What I might have said if I were Charlie Crist when he gave his State of the State address last week: ...more

March 7, 2010

Florida is near the top nationally in economic woes and education is a tragic part of it. The conditions would be much worse but for the billions of stimulus funding by the federal government. True, Florida is due much of it since it is Florida taxes paid to the feds. ...more

February 27, 2010

The state of Florida is near the top nationally in economic woes, and education is a tragic part of it. The conditions would be much worse but for the billions of stimulus funding by the federal government. True, Florida is due much of it since it is Florida taxes paid that are paid to the feds. At least some 10,000 teachers, police and fire personnel and governmental employees are still working. ...more

February 23, 2010

The popular hue and cry today is jobs, jobs, jobs. While that is surely a noble undertaking, it begs the question: Where do the jobs come from? ...more

February 21, 2010

In an upshot, if 2009 made us all a little poorer, it also made us all cleaner and more hygiene-oriented. It brought heartaches, joy and astonishment to Highlands County residents. It also brought closure to the family of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper ruthlessly killed while on duty. The economy continued to roil; residents endured not one but three anthrax hoaxes; ordinary residents prodded city hall into action in Venus and Sun 'n Lake, and swine flu got us all a little closer to sanitizers. ...more

January 1, 2010

For many of America's social service charities, this holiday season is providing a daunting mix of heavier demand for services, reduced funding and an ever-widening range of clients seeking help as economic woes persist. ...more

December 19, 2009

Embryo debate All the back and forth about the value of human embryos versus human life can be settled with one question: If you were in a burning building with 1,000 frozen embryos and one human child and could save either the 1,000 embryos or the child, which would it be? Case closed. ...more

December 19, 2009

Highlands County's unemployment rate in September was 11.6 percent, up significantly from the 8.4 percent in September 2008. ...more

November 13, 2009

Her four-year tenure plagued with difficulties and controversies, Carolyn Bivens resigned as LPGA commissioner Monday, bowing to pressure from players who were upset about her leadership and the tour's economic woes. ...more

July 14, 2009

America's economic woes are taking their toll on the art world - especially in the Sunshine State, say state arts agencies across the country. ...more

March 31, 2009