The winner of the first-ever Mason G. Smoak Friend of Agriculture Award was Smoak himself, the Lake Placid cattleman and citrus grower who died in a June 20, 2008 plane crash. His wife, Tracee, accepted. ...more

November 16, 2009

As promised, federal authorities have amped up criminal mortgage fraud prosecutions. ...more

November 6, 2009

At the peak of the housing boom, an unemployed Tampa day trader managed to get two mortgages worth more than $300,000, despite having no income, authorities say. ...more

November 4, 2009

As promised, federal authorities have amped up criminal mortgage fraud prosecutions. ...more

November 3, 2009

After Bob Germaine was elected Highlands County Clerk of Courts, he retired in December from his old job, senior director of court services. For the rest of his life, he'll get a check from the Florida Retirement System. ...more

April 2, 2009

Election chiefs in Florida walk a fine line between politics and the oath of office. ...more

February 21, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist wants more property tax cuts. ...more

February 20, 2009

In fiscal year 2007-08, the county issued just 397 single-family home permits, an 835 percent drop from the boom years of 2004-05. ...more

December 18, 2008

Support for the "marriage protection" amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot continues to fall short of the 60 percent needed for passage, a new poll shows today. ...more

October 8, 2008

Florida's property appraisers are demonstrating they are more committed to reducing property taxes than Gov. Charlie Crist and lawmakers, who failed in their promise to substantially cut them. ...more

September 11, 2008