Whittled to its essence, three messages emerged from Friday's annual summit of Pasco's state legislative delegation, where lawmakers entertained the concerns of local elected officials and agency chiefs. ...more

January 25, 2009

In October, Robert LaSala was named Pinellas County administrator. He assumed the post following 13 months in which Fred Marquis, serving as interim administrator, brought calm back to county government after the tumultuous events of 2007. A questioned land deal prompted, in September 2007, the County Commission to fire County Attorney Susan Chiruti and let County Administrator Steve Spratt know they wouldn't mind if he resigned. In his 13 months as interim manager Marquis demonstrated why the County Commission named a recreation trail run after him when he retired in 2000. ...more

January 24, 2009

Although the Florida Legislature slashed budgets for schools, children's health care and living assistance for the elderly in its recent special session, it ignored a couple of easy fixes - loopholes in corporate tax law - that could have produced revenue to avoid some of the worst cuts. ...more

January 22, 2009

Too many of us are letting the Bush family of corruption off the hook. ...more

January 22, 2009

While the Florida Legislature slashed budgets for schools, children's health care and living assistance for the elderly in its recent special session, it ignored a couple of easy fixes – loopholes in corporate tax law -- that could have produced revenue to avoid some of the worst cuts. ...more

January 21, 2009

For years, retailers could afford to be sloppy about running their businesses because customers kept buying. No more. Stung by the worry that shoppers - who cut spending by the most dramatic amount in at least 39 years this holiday season - may not start spending again for a long time, stores are making drastic changes. They are cutting out marginal suppliers, hiring outside experts to keep inventory lean, holding special events for those who are still buying and making extraordinary efforts to gauge customer satisfaction. ...more

January 19, 2009

Jan. 12, 2009 ...more

January 12, 2009

State lawmakers arrive at the Capitol today for a two-week special session to close a $2.3 billion gap in the state budget. ...more

January 5, 2009

They didn't shoot the ball well from the free-throw line or the 3-point line. And their star guard said they didn't play all that well defensively. ...more

January 4, 2009

NASA has a flight gap coming. Can the private sector fill it? The space agency is planning to retire the shuttle fleet in 2010, but the next generation of spacecraft is not likely to be ready to fly astronauts to the International Space Station and beyond until 2015. During the pause in American flights, the United States will rely on Russia to get astronauts to the station. ...more

January 2, 2009