How to entertain... ...more

December 11, 2009

ShopperTrak, a retail research firm, predicted Tuesday that total holiday sales will rise 1.6 percent compared with a year ago, which would be good news for retailers in the aftermath of last year's steep decline. ...more

October 21, 2009

After someone stole one of our newspaper racks and left its dented carcass behind a grocery store, I compiled a list of reasons not to steal a newspaper rack and leave its dented carcass behind a grocery store in an effort to discourage future crimes of this nature. ...more

October 21, 2009

Gambling is getting easier for Floridians. That's because the Florida Lottery is rolling out the first of 1,000 instant ticket vending machines this week, starting in Tampa and Fort Myers. ...more

August 19, 2009

I boiled a pan of eggs last night for egg salad. It was late when they were done. I drained off the water and left them in the pan to cool before I refrigerated them, and, of course, forgot them until this morning! Are they safe to use today? ...more

March 29, 2009

Most puppies just have to learn where the food dish is, how to signal when it's time to go for a walk and maybe learn to fetch and a few tricks. But J.C. isn't just any puppy. He's a puppy in training and he has the identification badge and blue coat to prove it. The smooth-coat collie is spending up to 20 months with Carolyn Hersh of Hudson for general obedience training before specialized instruction to become a guide dog for a blind person. ...more

February 14, 2009

Lean economic times always seem to make us take a long, hard look at our lifestyles and what it takes to maintain them. Usually, that's a healthy exercise. ...more

February 8, 2009

Barbara Stewart, chairwoman of the Highlands County commissioners, said she will ask her four fellow commissioners to endorse a proposed doubling of the $1.50 fee on license plate renewals that funds the Transportation Disadvantaged program. ...more

January 6, 2009

State food monitors aren't performing required inspections for more than a fourth of food service establishments that pose the highest risk to the public, according to a report from the state's accountability office. ...more

January 2, 2009

The maker of Airborne dietary supplements has agreed to pay $7 million to settle allegations by 32 states, including Florida, that it made false claims about the benefits of its fruit-flavored products. ...more

December 16, 2008