A man has been charged with smuggling songbirds into the United States by hiding more than a dozen of them in custom-tailored leggings during a flight from Vietnam to Los Angeles. ...more

May 7, 2009

We were told that user fees are not a tax. Please put user fees on all alcohol. It will also help save lives. ...more

May 1, 2009

Can any thinking person deny that President Obama's world president campaign strategy is impeccable? When he completes his appointment of czars who do not need congressional approval and who answer only to him, he can be less encumbered. Since the United States taxpayer funds his campaign, money is not a problem. ...more

April 29, 2009

The World Health Organization rushed to convene an emergency meeting Saturday to develop a response to the "pandemic potential" of a new swine flu virus that has sparked a deadly outbreak in Mexico and spread to disparate parts of the United States. ...more

April 26, 2009

Thank you for your objective coverage of the ever-changing news about travel to my homeland, Cuba. Your interviewing people who have differing opinions has been refreshing. Surely those who have been following these events have noticed two main observations: ...more

April 24, 2009

At this time when so many are feeling the effects of the policies of the last eight years, powering our homes with solar power is a great way to end the need for oil from the Mideast. If Brazil can do it so can the U.S.A. Let's take a space program approach and get it done. Let's hope that in 2019 the United States doesn't need anything from the Middle East! ...more

April 19, 2009

Philippe Petit is planning a series of high-wire walks next fall around the United States. ...more

April 14, 2009

EDITOR'S NOTE There are no stock listings in today's paper because financial markets in the United States were closed for Good Friday. The business page can be found on the back of the Sports section. ...more

April 11, 2009

The Starbucks coffee shops at Centro Ybor in Tampa and at Westfield Brandon are targeted for closing, according to a new posting of store closings on the Seattle-based company's Web site. ...more

April 10, 2009

In February, the financial services company USAA announced plans to hire 400 people in Tampa. Now plans have changed. ...more

April 10, 2009