Residents of Leisure Lakes had a frightening reminder this past week of what can happen with a brush fire. Nearly 400 acres of land were burned, homes and other structures were threatened. People had to evacuate and resources were expended by several fire departments. Fortunately nobody was injured. Although it was said to be an accident, the fire really never should have started. Apparently a resident was burning yard trash and red-hot material escaped. ...more

February 17, 2008

Web sites operated by numerous states to help consumers compare pharmacy prices for prescription drugs often have missing and sometimes outdated or inaccurate information, a nonpartisan health research group has found. ...more

February 14, 2008

Pasco County commissioners discussed today exclusive territories for trash haulers and a mandatory blue-bag recycling program for urban areas instead of building a recycling facility. During the discussion commissioners raised the possibility neighborhoods would no longer have several garbage trucks, from competing trash haulers, rumbling down their streets. "I think that's ridiculous," Commissioner Michael Cox commented. Three trash haulers serve his neighborhood of 122 lots, he noted. ...more

February 12, 2008

The Hillsborough County Commission plans to delay consideration of four proposals that would boost development potential in Lutz, Keystone and other parts of Northwest Hillsborough County. Commissioners had been scheduled to consider on Thursday a proposal by Stephen J. Dibbs to remove more than 300 acres from the Keystone-Odessa Community Plan. The property is on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road, west of Suncoast Parkway. Dibbs also has proposed boosting the development potential on 36.6 acres within the tract to allow suburban-style development. Commissioners said Wednesday that they will reschedule those requests for 6 p.m. Feb. 28 in their second-floor chambers at the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. They also have delayed consideration on two other requested changes to the long-range plan. One would boost development potential on 58 acres on the north and south sides of Van Dyke Road, west of Gunn Highway, until next year. The other would allow the extension of public water and sewer lines into rural areas, provided specific conditions are met. Both of those requests have been delayed until next year. ...more

February 6, 2008

The way some Georgians see it, if they're going to get thrown through the windshield of a pickup, that's nobody's business but their own. ...more

January 29, 2008

Debate about proposed apartments in Valrico delayed until later this month consideration of land-use changes that would boost development potential in Keystone and Lutz. ...more

January 22, 2008

Developers are proposing several large residential and commercial projects in rural areas that critics say will cripple Hillsborough County's efforts to contain sprawl and cost taxpayers big bucks for county services far from urban centers. ...more

January 16, 2008

There are few county services more instrumental in saving lives than its EMS force ––and just like a fire department –– every second counts. Understanding how crucial it is to dispatch an ambulance as quickly as possible, and considering how our population balloons in the winter, our EMS officials have made some needed changes to make sure that everyone gets served on time. ...more

December 31, 2007

A real estate agent by trade, Debra Benoit finds time when she can to try her hand at another profession: publisher. ...more

December 19, 2007

Arizona Jenkins tries to avoid the grass at bus stops, so the wheels of his wheelchair don't spin on the wet surface when he boards. ...more

December 12, 2007