Give Power To Individuals Regarding "Preserve Social Security" (Letters, Aug. 18): ...more

August 25, 2008

TAMPA - Polk County deputies are investigating a fatal crash on Highway 27 in Lake Wales. About 11:17 a.m. today near Eagle Ridge Mall, a Chevrolet Malibu was heading north when it sideswiped a 2005 Toyota driven by 34-year-old Lori K. Adams of Riverview, a Polk County Sheriff's Office release states. ...more

June 26, 2008

On a Monday morning last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at El Camino High School to announce horrible news: Several students had been killed in car wrecks over the weekend. ...more

June 13, 2008

Joe Lori is one of those irrepressible can-do people who approach every task full tilt. He works hard, doesn't waste time and makes his own breaks. ...more

May 17, 2008

A couple of weeks ago, I did a column on gangs in the Hillsborough County schools affecting every middle and high school in the district. Last week was one on the growing use of medicine cabinet drugs by young people in a country addicted to prescription medicines. ...more

February 24, 2008

Hillsborough County Health Department Director Doug Holt said he has noticed a rise in diagnoses of flu, with a variety of areas reporting cases. ...more

February 21, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Lori Brenneise said she feels safe walking alone down the worst streets in Aleppo, Syria. ...more

January 13, 2008

Waterford Crystal Drive is one of those suburban streets that seem so new as to have no history at all. But the suicide of a teenage girl, and allegations she had been tormented by a neighbor over the Internet, have brought a reaction that is old, almost tribal, in its nature. ...more

December 7, 2007

Members of the nonprofit, no-kill Critter Abuse and Rescue Effort animal shelter recently selected new board members for 2007-08. ...more

December 5, 2007

On Nov. 1, there was a front page article about a convicted sexual predator named Dale Leland, titled "Family, Friends Plea for Man in Court." It was full of quotes from his friends, neighbors, co-workers and lawyer, all vouching for him. Dale already confessed to detectives. Evidence supported the charges and he was found guilty by the jury. Yet, despite the conviction, these character witnesses implied that the sweet, innocent girls lied, making Dale the victim. MSNBC ran the series, "To catch a predator." Predators would meet "underage" targets online, using sexually explicit language. When the predator showed up for pre-arranged sex, the MSNBC investigator spoke briefly to him, then allowed him to leave. Once outside, local police quickly arrested him. The series concluded with the trial and sentencing of each. Without even touching their underage victims, every predator was convicted. Among them was a doctor, a college professor and a child services worker, all liked and respected in their communities. Like Dale, probably many vouched for them. ...more

November 27, 2007