ST. PETERSBURG - It is a far cry from what happened 13 months ago, when police slashed the tents of homeless people on public rights of way, casting St. Petersburg into the national spotlight. Today, the city began enforcing another ordinance designed to force the homeless off sidewalks, but this time it used code enforcement officers and not police. And the code enforcement officers were armed only with little signs. ...more

February 1, 2008

Although many details have to be worked out, Pasco County commissioners are right to finally get serious about recycling trash. Residents should buy into it as well. ...more

January 23, 2008

As he provided common-sense guidance for a stimulus package to fight recession, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tacitly acknowledged the end of his effort to stay out of fiscal policy specifics. ...more

January 18, 2008

Christian Green became a quarterback almost by accident. Seven months later, no one would doubt he looks the part. ...more

December 5, 2007

SEBRING — Every Thursday, representatives from all aspects of child abuse sit around the conference room of the Children's Advocacy Center to discuss open cases and devise plans of action. It's a far cry from when the Children's Services Council was created in 1990. "We couldn't get any questions answered because everything was confidential and secret," said Ruth Handley, a founding member of the council. Things started to change when the Children's Advocacy Center opened in 1997 and things became increasingly better coordinated. With the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit moving in Dec. 1, even more services will be centralized in the building that helps about 500 children per year. ...more

November 16, 2007

The last thing the dedicated workers at Pasco County Animal Services want is to be forced by irresponsible pet ownership to take animals away or euthanize them at the county animal shelter. ...more

November 2, 2007

'Please, please, please, just give the dog back,' Ellen DeGeneres wept on national TV last week. It was a moment that quickly established itself in the pop culture firmament, less for the plight of Iggy the adopted terrier than for the copious crying itself. ...more

October 26, 2007

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – For the No. 2-ranked South Florida Bulls – make that the soon-to-be-former-No. 2-ranked Bulls – the chance at playing for a national title is all but gone. ...more

October 19, 2007

Hannah Shoop wishes every meeting with Avon Park went like this. ...more

September 27, 2007