Fred Jacobsen has a fondness for all things Ruskin, so much so you would think he was one of its native sons. ...more

November 1, 2007

Time was when a societal reference to 'green' mainly meant hard-core, environmental activism. It conjured up the Sierra Club, pricey solar panels and visceral opposition to the pave-over-paradise crowd. And it connoted trade-offs: What's the economic downside to tree-hugging naivete? ...more

October 24, 2007

Hometown Democracy is simply 'ballot box planning.' Its focus is neither your hometown nor improved democracy. ...more

October 23, 2007

Wastewater Carries Signs Of Drug Problems A city's sewer plant doesn't just treat human waste; it also can tip off law enforcement officials about a local drug problem. Using just a teaspoon of wastewater, Oregon State University researchers recently measured levels of everything from caffeine, cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine from cigarette smoke) and prescription drugs to methamphetamines, cocaine and Ecstasy. The community urinalysis wouldn't flush out single users but could eventually help officials track the spread of drugs, the researchers said. When drugs break down in the body, their byproducts end up in excrement and urine. That waste flows from toilets to treatment plants. Caffeine is the ingredient Americans consume and excrete the most. The scientists also found higher concentrations of "recreational" drugs such as cocaine on weekends. Levels of prescription drugs and meth were constant. Chicago Tribune ...more

October 18, 2007

The lines on a draft county plan that could define future road corridors show a network of dots and color coding even in the most remote southeast corner of Hillsborough County, igniting a debate that has been smoldering in recent years. ...more

October 11, 2007

Things To Do is a list of some of the most interesting upcoming events. For a complete list of Tampa Bay area events, see this week's Friday Extra. ...more

October 10, 2007

Safer Energy Source In his letter ('Jackson No Journalist,' Oct. 3) Carl Roth makes arguments that we believe must be addressed. His questioning of Tribune columnist Tom Jackson's integrity is unwarranted, and to imply that Jackson is moonlighting with our company is scurrilous. ...more

October 8, 2007

Following up on a threat from July, three environmental groups on Monday sued two federal regulatory agencies in an effort to overturn the development permits issued this year to the builders of the Cypress Creek Town Center. ...more

October 2, 2007

The time has come to define and dignify the term environmentalist, since the national and world focus is once again on Earth issues. ...more

September 30, 2007

Lobbyist John Thrasher, a lawyer and former speaker of the Florida House, makes a bogus but convincing case against the Hometown Democracy amendment that voters will possibly consider in November 2008. ...more

September 24, 2007