Folks, once again we've been had. We elected leaders who said they would take all the insurance companies in Florida by the lobes of their ears, drag them to the courts and force them to reduce the exorbitant rates being levied upon us. ...more

December 20, 2007

SEBRING — The Highlands County Legislative Delegation will hold its annual meeting and public hearing from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Highlands County Commission chambers, 600 S. Commerce. "This hearing is specifically designed to encourage the public to personally address their legislators on their concerns and issues involving state government," said Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales. ...more

December 2, 2007

It's now or never for changes to state property tax laws, ...more

November 28, 2007

These days, lots of important decisions about your life are being made in Tallahassee. ...more

November 25, 2007

The Hernando County School Board is not giving up control of the district's charter schools. ...more

November 25, 2007

These days, lots of important decisions about your life are being made in Tallahassee. How much property tax you will pay, what kind of insurance you can buy, whether public education and health care will be funded adequately. Increasingly, however, these decisions are being made in private, without the scrutiny of the public and the media. ...more

November 24, 2007

SEBRING — How many unexcused absences are too many? School Board Member Andy Tuck is alarmed at the nearly 7,700 unexcused absences district-wide in the first nine weeks of school. It's hard to hold teachers accountable when kids don't come to school, he said. Several students have already missed more than 10 days of school. Highlands County School District data shows 43 middle school students (1.5 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the first nine weeks of the school year. At the elementary level, 57 students (1 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the same time period, Aug. 20 through Oct. 24. At the high school level, only five students (one-tenth of 1 percent) were absent 10 or more days. ...more

November 9, 2007

If Gov. Charlie Crist signs the bill, college tuition would rise by 5 percent in January. The increase, passed Friday by the Legislature, is part of an effort to make state spending comply with a revenue shortfall, which has been blamed partly on the housing market downturn. ...more

October 13, 2007

Plenty of eyes are watching a new project in Highlands County. Some are impressed and interested in seeing if the project is a success. Others want nothing more than to shut it down, and are possibly going to ask state lawmakers to do something about it. The county's new asphalt plant is drawing a lot of reaction. We hope the project is successful and saves taxpayers as much money as possible. Ken Wheeler, the county's solid waste director, pitched the idea to county commissioners some time ago. He said the county could produce its own asphalt for road repairs much cheaper than commercial companies. That means more roads are repaired for the same amount of money. Counties around Florida took great interest in Highlands County's newest venture. Some will buy the less expensive asphalt, while others might begin a similar project in their own county. ...more

October 12, 2007

Bill Fanning of Hudson says spineless Republicans should be replaced in 2008 with Democrats or Republicans with spines. ...more

October 10, 2007