A recent editorial rebuked the federal government of shortchanging Florida in its effort to provide more educational funds (stimulus) for our schools. How could the feds be so mean to require the state to request a waiver because it had cut funds for education instead of increasing funds? In reviewing Florida's record relating to educational funding, one will discover that Florida had shortchanged education for decades. The late governors Askew, then Collins, tried to turn the tide and move Florida up about 45th in the nation on funding, only to have the Democratic legislature to again decrease funding. Governor Graham worked to improve funding, but again that was reversed. The late Governor Chiles had a Republican legislature that under funded education. The state is currently near the bottom in funding education. ...more

March 15, 2009

Heartland Workforce, operating One-Stop Career Centers in DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties, is projected to receive approximately $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (more commonly referred to as the Federal Economic Stimulus Plan) funds for the local workforce region within the next few weeks. ...more

March 15, 2009

A federal appeals court ruling will allow the widow of an anthrax victim to continue a $50 million lawsuit claiming that the federal government was ultimately responsible for her husband's death. ...more

March 8, 2009

Florida's insurance commissioner says the national credit crunch could lead to more home foreclosures. ...more

March 5, 2009

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some think the idea should have been dead on arrival. ...more

March 4, 2009

The 2009 regular session of the Florida Legislature is under way. The issue dominating the proceedings is the dwindling state government revenue stream. According to current estimates, planned spending for the state's 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, will have to be cut by $5 billion. If not, there would be a budget deficit, which the state constitution bans. The Legislature could reduce the future red ink potential by asking the Florida voters to do away with the class size amendment to the state constitution they approved in 2002. Unfortunately, lawmakers may only delay class-size compliance a year and ask voters to approve a change in the way compliance is determined next year. ...more

March 4, 2009

High-speed rail looked dead four years ago, but backers of the proposal say it's being resuscitated now thanks to the recently approved federal stimulus package. ...more

February 27, 2009

I am an enterprising taxpaying citizen. I am a farmer willing to diversify any way imaginable to continue paying my bills without borrowing money. My governor Charlie Crist is faced with the same decisions I have to make. He has the option to research diverse revenue producing options for the State of Florida or pledge this taxpayer's assets to pay back Florida's bad debt. ...more

February 23, 2009

Police officials here are close to making an arrest in the killing of Chandra Levy, a former federal government intern whose disappearance in 2001 ended Gary Condit's congressional career after his relationship with her was revealed, several law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation said Saturday. ...more

February 22, 2009

Where's The Outrage? I am amazed and appalled by the degree of passive public acceptance that has greeted the so-called stimulus bill that President Barack Obama signed this week. ...more

February 21, 2009