The secrecy that enshrouded Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's plan to buy out U.S. Sugar now threatens to undermine this critical effort to save the Everglades. ...more

September 13, 2008

Because the region has averaged 22.5 inches of rain in the past three months, the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District on Thursday relaxed emergency water restrictions for agricultural, commercial and recreational use. ...more

September 13, 2008

A giant land deal for an area larger than the city of Chicago, intended to help the dying Everglades, has been slowed as both sides work out details of the proposal for the state to buy about 300 square miles from U.S. Sugar Corp., officials said Wednesday. ...more

September 11, 2008

More than two months after the state announced plans to buy out U.S. Sugar, congressmen are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of information they're getting on the deal, and they're warning that the deal could do more harm than good to the Everglades region. ...more

September 8, 2008

Normally, all eyes would be on Tropical Storm Hanna, which will likely sideswipe Highlands County with moderate winds and 2 to 4 inches of rain. However, tropical storms Ike and Josephine are right behind her. ...more

September 3, 2008

Sen. J.D. Alexander wrote Gov. Charlie Crist today demanding "a conceptual plan outlining your commitment to preserving the thousands of jobs that are in jeopardy" because of the $1.75 billion buyout of U.S. Sugar that Crist announced in July. ...more

August 25, 2008

Florida's proposed purchase of thousands of acres of farmland from U.S. Sugar Corp. to restore the Everglades would be jeopardized if a federal judge forces the state to resume construction on a huge reservoir, attorneys for the state said in court Tuesday. ...more

August 13, 2008

Highlands County is a wonderful place to study nature and ecology. We have a very important project under way on the Kissimmee River, which, when completed, will restore an entire wetland ecosystem. ...more

August 7, 2008

Florida's proposal to acquire 300 square miles of Everglades land from U.S. Sugar Corp. was illegally brokered in closed-door meetings, an attorney claimed in a lawsuit filed Friday. ...more

August 2, 2008

Some of Florida's U.S. House members complained Wednesday about being kept in the dark during the state's secret negotiations of a $1.75 billion proposed buyout of U.S. Sugar Corp. ...more

July 31, 2008