The City Commission voted Tuesday night to determine whether Wal-Mart's city-approved plan to develop one of its Supercenter retail complexes near the Anclote River has lapsed and will have to be reconsidered. ...more

October 8, 2008

QUESTION: "The weeping cherry tree that I planted in late March bloomed beautifully and has looked great up until recently. The tree is about 6 feet tall. We have had some very hot, humid weather and a little rain almost daily, maybe an inch per week. Now the leaves are curling up. I don't see any signs of insects, no discoloration, no sap running out. Does it need more water?" - Sibyl J. Gore ...more

September 7, 2008

Regarding "Judge Rejects Challenges To Voucher Amendments" (Metro, Aug. 5): The political vitriol directed by the head of the Florida Education Association at political opponents of the Democratic Party highlights the risks associated with eliminating parental choice from the education system. ...more

August 8, 2008

In the general election in November we will have an opportunity to vote to amend the county's charter to provide for a county mayor. If the amendments pass we will have an improved governance structure that will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of county government. However, if we fail to act in November it may be a long time before we have another chance. ...more

July 20, 2008

Local environmentalists admit they were worried but say they are largely satisfied with Hillsborough County's yearlong effort to revise its wetlands rules. ...more

July 19, 2008

Here we are once again replaying last year's fiasco with special interests trying to weaken the regulation and enforcement of the Hillsborough County's wetlands protections. ...more

July 16, 2008

AVON PARK — Norm Stephens knows that in a recessionary economy, voters aren't likely to approve any suggestion of a tax increase. And in November, there will be nine ballot issues to confuse voters, including a one-cent sales tax which that would replace school property taxes. And furthermore, the 10-mill college property tax is No. 8 on the list, after the amendments prohibiting gay marriage and illegal aliens owning land. So its chances of passing may be small. But if voters approve in November, the Legislature would be required to allow the commissioners in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties to hold a election which would generate property taxes to support South Florida Community College. "It's a four-step process," said Stephens, SFCC president. "It has to be approved by 60 percent of the voters in November. That allows the Legislature to develop rules. Then the counties can place it on the ballot, and the voters would have to approve again." ...more

June 8, 2008

Speaking of CSX, when House members finally gathered to discuss the transportation bill, the measure looked nothing like it had. In its place was a 171-page strike-all amendment that replaced every word. ...more

May 11, 2008

The Sun N' Lake Special Improvement District of approximately 3,000 people is governed by five puppet supervisors, elected by landowners only. Two out of three are landowners from all over the western hemisphere (USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, South America and Mexico) who can vote to elect a supervisor to govern and tax the residents of this district. How long must the residents endure this abuse from this government? The abuses are practiced in communist countries, but, we are the democratic United States of America? ...more

February 18, 2008

Leave it to Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham to come up with a way to reform growth planning without the impossible demands of Hometown Democracy. ...more

February 16, 2008