I read with interest the Tribune's Feb. 22 article regarding closure of the Smithfield Foods facility in Plant City. Like many communities across this great county, Plant City has had to cope with unprecedented challenges to our local, state, national and global economies. Our budgets are stressed by declining depository interest rates and rising operating expenses. We see our neighborhoods negatively impacted by the foreclosure crisis. We feel the pain when layoffs are announced. ...more

February 25, 2009

His massive stimulus plan now signed into law, President Barack Obama is turning to attack the home foreclosure crisis at the heart of the nation's deepening economic woes. ...more

February 18, 2009

Soaring unemployment, rampant business closings and a crushing mortgage crisis have dampened any hopes of an economic turnaround in 2009. ...more

December 29, 2008