Tonight may be the night Real Fighting Championships goes big. The mixed martial arts event company, which started in Tampa in 2005 and has put on events solely in Tampa, has a chance to go national when Country Music Association chief executive officer Tammy Genovese watches tonight's event at the USF Sun Dome. ...more

February 23, 2008

The Yankees are counting on Philip Hughes as a mainstay of their starting rotation after an injury-plagued 2007 season that saw the 21-year-old right-hander hampered by hamstring and ankle problems. ...more

February 19, 2008

Regarding "I'm In Love And Don't Tell Me Differently" (Other Views, Feb. 14): ...more

February 17, 2008

Remember George W. Bush? Given all the excitement generated by heated contests for both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, it's easy to forget that the current resident of the White House will not be moving out for nearly a year. Then again, maybe you know precisely when that particular change occurs, since the date - Jan. 20, 2009 - has found its way onto a variety of buttons, bumper stickers, T-shirts and even golf balls and hot sauce. In fact, the rendering of that date as 01.20.09 was trademarked by a small company that sold more than $1 million worth of "Bush's Last Day" merchandise in 2007. ...more

February 15, 2008

One of the Crystal Beach Community Association's biggest events of the season, its fundraising silent auction, will spark excitement tonight in this coastal village. The "Night of Wine and Roses" festivities will take place from 7 - 10 p.m., Feb. 9, at Town Hall, on Crystal Beach Drive. ...more

February 9, 2008

I would like to thank Alan Jay and his staff for making the Christmas seasons a memorable experience for all the students, staff members and administrators at Fred Wild Elementary School. ...more

February 6, 2008

SEBRING — As the fair approaches, excitement is mounting in the Bickman house. "We look forward to the fair all year," said Samantha Bickman, leader of Country Clovers 4-H Group. "The fairgrounds are our home away from home." Hundreds of families throughout the county are in the same position as the Bickmans, preparing for the festivities of the Highlands County Fair, which starts Friday. Brothers Michael and Justin Bickman wake up at 6 every morning to feed and water their animals. They each have swine, chickens and rabbits to show at the fair. ...more

February 6, 2008

SEBRING – Before last weekend, it had been four years since Lynn Topel had taken a bike ride. Topel also loves gardening but there has been no time for that either. However, that will soon change for the executive director of Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI). Topel will be leaving her position after four years in leading the organization that covers six counties – Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, DeSoto and Hardee – as well as communities in Palm Beach and Collier counties. In the first two years on the job, 80-hour weeks were the norm for Topel because of the devastating impact from the hurricanes – especially Charley – had on the region. "I can tell you that those weeks were long," she said. "Now it's gotten much better. This past year has been much more normal – 40 to 50-hour weeks. But it also took those two years to create those relationships all through the state that are important to the region." ...more

January 13, 2008

Tampa Bay's veterans have spent most of this week talking with younger teammates about the "real season" that is approaching. ...more

January 4, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Ralph Jacobi was confident his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout would be accomplished. ...more

January 3, 2008