Fourteen years ago, the Hillsborough County Commission voted to strip gay rights protections out of the county's human rights ordinance. ...more

October 22, 2009

This week the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of Vicky Crawford vs. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. ...more

January 30, 2009

A Christian fraternity asked federal judges Wednesday to recognize the group as part of student life at the University of Florida, despite a school rule that bars Gator groups from discriminating based on religion. ...more

December 11, 2008

Thousands of gays and lesbians and their supporters around the country – including more than 100 in downtown Tampa – rallied at 1:30 p.m. to protest bans to marriage and adoption approved by voters in four states. ...more

November 15, 2008

I am a nurse. Every day I work I save lives and give comfort to patients. I am an Eagle Scout. My project was to raise funds to help dyslexic children. I was a Marine. I served this country to the best of my ability. ...more

November 7, 2008

A leading Human Rights Watch monitor who was abruptly put on the first plane leaving Venezuela early Friday said his expulsion shows the intolerance of President Hugo Chavez's government to criticism. ...more

September 20, 2008

Someone who takes medication to control epilepsy or diabetes could end up in a situation where he or she is no longer eligible for protection under the Americans With Disabilities Act. ...more

September 18, 2008

Patricia Austin's friends affectionately call her "Lady Pitbull." "I guess that's because once I grab hold of something, I don't let go," said Austin, a lifelong Avon Park resident. "I was brought up to stand up and fight for what you believe in. ...more

September 1, 2008

I had to laugh at one part of Darrel Johnston's letter to the editor in Saturday's paper (Aug 2.) He said that the deputies he knows applaud Sheriff Benton's performance during her term in office. I know quite a number of deputies myself and that surely is not what I hear. While they are glad to have some upgraded equipment, they are aware that most of these upgrades have been given to deputies who are on the road. As parents of school children, they wish some of the money would be spent on those deputies and services which most closely affect the lives, safety and welfare of their children. They would like to see more neighborhood patrols, especially since many of them work at night and have to leave sleeping families to do so. It only takes a few trips down U.S. 27 to see where the law enforcement effort is concentrated. Speed is not the only problem we have in Highlands County. ...more

August 6, 2008

A woman who worked as a legal assistant in Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger's office has filed a federal lawsuit against him, claiming she was retaliated against after complaining that male attorneys had made sexually-degrading remarks to her. ...more

July 30, 2008