Former top executives at Blackwater Worldwide say the U.S. security contractor sent about $1 million to its Iraq office with the intention of paying off officials in the country who were angry about the fatal shootings of 17 civilians by Blackwater employees, The New York Times reported Tuesday. ...more

November 10, 2009

While foreign diplomats hope upcoming elections willchangethingsin Afghanistan, many Afghans are voting with their feet. ...more

July 6, 2009

We live in a world filled with scandal and corruption, at least that's what some people believe. And some folks make the same claims right here in Highlands County. In fact, they thrive on making such claims and insinuations. Sometimes there is a hint of truth in what they say, but mostly it's blatantly untrue. The damage, however, is real whether it's true or not, and it's up to all of us to keep the conspiracy seekers at arm's length. ...more

March 25, 2009

The mayor of Alabama's largest city was arrested Monday on charges of steering millions of dollars of bond work to a friend in exchange for more than $230,000 in bribes to pay for an expensive wardrobe and flashy jewelry. ...more

December 2, 2008

Iraq's political leaders on Friday began studying a draft agreement to extend the U.S. military presence here beyond 2008, but some lawmakers predicted the proposal would face a tough fight in parliament. ...more

October 18, 2008

The Republicans had control of Congress for over 12 years and were responsible in committee for oversight; checks and balances for the  three branches is the basis. Yet Americans are on the verge of destruction in many areas that cried for oversight. From bank and mortgage fraud and infusing taxpayer dollars into the stock market for speculators and profiteers I am reminded of the big crash of years ago. Scandal and thievery has rocked Congress because those Republicans and senators got greedy. Taxpayers are bailing out Bears and Sterns now Indy-Mac, Freddy-Mac and Fannie-Mae are all in line for money as a result of oversight. World-Com, and Enron used creative accounting to destroy those companies and Republicans did nothing; corruption, gifts, payoffs and bribes will continue to surface. ...more

August 4, 2008

In November, Hillsborough County voters will decide whether to elect a county mayor with veto power over the county commission, potentially radically transforming the power structure of Hillsborough politics. ...more

June 21, 2008

It's no exaggeration to say Bill James, who died Monday at age 75, pulled Hillsborough County's reputation out of the mud. ...more

June 19, 2008

A senior city buildings official took bribes in exchange for falsely reporting that cranes had been inspected and that crane operators had been certified, but his actions did not appear to be connected to two recent crane collapses that killed nine people, authorities said Friday. ...more

June 7, 2008

A building contractor who admitted taking bribes from former city housing chief Steve LaBrake has been released early from his probation sentence. ...more

May 10, 2008