Behind the boarded-up doors of the old Floridan Hotel, Lisa Shasteen tiptoes over scraps of plywood and up the white marble staircase into the grand lobby. ...more

October 19, 2008

Someone's putting the "grand" back in Tampa's grand old Floridan Hotel, and it's costly. ...more

October 17, 2008

A man who has felt like a part of the place since its beginnings is welcoming the changes. ...more

October 10, 2008

As you might imagine, there was no shortage of miffed readers who wanted to respond to a column last week on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's parallel universe campaign, following the Alaska governor's appearance at The Villages. ...more

September 28, 2008

Since its inception less than a year ago, The Journey - Calvary Lutheran Church's youth ministry program - has worked with homeless people in Gibsonton and elderly people in Ruskin and Apollo Beach. ...more

September 24, 2008

Along with dusty family heirlooms, mattresses and furniture, self-storage units are serving as homes for a growing number of homeless people. It's not a widespread practice, but there are more people renting space and sneaking in at some storage units around Hillsborough County. There's no plumbing, and it's strictly against a myriad of rules, but people without homes are finding the rent cheap and accommodations safer than on the streets. ...more

September 19, 2008

With homes in foreclosure, the economy stagnant and the state's unemployment rate the highest in 13 years, more people than ever are in need. ...more

September 11, 2008

It felt as if many years had passed since a group of Brandon churches and faith organizations began talking about opening a soup kitchen for the homeless in the area, said Vince Ferraro, president of the Greater Brandon Ecumenical Ministries. ...more

September 3, 2008

Issues Still Remain Labor Day is a day to honor the working men and women of America. Nowadays, the poverty levels in urban areas are scandalous. Many wage-earners cannot find work, and even if they do, incomes are too low to support their families. Inflationary realities across the board have become incredible: gas and energy costs, housing, insurance, taxes, medical and dental care, food, etc. The deterioration of their circumstances has resulted in foreclosures, bankruptcies, more homeless people, ad infinitum. ...more

September 1, 2008

After a public hearing for citizen comment, the Sebring City Council will consider Thursday the final rate resolution to implement a fire assessment. ...more

August 26, 2008