AVON PARK — The sagging pants fashion fad, that is big with some youngsters and young men, is not welcome in Highlands County District Schools. Avon Park Middle School administrators toughened the school dress code this school year because of the big problem with baggy pants. "Before if their pants were falling down we'd give them string or we'd give them a belt and it got to be ridiculous," because it was such a common occurrence, Dean of Students Shane Wirries said Thursday. "We have kids coming with a size 36 waist [pants] and they are a 28." Now students cannot wear pants that are more than one size too big. If they do show up at school with droopy pants they must have a parent come to school with a proper size trouser or the student spends the day at in-school suspension. ...more

January 12, 2008

The "unofficial" hiring freeze at the Hernando County School District is over. ...more

January 5, 2008

By definition, a judge's job is to hear a case and hand down the penalty, if one is merited. But Congress began eroding judicial discretion in 1986 with a law that mandated five years in prison for anyone caught selling as little as five grams of crack cocaine. ...more

December 12, 2007

Some nonresidents applying for a spot on Oldsmar's Veterans Memorial Wall could get their wish, but the approval process will take a bit longer. ...more

September 22, 2007