'Welcome Home' teaches women in Wimauma to sew, for income and self-confidence
WIMAUMA - When Maggie Pagan was growing up in Peru, she watched her mother, aunt and grandmother make bibs at home to earn extra money. Pagan never picked up the skill, but now that she's living in...
View ArticleLawrence McClure wins Hillsborough's House District 58 seat
PLANT CITY - As expected, Republican Lawrence McClure easily won Tuesday's special election for state House District 58 to replace retired Rep. Dan Raulerson.McClure won 54 percent of the vote to...
View ArticleJoe Henderson: If only there were one day when everyone could just shut it down
We all know the importance of being with family and friends on Christmas. By early evening on Dec. 25, your friends on Facebook will have posted hundreds of pictures of happy gatherings, turkey...
View ArticleGuest column: How people buy groceries is latest lesson for UF ag students in...
It used to be that the building on North Park Road in Plant City was where you bought your peppers, strawberries and tomatoes.Now it's where your future food producers learn how to take the technology...
View ArticleHoward Altman: Battle of the Bulge survivor recalls friendly fire during...
Boris A. Stern was a 19-year-old Army sergeant from Chicago when German forces came pouring westward on Dec. 16, 1944, in the snowy hell of Belgium's Ardennes Forest.He's now 92 and living in...
View ArticleHooper: There's a lot to be said about ushering in the new year at church
For the first time in my life, I rang in the New Year in a church.I'm still in a bit of disbelief about how it all came about.You see, for most of my adult life I've dropped out of New Year's Eve...
View ArticleWhitman: Mary's courage resonates in a modern world
As a little girl, I loved playing with my mom's Nativity set. The Christmas story's hodgepodge cast of characters fascinated me. Every holiday, I arranged and rearranged the shepherds and wise men,...
View ArticleJesuit High students touch migrant families with outreach efforts
DOVER - Nearly 30 miles separate Jesuit High School and some of East Hillsborough's most impoverished migrant communities and families, but students from the school recently bridged the divide with two...
View ArticleUpper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce tops in its category
The Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has been recognized as one of Florida's top chambers of commerce for "outstanding achievement and dedication to the industry,'' according to a news release.The...
View ArticleSacred Heart, Le Meridien team for historic post-Christmas tour in downtown...
This year Sacred Heart Church will partner with Le Meridien Hotel for its third annual "Witness To History Christmas Tour" at 3 p.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 26) in downtown Tampa 509 N Florida Ave. Both of...
View ArticleWilliam March: GOP clout fuels new talk of expanding Hillsborough commission
After the failure of the idea in 2015, there may be another move to enlarge the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners.This time, however, there may be motives beyond increasing minority...
View ArticleLocal charities look to make last push as Christmas nears
TAMPA - If you've got some room on your gift list this year, consider buying gifts for teenagers in need.Local charities say they're experiencing a shortage of gifts for young people ages 13 to...
View ArticleLEAD program builds medical bridge between Tampa, developing countries
TAMPA - Inside a nondescript conference room at Tampa General Hospital on Dec. 7, the face of global health was changing.Sixteen physicians from the cities of Lanzhou and Guigang, China, surrounded by...
View ArticleReaders deliver first-class effort for 'Holiday Hopes' subjects
The Tampa Bay Times' 12th annual Holiday Hopes campaign brought an array of stories to our readers.Over the past five weeks, we learned of Joselynn Colon's perseverance through a troubled childhood and...
View ArticleSunday Conversation: Pastor Mark Saunders' holiday traditions include a love...
Mark Saunders led his first Christmas Eve service at Bay Life Church in Brandon 13 years ago. Though the world has changed a bit, the message never will, says Saunders, 48. Whatever divides people,...
View ArticlePlant City resident blazes a pioneering path for black journalists
PLANT CITY - When Plant City resident Jeraldine Williams walked through the halls of the School of Journalism at the University of Florida in 1963, she wasn't just bringing a new mind to the table. She...
View ArticleOutback Bowl includes variety of events leading up to game
TAMPA - There will be multiple events leading up to the New Year's Day Outback Bowl game between the Michigan Wolverines and South Carolina Gamecocks.Bowl staff and city officials will greet the teams...
View ArticleRuth: Tampa takes a while to realize its potential, but 2018 looks promising
Ever since the city of Tampa was incorporated in 1855 during the first term of Mayor Dick Greco, our little hamlet has evolved and morphed and redefined itself. And it continues to do so to this day....
View ArticleSOCom's wish list includes propaganda drones, building a better commando
TAMPA - As people take stock of their new holiday gifts, the folks at U.S. Special Operations Command are waiting to see if anyone will check items off their list of whiz-bang commando gear.SOCom's...
View ArticleWilliam March: Even local GOP sees Democrats' new energy, but candidates...
As 2017 ended, Hillsborough County Democrats were energized and optimistic that big wins are coming, and Republicans were worried.But so far, there's not much tangible evidence either way.Will the...
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