Why is Washington Heights area of Sebring still shut off from the most direct route for emergency care? This has always been a question to me and no one has provided a logical answer. Why was this not considered a problem when they planned the construction of the Sebring Parkway? Now I don't live in this area but I do have children that live in the area and I pray to God nothing ever happens to one of them where they need emergency care and it's delayed because they're shut off from the most direct route to the hospital. It didn't take the county long to tear up Kenilworth Boulevard and have it back in operation, but Highlands Avenue that leads into the Washington Heights area has been shut down for months, maybe even close to a year. ...more

January 10, 2009

Recently Tampa native Robert Marve chose to end his 1.5-year stay at the University of Miami. UM Coach Randy Shannon granted him a release, with stipulations that he could not attend ACC, SEC or in-state schools. Since that time, Plant Head Coach Robert Weiner has undertaken to assault the character of Shannon using any media outlet that will listen. His actions are immature, if not despicable. ...more

January 5, 2009

A 10-year-old girl died Tuesday afternoon after an 11-year-old boy visiting her Fort Meade home for Christmas shot her with a gun found in the bedroom, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. ...more

December 24, 2008

Last week, Corey Smith, a River Ridge Middle School student, went before the Pasco County Commission and asked the county to build sidewalks or bicycle paths along Moon Lake Road. That was not all that unusual. Most of the time, however, the young person merely makes the request, the adult government leaders respond with smiles and a verbal pat on the head and that's the end of it. ...more

December 10, 2008

As a young man buying my first car, a Chevy, my parents had to co-sign for me to guarantee payment of my loan to the finance company. Many years later, this car company wants me to loan them money, telling me they will pay me back. Now, Congress is handling this action for me, and I want a guarantee of re-payment. If all the individuals in Congress will personally co-sign for the auto companies that I will get my money back, then what do I have to lose? ...more

December 9, 2008

During a recent visit to the veterans hospital in Los Angeles, I ran across a young man fresh out of the Army. He had fought in Afghanistan and was recovering from some of his wounds. He was also homeless and, quite frankly, a little frustrated by what he saw as cumbersome and inefficient layers of bureaucracy between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. ...more

November 27, 2008

The father of a college student whose suicide was broadcast live over a webcam said Saturday he was appalled by the virtual audience that egged on his son and called for tougher regulation of Internet sites. ...more

November 23, 2008

Police are searching for a gunman in a Seattle-area shopping mall after shots seriously hurt two young men there. ...more

November 22, 2008

They have been planning for months, rehearsing for almost as long. Including the actors, singers, orchestra and stage hands, some 60 students from Newsome, Durant and Plant City high schools are part of the effort to stage "Pippin" at Tomlin Middle School Theatre beginning tonight. ...more

November 19, 2008

This father's tragedy started, as so many do, with the mundane. His boy, a handsome and well-built athlete, injured his arm playing soccer in his native Ecuador. Alex, 15, was tough, but the pain wouldn't go away, and it got worse. ...more

November 15, 2008