Pharmaceutical companies and every other special interest group-industry do indeed have a strong grip on our elected representatives (editorial of Dec. 10.) The people's business doesn't get done because of the need for elected officials to constantly raise money to afford to run for re-election. Money comes from drug, oil, dairy, financial, meat and virtually every industry in the country as well as some outside the country to buy the votes of the peoples' representatives. In our system, voting out the incumbents simply replaces them with other special interest agents. ...more

December 14, 2009

The need is greater than ever, Salvation Army officials say as they plead for last-minute donations to fill holiday food boxes and to place toys under the Christmas tree for needy children. ...more

December 12, 2009

Gulfside Regional Hospice seeks benefactors to help decorate Trees of Remembrance this holiday season. ...more

December 5, 2009

A University of Tampa chapel planned for decades and made possible by local philanthropists is scheduled to open next year at the heart of the private school's downtown campus. ...more

December 2, 2009

St. Joseph's Hospitals Foundation hosted a Founders' Day Eve celebration on Sept. 30. ...more

October 28, 2009

"Police Chief Behind Bars, Needs Help Making Bail." Now that's the kind of banner headline reporters dream of. ...more

March 11, 2009

"POLICE CHIEF BEHIND BARS; NEEDS HELP MAKING BAIL." Now that's the kind of banner headline reporters dream of. Now that's the kind of banner headline reporters dream of. While tempting, and even technically accurate, the real story isn't quite that sensational, though it is something that warrants public attention. Port Richey Police Chief David Brown and dozens of other local residents will be doing time - from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Wednesday, March 11. ...more

March 7, 2009

After reading Don Plezia's piece on the "new" administration in Washington, I have to say my high hopes for "change," as it was called, seem to be nothing more than just hopes. President Barack Obama told us all it would be time for "new thoughts and ideas" and a "new direction" if we elected him. ...more

February 8, 2009

Since you have had all kinds of writers sending thank you letters I thought I would add my thanks to Mr. Bush: For lying to us about WMD that Iraq had so you and your ilk could go to war and make certain people wealthy. For giving all those tax breaks to the wealthy and lying to us how a trickle down economy would work for me. For letting all those good jobs run offshore to make jobs for the Asians and Mexicans. For giving tax breaks to the wealthy and then borrowing money from foreign nations that my grandchildren are going to find difficult to pay back and blame me. ...more

February 7, 2009

Having succeeded to the final decades of tenure in this marvelous adventure of life, I am no longer surprised by the magnificence of the human species or the shallowness of human character. Many eloquent words have been spoken of the myriad examples of the magnificence of our species. In those examples the words are graceful, flowing, solid and powerful. Conversely, in the examples depicting the shallowness of the human species, the words are deceptive and nuanced, always leaving an opportunity for one to hide or evade. ...more

February 5, 2009