The financial crisis and the recession it spawned have created much confusion and uncertainty across the land. The causes of the downturn are hotly debated — and spun for political advantage. Solutions have, so far, remained elusive. ...more

March 20, 2009

Talk about dejÀ vu. Last year, county commissioners invited noted economist Hank Fishkind to a meeting to find out how dire the local economy was and whether it would be prudent to reduce impact fees. ...more

March 12, 2009

No quick recovery expected. ...more

March 11, 2009

McClatchy Co. is shearing another 1,600 jobs in a cost-cutting spree that has clipped nearly one-third of the newspaper publisher's work force in less than a year. ...more

March 10, 2009

IBM's chairman and chief executive, Sam Palmisano, received a compensation package valued at nearly $21 million in 2008, according to calculations by The Associated Press. ...more

March 9, 2009

Factory jobs disappeared. Inflation soared. Unemployment climbed to alarming levels. The hungry lined up at soup kitchens. ...more

March 8, 2009

Mark Huba is one of numerous Capital One cardholders who pays his bills on time and hasn't missed any payments - yet has just been notified that his interest rate is soaring to almost 18 percent. Capital One's rate hikes are the latest example of how the credit card industry is turning the screws on customers even as many of those same lenders receive billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts. ...more

March 7, 2009

All public officials should be held accountable to their oaths of office, from the President of the United States and to state and county offices. ...more

March 5, 2009

Contributors at the Friends of Scouting dinner proved to be more loyal than thrifty as the event collected more than $38,000 to benefit Boy Scout troops in the Plant City area. ...more

March 4, 2009

While other builders have succumbed to the instability of the economy, Highland Homes has flourished, says Kathie McDaniel, sales and marketing director for the Lakeland-based company. ...more

February 22, 2009