In last Wednesday's report, I reported the event of the new moon as happening the day before on Tuesday — this is what happens when you attempt to write on New Years day and watch football at the same time. The fact is, the new moon happens on Jan. 8 at 11:37 a.m. This means that today, the peak feeding period is at safelight (6:30 a.m.), and if there are clouds or fog in the early morning, the bite session will last longer and be much stronger in intensity. ...more

January 6, 2008

In 2007, several Florida lawmakers lambasted a $491 million state deal with CSX Transportation to buy track for commuter rail in the Orlando area and expand CSX's freight operations into Polk County. ...more

December 25, 2007

Congress on Wednesday gave final approval to a plan that will spare millions of middle-class taxpayers from paying higher taxes in the coming months. The White House welcomed the development and said President Bush would sign the bill. ...more

December 20, 2007

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County will have an opportunity next month to attack two problems with one smart initiative: a proposal to use nearly $1 million to provide childcare for homeless families. ...more

December 18, 2007

Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday agreed to settle class-action lawsuits covering plaintiffs in four states who claimed its Explorer sport utility vehicles were prone to rollovers, the company and an attorney for the plaintiffs said. ...more

November 29, 2007

The $23 billion water bill that President Bush tried to kill is plump with pork, but it's not the fiscal disaster he claims. More importantly, it funds projects of critical importance to Florida and other parts of the nation. ...more

November 10, 2007

The city council gave final approval Thursday to a plan allowing Busch Gardens and Adventure Island to expand alcohol sales. ...more

November 2, 2007

SEBRING — In 2005, when Gilbert Santavenere moved to Sebring from Connecticut, the taxes on his house were $2,200 a year. Since the previous owner had a homestead exemption, Santavenere expected the taxes to go up to $2,800. "It ended up being $3,500 a year," Santavenere said. In a nutshell, that's the problem with Florida's property tax system, something the Florida Legislature tried to correct Monday when it passed a constitutional amendment that will lower ad valorem taxes an average of $240 per homeowner. Voters can grant final approval of the bill on Jan. 29, at the same time they cast ballots in the presidential primary. The measure includes variations of two planks in Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign platform last year: doubling the $25,000 exemption for homeowners and letting them take the 3 percent Save Our Homes cap when they move. ...more

October 31, 2007

It's a done deal. Tuesday night, the city council gave final approval to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital to break ground on a $49 million expansion of its 120-bed Madison Street campus. ...more

October 4, 2007

Doug MacLean walked along the sidewalk of St. Pete Times Forum Drive, passing the VIP West parking lot, asking how somebody could get such a good parking spot. ...more

September 20, 2007