Until recently for elementary students in Highlands County public schools, no lunch money meant no hot meal for lunch. ...more

March 5, 2009

Florida's judges and popularly elected clerks of the circuit courts. ...more

March 5, 2009

Heated e-mails were exchanged this weekend between the critics and author of a plan designed to boost Hernando County's economy. ...more

March 4, 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

The school district will hold on to 80 acres of land in Ridge Manor that could be the site of a new school. ...more

March 4, 2009

A budget committee Tuesday was split on whether to continue offering a tuition reimbursement plan to government employees. ...more

March 4, 2009

Concerns that the economy could get worse led the Highlands County commissioners to put on hold construction of the new law enforcement building for the sheriff's office. ...more

March 3, 2009

Life is too short to spend it working at anything you're not passionate about. So why do so many Americans toil a lifetime at jobs they despise, always wishing they were somewhere else? ...more

March 1, 2009

The issue: Spring Hill Fire Rescue board votes to transfer emergency dispatching to county. Our opinion: Fire commissioners deserve praise for long overdue decision. ...more

March 1, 2009

At his first official meeting as Tarpon Springs city manager, Tuesday night, Mark LeCouris agreed this is most likely one of the toughest times to assume the post as a city's top administrative official. In these, the direst economic times in memory, the city faces a $2 million revenue shortfall in its next fiscal year, LeCouris noted. It may, however, also be the best of times because an economic crisis gives a good manager a chance to really prove his worth, Commissioner Chris Alahouzos declared. ...more

February 28, 2009