EDITOR'S NOTE: Early voting begins today - and ends Aug. 23 - for the Aug. 26 primary. As a service to voters, we will publish this highlights box on days that polls are open. To read the complete analyses, check out the Tribune's opinion page on tbo.com. ...more

August 12, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Work has begun on a $20.5 million jail addition in Land O' Lakes. ...more

August 2, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The horse race also known as the Aug. 26 primary is in full stride, with the latest contribution totals raised by candidates as a rough way to handicap the races. ...more

August 2, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The compliments were flowing like water as commissioners observed the 10th anniversary of Tampa Bay Water this week. Pasco commissioners were gushing about progress made during the regional wholesale utility's inaugural decade and the bullish outlook for the future. ...more

July 26, 2008

Pasco County leaders will spend less, and homeowners will save an estimated $115 each in the 2008-09 fiscal year, thanks to statewide property tax reform and a struggling economy. ...more

July 16, 2008

Pasco County leaders will spend less, and homeowners will save an estimated $115 each in the 2008-09 fiscal year, thanks to statewide property tax reform and a struggling economy. For the first time in three years, Pasco County's proposed budget has dipped below $1 billion, although it remains close at $980 million. That represents a 19 percent decrease from the current fiscal year total of $1.2 billion, County Administrator John Gallagher said today. Pasco County commissioners got their first look at the fiscal 2008-09 budget at a special meeting in New Port Richey. The budget includes higher fees for parks, planning, zoning and development services and about $3.8 million more to compensate for higher fuel costs. The plan also has 44 fewer full-time positions than this fiscal year, although some new jobs are being added. ...more

July 15, 2008

Abuse of fireworks in Pasco County yards usually lights the fuses on tempers of area residents every Fourth of July. ...more

July 1, 2008

TRINITY - While a long-delayed fire station is under construction in Trinity, county officials pretty much have closed the book on building a Trinity library branch anytime soon. A library project in the booming area of Trinity looked like it might take off in 2005 with a state grant for more than $430,000. At one time there was talk of co-locating a Trinity fire station with a library and passive park, Dan Johnson, Pasco's assistant county administrator for public services, recalled. ...more

June 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Construction of a regional hurricane shelter and health clinic in Pasco County got high priority today. ...more

June 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Abuse of fireworks in West Pasco backyards usually lights the fuses on tempers of area residents about every Fourth of July. Despite complaints, officials say there is little they can do about individuals buying and setting off illegal fireworks, such as bottle rockets. ...more

June 21, 2008