Bad school budget math: More students, less money

The Senate committee crafting the budget for K-12 public and charter schools on Thursday received grim data on projected enrollment and tax revenues that, combined, promise to make their job more challenging. In a 180-degree turn from last spring when education officials were projecting a Read More

Accused elderly bank robber enters plea

He’s 73-years-old and he’s in jail – accused of robbing a bank. James Bruce went before a Hillsborough County judge today to enter a plea of not guilty.

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Is your teacher on the list? Hillsborough releases names of merit pay recipients for 2008-09

It's the list that nobody likes us to publish. But when $7.4 million in tax money is being spent to award merit pay to teachers — many of whom oppose the notion of getting bonuses based on student test results — we feel like the public should see how the money is being spent, Read More

Homeless couple marries outdoors

Nan Schrack and Mark Neville have been together for 14 years, the last five of them on the streets. They’ve had a streak of bad, bad luck: They lost their mobile home in Seffner, Neville’s job as an air conditioning mechanic dried up and day labor jobs disappeared, reports Read More

FCAT testing delayed at some schools

Students across Florida started taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test today. However, kids at several schools in Hillsborough County will have an extra day to study.

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New tool helps identify criminals

Capturing criminals using fingerprints is nothing new – but local law enforcement now has an additional crime fighting tool.

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Publix recalls some seasoning mixes

Publix Super Markets, which has more than 1,000 stores in five Southern states, has voluntarily recalled four kinds of seasoning mixes that may possibly be contaminated with salmonella.

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Florida education news: Truancy court, teacher recruiting, school start dates and more

TOO MANY MISSED DAYS: A Hillsborough mom is jailed after her daughter is truant half the school year. FIRST STEPS: The Hillsborough School Board prepares to buy a computerized training course to prepare for its new teacher evaluation system. FIX IT: The Pinellas school district must take strong Read More