Although I was invited to see Sen. Barack Obama last week at his campaign rally in Tampa, I decided not to go because I didn't want to jinx him. ...more

May 25, 2008

SEBRING — RCMA teen parents had plenty to celebrate on the final day of classes for seniors at Sebring High School on Thursday — all four senior teen parents are graduating. Jelisha Ward couldn't stop smiling as she took off her backpack after class and picked up her son, Dylah Samuels, in the RCMA Teen Parent building. "Knowing I have a diploma is a great accomplishment," Jelisha said. "I am so happy to be done with high school and moving on to the next phase of my life." Katrina Caldwell, family support worker for the program, said typically only about 25 percent of teen parents graduate, but this year 100 percent of the girls who started high school will be collecting diplomas. ...more

May 22, 2008

The My Safe Florida Home program gives you options, but that doesn't mean they're good ones. In the end, you are responsible. ...more

May 19, 2008

Thank you Mrs Kahler from Walker Memorial Academy. I hate school, but you make it amazing. When my mom had to go to a diabetes program for a month, I was terrified that I couldn't do all the homework on my own, and you stayed after school every single day to help me. When I and a bunch of boys were doing horrible in math, you stayed after school every week to tutor us. ...more

May 12, 2008

To get inside Bloomingdale Regional Public Library after 3 p.m. on any weekday, a patron has to navigate a throng of teenagers from adjacent Bloomingdale High School. ...more

May 5, 2008

Florida State Sen. Victor Crist's concern that judges are not in the courtroom 40 hours per week and calling for an efficiency audit of the courthouse brings back memories of when I had the same job Crist has in Tallahassee. ...more

May 2, 2008

Throughout my formative years, my father passed on to me many valuable lessons and words of wisdom that he learned as a child and accumulated through adulthood. ...more

February 22, 2008

Keeping Plant City Beautiful James and Blake Emory thought the destruction of a prominent mural would leave "a large visual gap in the heart of downtown" Plant City. So the brothers are crafting another tribute to residents on the back wall of the Espress Yourself Coffee 101 and Focus magazine building. plantcity.tbo.com ...more

February 17, 2008

It's natural for students to get a little nervous before an exam. But with the increase in standardized tests designed to measure student and/or school success, even well-prepared kids are experiencing test anxiety that can interfere with their ability to perform. Whether it is the FCAT, SAT or ACT, students of all ages are exposed to tests that significantly impact their future. ...more

February 15, 2008

Born and raised in Tampa, Ty Rodriguez lived in New York City for a while. When he moved back to Tampa almost five years ago, he eventually bought a home in Seminole Heights. ...more

February 7, 2008