ...more

September 3, 2008

Even if Congress lifts the federal ban on offshore drilling, oil companies might have a hard time persuading Florida's Legislature to allow their rigs along the state's coastline. ...more

June 19, 2008

Keari Brink shrugged her shoulders, took a firm grip on her bright green pole, brought her hands to her right side and held the pole vertical. All the while, she stared at her chance to realize a dream four years in the making. ...more

May 5, 2008

Where's The Beach? My wife and I have lived in Pasco County for 21-plus years. During that time, a number of parcels of land with Gulf of Mexico frontage have been purchased by Pasco County and/or the state of Florida. ...more

February 20, 2008

Defining Moment? Regarding "How Bunting Shaped GOP Nomination," Tom Jackson, Feb. 14: ...more

February 18, 2008