While sales at furniture stores have been down this year, the American invention that linked lazing in the living room to television is one of the few bright spots in a well-worn U.S. household furniture industry. ...more

October 17, 2009

Like much of Cuba's work force, Alfredo Congas is going gray. ...more

March 27, 2009

Recent letters to the Tribune have dealt with socialized health care. The most amusing was the "Letter Of The Day" submitted by a Canadian woman who by her own admission spends a great deal of time getting "free" care. Ailments included two knee replacements, bowel surgery, ankle surgery and numerous other problems. I wonder what kind of program the Canadian government has to try to keep people healthy. ...more

March 16, 2009

Doctors, once hesitant to perform major surgery on patients older than 80, are starting to revise the standard of care. ...more

February 7, 2009

The University of South Florida will seek approval Thursday from the state Board of Governors to develop a pharmacy degree program. Given the state's financial woes - USF has already had to cut its budget by about 15 percent in the last year - this may seem a bad time for the university to be adding programs. ...more

January 28, 2009

The state of Florida is facing an unprecedented budget crisis. Our lawmakers will be meeting in special session in early January, where they will need to make difficult decisions to address the pressing needs of our state. One area of the budget under consideration is the Medicaid hospice benefit. Because of that, I am writing on behalf of some of our most vulnerable citizens, the terminally ill and their families that receive dedicated end of life care from hospice organizations across the state. The demographics of hospice patients might surprise you. Along with our aging population and cancer patients, hospice organizations also care for children, teens, young and middle-aged adults, heart disease patients, Alzheimer's patients and kidney disease patients. Anyone of any age diagnosed with a terminal illness is able to receive hospice care, where healthcare professionals and trained volunteers address all medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. ...more

December 30, 2008

Plans for Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County to build 100 two-story townhouses for workforce housing will go before the county's Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday. ...more

October 6, 2008

During the 1980 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan, in a debate with President Jimmy Carter, famously suggested that voters answer a simple, but potent, question. ...more

September 16, 2008

During the 1980 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan, in a debate with President Jimmy Carter, famously suggested that voters answer a simple, but potent, question. ...more

September 14, 2008

By 2017, consumers and taxpayers will spend more than $4 trillion on health care, accounting for $1 of every $5 spent, the federal government projects. ...more

February 26, 2008