The default rate for mortgages recently insured by the Federal Housing Administration has been climbing, an alarming trend for an agency that is playing a vastly expanded role in the mortgage market and backing roughly a quarter of all the loans made last year. ...more

January 26, 2009

Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand emerged as a leading contender Thursday night as New York Gov. David Paterson closed in on a decision to fill the state's vacant Senate seat, according to party officials monitoring events in the wake of Caroline Kennedy's abrupt withdrawal from consideration. ...more

January 23, 2009

Tampa has gotten the federal OK to spend $13.6 million to buy foreclosed and abandoned properties. ...more

January 21, 2009

Tampa has gotten the federal OK to spend $13.6 million to buy foreclosed and abandoned properties. The funding will come from the city's share of the $3.9 billion Neighborhood Stabilization Program, a response to escalating foreclosures nationwide. The stabilization program is overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ...more

January 20, 2009

The redesigned and enlarged Palm Harbor Library is positioning itself to be a community cultural destination. Another feature of last week's reopening was the unveiling of the libraries signature sculpture. Pinellas County Cultural Affairs paid for the colorful $50,000 statuary grouping, which stands outside the library at 2330 Nebraska Ave. ...more

January 17, 2009

It's a chance to gain independence from welfare, to find a job and possibly buy a home. ...more

January 12, 2009

Hillsborough Television's "County Connections" program will feature local experts talking about the mounting housing foreclosure crisis. ...more

January 3, 2009

Hillsborough County will soon get $19 million from the federal government to buy abandoned, foreclosed homes in neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosures and falling home values. ...more

December 31, 2008

TAMPA -- Hillsborough County will soon get $19 million from the federal government to buy abandoned, foreclosed homes in neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosures and falling home values. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said today it has approved the county's plan to spend the grant money. ...more

December 30, 2008

President George W. Bush took the rare step today of revoking a pardon he had granted only a day before, after learning of political contributions to Republicans by the man's father and other information. ...more

December 24, 2008