Progress Energy Florida expects it will take nine years to build a $17 billion nuclear plant in Levy County. Under state law, however, the St. Petersburg-based utility can begin recovering its costs years before the first watt of power is produced. Starting next month, the utility will add $11.42 to the cost of 1,000 kilowatt hours to pay for preconstruction costs. ...more

December 9, 2008

Hillsborough County children-and-family advocates today outlined 19 priorities for the 2009 Florida legislative session with local legislators, who warned it will be a tough year. ...more

December 5, 2008

The bad economic news just keeps getting worse. Last year, Florida legislators learned the state would lose about $1 billion in revenue. Before they could act on that news, it turned out the state had actually lost $2 billion. ...more

December 5, 2008

Florida lawmakers soon will consider bills that would allow law enforcement officers to pull over drivers for not wearing seat belts and to stop new teenage drivers from carting their young pals around. ...more

December 3, 2008

A child involved in a well-publicized "shaken baby" lawsuit and who had been on life support for more than two years died Friday, according to a former Pinellas County prosecutor. ...more

November 30, 2008

TAMPA It's become known as the parade of wish lists. Every year, city and county government officials and civic groups make pitches to Hillsborough County's state legislators for money. They come with requests for road, water and redevelopment projects, and seeking state tax dollars for local issues. ...more

November 25, 2008

Mary Stargel, the 14-year-old daughter of a state legislator and Polk County circuit judge, is in fair condition at Tampa General Hospital today after being admitted in critical condition Saturday night after a crash in Auburndale. ...more

November 24, 2008

The 14-year-old daughter of a state legislator and Polk County circuit judge was seriously injured in a Saturday night crash in Auburndale. ...more

November 24, 2008

Invitations to Gov. Charlie Crist's upcoming nuptials are in the mail, and the guest list to the Dec. 12 event has become a source of chatter around the state. ...more

November 23, 2008

A 25 percent jump in Progress Energy electric rates is generating some protests among Pasco officials and residents. ...more

November 13, 2008