Heartland Workforce, operating One-Stop Career Centers in DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties, is projected to receive approximately $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (more commonly referred to as the Federal Economic Stimulus Plan) funds for the local workforce region within the next few weeks. ...more

March 15, 2009

To my grandkids: Thank you in advance for paying for the economic stimulus plan. ...more

March 11, 2009

President Barack Obama embraced merit pay for teachers Tuesday in spelling out a vision of education that will almost certainly alienate union backers. ...more

March 10, 2009

Last week, county commissioners whittled down the projects they hope will qualify for federal funding under President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan. ...more

March 7, 2009

The 2009 regular session of the Florida Legislature is under way. The issue dominating the proceedings is the dwindling state government revenue stream. According to current estimates, planned spending for the state's 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, will have to be cut by $5 billion. If not, there would be a budget deficit, which the state constitution bans. The Legislature could reduce the future red ink potential by asking the Florida voters to do away with the class size amendment to the state constitution they approved in 2002. Unfortunately, lawmakers may only delay class-size compliance a year and ask voters to approve a change in the way compliance is determined next year. ...more

March 4, 2009

They started off with 10. Now there are nine. County commissioners earlier this week whittled down the projects they hope will qualify for federal funding under President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan. ...more

February 27, 2009

The nation's homelessness czar joined local government leaders Monday afternoon in announcing a 10-year effort for "ending the disgrace" of homelessness in Pasco County. ...more

February 24, 2009

I heard some information about first-time homebuyers receiving a $7,500 tax break. Can you tell me about this? I am a first-time buyer. ...more

February 22, 2009

More than 400 hundred television stations across the nation switched from analog to digital on Feb. 17 and hundreds more will make the transition on June 12, leaving millions of bewildered viewers asking what happened to their "Matlock" reruns. ...more

February 22, 2009

President Barack Obama's wants to cut the federal deficit in half by the end of his first term, mostly by scaling back Iraq war spending, raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and streamlining government, an administration official said Saturday as the president worked to finalize his first budget request. ...more

February 21, 2009