U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam says he will give up his seat in Congress to become a candidate for state agriculture commissioner. ...more

February 1, 2009

Florida International is in the process of canceling its game at the University of South Florida this fall, which would leave the Bulls with only 11 games in 2009. ...more

January 31, 2009

Most coaches forced to deal with a barrage of adversity, including losing their starting quarterback midway through a season, might wilt under the pressure. ...more

January 30, 2009

Attorney General Bill McCollum has sent the Northwest Florida State College trustees a letter saying it is illegal to advertise government meetings in one town but hold it in another town far away - something the college did when holding a meeting that's linked to the controversy over House Speaker Ray Sansom. ...more

January 28, 2009

Hernando County has the third-highest unemployment rate in Florida. ...more

January 23, 2009

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — An Indiana investment adviser is not mentally competent to be tried on charges he deliberately crashed his plane in the Florida Panhandle in a botched plot to fake his death to escape financial ruin, his public defender said Wednesday. ...more

January 21, 2009

Pasco County officials say they will move forward with efforts to preserve environmentally valuable land now in private hands, despite the loss of help from the state's Florida Forever program. ...more

January 17, 2009

An advocacy group has sued the state over funding cuts to programs for people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. ...more

January 14, 2009

Egmont Key is an environmental jewel at the mouth of Tampa Bay. It has immense historic value and is one of the most popular destinations in the region for boaters. ...more

January 13, 2009

While it may be comforting to know that our elected officials in Tallahassee are very concerned regarding the morality of its citizens in regard to gambling, I am at a loss to understand the following: Isn't the Florida Lottery gambling? It is the most easily accessible of all. Every store and gas station, etc. sells them and boy do they sell them! Where is the outrage regarding this? If you seek other forms of gambling most of us have to travel by bus, boat, plane or train out of the state or beyond the three mile limit. Now I certainly have nothing against the Florida Lottery but if the Seminole Casino in Tampa can benefit our state with millions of dollars of needed revenue, why lose it to other states? Of course, we all know that gambling can be abused just like overeating, drinking and buying things we cannot afford, etc. But some things are just plain fun and enjoyed by many, so I say let it be. Also, as you know the Powerball was just introduced to the lottery; I heard no objections to that. ...more

January 10, 2009