TAMPA Hillsborough County School Board members today will consider plugging part of what may be a $55 million budget shortfall by shutting down all district buildings one day a week next summer. District leaders say they can save as much as $1.5 million by keeping summer school and other facilities open just four days a week. The district knows it has to cut at least $26 million this fiscal year. But if Florida's governor and Legislature don't come up with more money for education and other services, Hillsborough schools may have to cut an additional $28.9 million. ...more

December 9, 2008

Dozens of parents, students and faculty members at Rio Vista Elementary gathered for a Save Our School rally Monday morning, holding signs and chanting "Save Rio Vista." ...more

December 9, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG Dozens of parents, students and faculty members at Rio Vista Elementary gathered for a Save Our School rally this morning. They held signs and chanted "Save Rio Vista" for several minutes. ...more

December 8, 2008

Only a few years ago Hillsborough County and the rest of Florida looked on the financial struggles elsewhere in the nation with smug detachment. ...more

December 7, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino announced a hiring freeze Tuesday as part of an effort to save money in the face of a mounting budget shortfall. ...more

December 3, 2008

The economic realities of the present moment are stark: the nation's financial system has been teetering on the brink of disaster; businesses are finding it nearly impossible to borrow money; people are having trouble finding the money to buy houses and many of the people who have houses are finding it difficult to keep up with mortgage payments; the unemployment rate is rising; the revenue from taxes and fees governments rely on is coming in way below the estimates of only a few months ago. ...more

November 22, 2008

State Sen. Mike Fasano and Rep. Rob Schenck cruised to victory Tuesday, swatting away their respective Democratic challengers who tried to emphasize the stigma that came with incumbency. ...more

November 6, 2008

You would think by now the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would know the value of Egmont Key. The beautiful 380-acre island at the mouth of Tampa Bay contains numerous historical structures, is a wildlife refuge and serves as immensely popular retreat for boaters. ...more

October 25, 2008

Attorney General Bill McCollum is urging federal authorities to stop the Seminole Tribe from offering gaming at their casinos that is illegal elsewhere in Florida. ...more

September 20, 2008

The Avon Park City Council decided it would take more money from churches and non-profit groups to support the fire department, but the extra revenue wouldn't make up for a $74,000 budget deficit the city has just discovered. ...more

August 27, 2008