State Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, is backing Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County's drive to save a $2.5 million housing grant threatened by state budget cuts. ...more

February 23, 2009

Fourteen-year-old Tariq Sharrieff doesn't understand teachers who try to be friends with their students. ...more

February 22, 2009

Fourteen-year-old Tariq Sharrieff doesn't understand teachers who try to be friends with their students. ...more

February 21, 2009

BARTOW (AP) - U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam would rather be in Florida. Joined by friends and family Thursday in his Bartow hometown, the 34-year-old former state legislator and five-term Republican congressman formally announced his plans to run for Florida agriculture commissioner. ...more

February 20, 2009

On the north steps of Polk County's historic courthouse in Bartow, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam officially announced today that he is running for Florida's commissioner of agriculture. ...more

February 18, 2009

Progress Energy Florida has delayed a rate increase meant to help pay for construction of a nuclear power plant not long after it sets an all-time high for peak demand. ...more

February 18, 2009

Many Floridians are howling mad about legislation that would mandate sterilization of dogs and cats, and they should be. ...more

February 16, 2009

A former state representative fired from his job at the Department of Juvenile Justice had more than 350 images of adult pornography on his state laptop, according to a report. The 13-page report said the laptop belonging to former state Rep. Gus Barreiro, a Republican from Miami Beach, was used to view 42 Web pages containing "sexually explicit, sexually provocative and other content." ...more

February 12, 2009

Andy Tuck has been elected to chair the Republican Party of Highlands County. Robert Garcia is the new vice chairman, Sandra Fantauzzi is the secretary, Nadine Tedstone is the treasurer, Joan Hartt is the state committeewoman, and Chuck Oakes is the state committeeman. ...more

February 12, 2009

It is the policy of The Tampa Tribune to correct all errors of fact. To report an error, call (813) 259-7600 or e-mail news@tampatrib.com. ...more

February 11, 2009