The view from Doug and Lisa Bambauer's breakfast nook is, so to speak, unspoiled. ...more

February 12, 2008

The view from Doug and Lisa Bambauer's breakfast nook is, so to speak, unspoiled. ...more

February 11, 2008

The Barrio Latino Commission, the citizens' panel charged with protecting the architectural integrity of Ybor City, is mistaken to oppose a proposal by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to close a street adjacent to the sheriff's headquarters. ...more

February 6, 2008

Action Sports Media, which tried to sell the Sun Dome's naming rights to a student loan company in July despite objections from the University of South Florida, is being bought out by ISP Sports. ...more

January 31, 2008

Egyptian security forces began imposing control over the country's breached border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday, using clubs and dogs to police the thousands of Gazans still making their way past barricades blown up or toppled by Palestinian gunmen a day earlier. ...more

January 25, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road , one-fourth mile west of the Suncoast Parkway. Stephen J. Dibbs wants to remove 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt from about 50 acres within a tract of more than 300 acres. The pit would operate for 10 years and would be reclaimed with a manmade lake, either within a residential development or a passive use. Testimony for and against the proposal was presented during a four-hour public hearing Nov. 16. Attorney Vin Marchetti and a team of experts explained the merits of the request; opponents raised assorted objections. After the meeting, some opponents e-mailed county officials complaining about the conduct of Land Use Hearing Officer Harold Youmans and Senior Assistant County Attorney Louis Whitehead III and questioning the fairness of the hearing. Instead of ruling on the request on Dec. 11, Youmans remanded it to county staff, requesting another hearing. He said participants did not have an adequate opportunity to respond to last-minute changes to conditions made by county staff. A hearing on the request before Youmans has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25 on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. ...more

January 17, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road , one-fourth mile west of the Suncoast Parkway. Stephen J. Dibbs wants to remove 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt from about 50 acres within a tract of more than 300 acres. The pit would operate for 10 years and would be reclaimed with a manmade lake, either within a residential development or a passive use. Testimony for and against the proposal was presented during a four-hour public hearing Nov. 16. Attorney Vin Marchetti and a team of experts explained the merits of the request; opponents raised assorted objections. After the meeting, some opponents e-mailed county officials complaining about the conduct of Land Use Hearing Officer Harold Youmans and Senior Assistant County Attorney Louis Whitehead III and questioning the fairness of the hearing. Instead of ruling on the request on Dec. 11, Youmans remanded it to county staff, requesting another hearing. He said participants did not have an adequate opportunity to respond to last-minute changes to conditions made by county staff. A hearing on the request before Youmans has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25 on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. ...more

January 17, 2008

The Patriot Act was not intended to circumvent basic civil rights. The purpose of the Patriot Act is to better assist U.S. law enforcement in fighting terrorism here in the United States and abroad. Remember Sept.11? The initial act was voted for by the Senate 98 to 1, one of the few decisions agreed upon by both Republicans and Democrats. The act breaks down the barrier between the CIA and FBI so they can share information about terrorists. Perhaps had that been done earlier, we would have avoided the Sept.11 attack and saved 3,000 innocent American lives. Many of the objections regarding the Patriot Act are actually allowed under previous and existing law, i.e., tools already used against drug dealers and other criminals. The act basically expanded them to cover terrorism and accordingly, made our nation safer. ...more

January 6, 2008

President Bush on Friday used a pocket veto to reject a sweeping defense bill because he dislikes a provision that would expose the Iraqi government to expensive lawsuits seeking damages from the Saddam Hussein era. ...more

December 29, 2007

A Brandon man sexually attacked a family friend Tuesday when she set a small child down, Hillsborough County deputies say. ...more

December 26, 2007