www2.tbo.com - Breaking News

GOP candidates to woo conservatives at big event

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:39:04 -0500

Three of the four GOP presidential candidates are addressing a major conservative gathering in Washington, giving them a high-profile stage to reshape their messages at a moment of uncertainty in the contest.

Social worker recounts minutes before Powell kills two sons

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:36:08 -0500

Josh Powell told his 7-year-old son he had a "surprise" for him moments before attacking and killing him and his 5-year-old brother, according to the state social worker who was supposed to supervise a visit between Powell and his sons.

Santorum amplifies faith in way GOP rivals don't

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:33:03 -0500

Rick Santorum stirs his ever-growing crowds when he promises to right a country awash in "immoral debt" and to replace an administration he argues has "callousness toward life and family and faith."

Groups demand new probe into Marine photo with Nazi symbol

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:29:04 -0500

A leading Jewish organization and others outraged by a photo showing Marine snipers in Afghanistan posing with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol are demanding President Barack Obama order an investigation and hold the troops accountable.

Former Orange County commissioner sentenced to 22 months

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:14:06 -0500

A former Orange County commissioner has been sentenced to almost two years in prison in a public corruption case.

3 dead, 2 injured in standoff in Deerfield Beach R.V. park

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:08:07 -0500

Authorities say a barricaded man killed himself and two others following a standoff at a South Florida recreational vehicle park.

Pedestrian crossing Gandy hit by tanker, dies

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:04:07 -0500

The driver of the truck stopped, but witnesses told officials another car ran over the woman and continued driving. A search for that driver is ongoing.

Lightning fall to Rangers in overtime, 4-3

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:03:32 -0500

The fundamentals of the game do not often lead to fault. But breaks sometimes being what they are, they can result in unfortunate misgivings.

Lawmakers trying to tame Amazon in sales tax fight

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0500

Florida lawmakers want Internet retailers such as Amazon to start collecting and handing over sales taxes when consumers in the Sunshine State shop online.

Report: Butch Davis will join Bucs' staff

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:41:59 -0500

It appears as though new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano may indeed turn to Butch Davis to help him make the transition from the college game to the pros.

Rainy weather could dampen state fair plans tonight

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:06:07 -0500

Some rainy, cooler weather will dampen plans for those hoping to attend the Florida State Fair tonight.

Hillsborough County planning contracts raise questions

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0500

With the stroke of a pen, Robert Hunter can legally spend up to $25,000 per contract to pay for planning commission work without his board's approval.

Cyber war continuing at local restaurants

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Aaron Walker got paid on a Friday. But when he looked at his checking account balance that evening, he knew something was wrong. He had $67.

Tampa girl injured in accidental shooting, deputies say

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:30:44 -0500

A 15-year-old girl is in critical condition after an accidental shooting at a Tampa apartment complex Thursday night, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies said.

Tampa will get advice on developing riverfront

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Development experts from the Urban Land Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based planning think tank, will offer advice to city officials about revitalizing the area along the Hillsborough River north of downtown.

Teen ballerina makes big strides at prestigious event

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Hannah Bettes, a 15-year-old ballet student at the Patel Conservatory at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, placed second in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne ballet competition in Switzerland last week.

Otto: Welcome home a wounded warrior

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Otto column

Authorities: Seattle dad Powell had 'incestuous' images

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:47:05 -0500

SEATTLE — Before Josh Powell was going to try to win back custody of his children last week, Washington state authorities received materials from Utah police that had been discovered on a computer in Powell's home two years ago. Authorities say the images depicted "incestuous" sex and were disconcerting enough that they prompted a psychologist to recommend that Powell undergo an intensive psychosexual evaluation.

Santorum: Obama trying to allow Iran to have nuke

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:33:04 -0500

OKLAHOMA CITY — Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is accusing President Barack Obama of actively seeking ways to allow Iran to gain a nuclear weapon.

Accused Romney 'glitter bomber' fired from Colo. Senate

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:28:06 -0500

DENVER — The Colorado Senate has fired an unpaid intern accused of "glitter bombing" Mitt Romney after the Colorado caucuses.

Company seeks dismissal of suit over Confederate flag firing

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:18:06 -0500

MEDFORD, Ore. — Ken Webber still proudly flies his Confederate battle flag with the word "Redneck" emblazed across it from the CB antenna on his pickup truck. He hopes that his lawsuit in federal court will get his job back driving a school bus.

Pasco school official fields questions on four-day week

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:08:06 -0500

A public forum on a possible four-day school week in Pasco County drew a sparse but lively crowd to Pasco Middle School, where school board member Steve Luikart fielded questions and comments.

Florida redistricting plans get final passage; Democrats file suit

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:40:48 -0500

TALLAHASSEE — Democrats filed a lawsuit against a congressional redistricting map immediately after that plan and a second one redrawing Florida House and Senate districts received final approval today from the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Purple squirrel spotted by central Pa. couple

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:17:04 -0500

JERSEY SHORE, Pa. — A couple in central Pennsylvania found a very unusual critter in their backyard — a purple squirrel.

Miss. lawmaker: 'Gulf of America' bill was a joke

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:53:59 -0500

All the people outraged about the Mississippi bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" have missed its satirical intent, the sponsor said today.

Fla. House approves $69.2 billion budget

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:36:07 -0500

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House today voted along partisan lines in favor of a bare-bones $69.2 billion budget for the coming year.

States, banks reach foreclosure-abuse settlement

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:28:52 -0500

U.S. states have reached a $25 billion deal with the nation's biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses that occurred after the housing bubble burst.

Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:03 -0500

Eastman Kodak Co. said today that it will stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames, marking the end of an era for the company that brought photography to the masses more than a century ago.

Conservatives: Romney's OK if Obama is alternative

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:09:14 -0500

WASHINGTON — If Mitt Romney needs some good news in an otherwise lousy week, he might find it in an improbable place: the packed hallways of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

Hundreds ask Vermont to keep prank pig on police decal

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:53:58 -0500

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Remember the pig hidden within the decal on the doors of some Vermont State Police cruisers?