"For years, school leaders juggled their budgets to prevent the state's chronic money woes from creeping into the classroom. But they're out of options now and scaling back popular programs for gifted students and troubled kids." -- Schools on a shoestring: Specialized programs cut to the core "The sharp rise in gas prices has created a dilemma for the industry's human-resource departments: How to keep commuting costs from eating up their workers' wages." -- Businesses go extra mile to help workers save on gas "Gov. Charlie Crist surprised few last week in announcing his support for Amendment 5, the proposed constitutional measure that would eliminate most school property taxes in Florida. What is surprising is the governor is so blinded by ideology that he will not acknowledge the ever-growing evidence that it would cause long-term economic and educational harm to our state." -- Tax- Swap Treachery Bonus: "In Central Florida, there are almost a quarter of a million swing voters, most of whom are Puerto Ricans or other Hispanics. Until now, they have remained a largely untapped resource. But both political campaigns are gearing up to target them during the next three months." -- Orlando-area Hispanics' votes will be vital to campaigners
"Florida voters can cast early ballots for the Aug. 26 Republican and Democratic primaries starting Monday. Many will be greeted by changes since 2006. Statewide, 15 counties -- including Lake in Central Florida -- are switching from touch-screen technology to paper, optical-scan ballots." -- Expect some changes at Florida polls when casting early votes So many reasons why you should oppose Amendment 5 and Homebuyers, Beware: Tax Aid Is Loan "Nagging complaints about some generic drugs are casting doubt on one of medicine's most widely held assumptions: that generics are just as good as brand-name versions, only cheaper." -- Rx for trouble? Generics don't always work as well as brand names, critics say. The FDA disagrees. We take a look. "In 2015, just a few years from now, Florida will be in deep trouble. Who wants the dubious notoriety of "last in the nation?"" -- Florida's Coming Medical Disaster Bonus: The Sentinel is still mad at Paula Dockery
A sign of the times: Cheap eats: Food bargains can hide in unlikely places A sign of the season: Can your home weather storms? If not, listen up A sign of how far we're gone since 2000: Shielding Press Empowers The Public Bonus: If you still can't recount them do they exist? New voting machines: Paper trail to nowhere? Is the News Chief next? Cypress Gardens to Test Weekends-Only Presented without any comment whatsoever: Amtgard! Battles Begin With Swords Of Foam
Bio: The short line? Father, husband, writer. My online presence is primarily through as the editor, writer, and occasional photographer for the news sites, Lakeland Local, a sampling of the news, concerns, and events for Lakeland, Florida, and Metro i4 News, which covers the Interstate 4 corridor in Central Florida. Both sites feature the work of myself and other contributors. As a hobby, I manage a forum and some web sites that feature a pulp fiction series written by Lester Dent -- Doc Savage Organized, Doc Savage Info, and Flearun.