The debate over health care reform has entered an unreal world where facts can always be shouted down. Several letter writers have said they don't want the government choosing their doctor, but do we have a right to choose our own doctors? When I went to work for the City of Fort Lauderdale years ago, I was given a list of doctors I was allowed to go to if injured on the job. More recently, I worked for an international conglomerate. My health benefits could indirectly be set by a board of directors that met in another hemisphere, whose minutes are circulated in an ideographic language. Actually, that company gave me a free annual checkup, one of the best benefits I've ever had. My employer chose the doctor, of course. On a temporary job, I once collapsed while wearing a maladjusted gas mask. I was taken to a doctor chosen by the employer. A nurse put a thermometer in my mouth and said that I had a temperature of 120 degrees. A few minutes later they figured out that their newfangled electric thermometer wasn't working. ...more

November 2, 2009

Highlands County Health Department's dental program, New Maty's Dental Program, for pregnant women is offering dental care to eligible women based on a sliding scale of zero to 100 percent. A story that ran in Monday's Highlands Today stated otherwise. Highlands Today regrets the error. ...more

October 28, 2009

Avon Park police say a Frostproof man suffered a severe foot injury and was flown to Tampa General Hospital Friday after his vehicle collided with a tree. ...more

October 27, 2009

Fans of this month's Academy Awards - and nominees themselves - are in for something new at Hollywood's biggest party, the show's overseers said Monday. ...more

February 2, 2009

"Hello, Everybody! The Dawn of American Radio," by Anthony Rudel (Harcourt, $26) ...more

October 19, 2008

Today, the most routine medical procedure requires your initials and signature. ...more

September 26, 2008

Today, the most routine medical procedure requires your initials and signature in various places to document you are aware of all the possible death scenarios. After you sign off on these possible tragedies to decrease medical liability, you are presented with "living will" documents to fill out. ...more

September 26, 2008

Brett Favre finally is speaking for himself: He wants to play but doesn't feel welcome in Green Bay, so he's asking to be released. ...more

July 15, 2008

County Plan Should Cover Regarding "Good Samaritan Needs Bullet Out" (Metro, May 2): ...more

May 12, 2008

BARTOW - Abner Aust, an 86-year-old retired Air Force colonel and certified fighter ace, fired his attorney today and was granted an extension for his sentencing on a probation violation charge in connection with two attempts to have his wife killed. ...more

December 4, 2007