Friday, May 18, 2012
Most weapons — but not concealed firearms carried with a permit — will be banned in the area surrounding the Republican National Convention, including part of Harbour Island and the University of Tampa.
If you work in downtown, attend classes at the University of Tampa or plan to visit the area during the August Republican National Convention, here's some news you need to know about. The Tampa City Council has voted to ban most weapons from the "Event Zone" set up for protests around this summer's Republican National Convention. The zone — which includes downtown north to Interstate 275 and Interstate 4, Ybor City, the northern part of Harbour Island and an area across the Hillsborough River that includes the University of Tampa — is city officals' attempt to keep demonstrators safe in an area designated for protests. But Thursday's 4-2 council vote (with Mary Mulhern and Yvonne Yolie Capin dissenting) does not include restrictions on the…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The county is scaling back on the number of polling locations and precincts it offers in time for November’s presidential election.
New Tampa voters accustomed to reporting to the same poll election after election may be in for a surprise this November. The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office is scaling back on the number of polling locations and precincts it has. The move is being made on the heels of new district lines being drawn for county, state and federal representative seats. “Redistricting is done every 10 years in accordance with the U.S. Census,” said Travis Abercrombie, spokesman for the Hillsborough elections office. “Legislators determine where the specific districts will be placed, then submit their proposals to the courts for approval. Once approved by the courts, we adjust the precinct lines to conform to the different districts.” …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Educators have proposed reducing the FCAT writing passing score to increase passing rates. A discussion is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Less than 30 percent of fourth graders in Florida passed the FCAT writing test this year, according to preliminary results released on Monday, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times today. That's a steep dip compared to last year when 81 percent scored a passing 4.0 or better. The plummeting scores have prompted extreme concern among educators and state officials. On Monday, Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson proposed reducing the FCAT writing passing score from 4.0 to 3.5. Under that standard, 48 percent of fourth-graders would have passed the test with a 3.5 or better, along with 52 percent of eighth-graders and 60 percent of 10th-graders, according to the Times story. Florida education officials will hold an emergency conference call …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Residents can only water their lawns one day a week now.
The rules of the game have changed for customers of the Tampa Water Department. Starting today, lawns may only be watered one day a week. The city tightened its water restrictions in response to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s modified Phase II Water Shortage Emergency declaration. The new restrictions affect homes and businesses within the city’s limits. They apply to those using the city’s water system, well and surface water to irrigate their lawns. Reclaimed water users are not included. Tampa water customers who live in unincorporated Hillsborough need to follow Hillsborough County Water Resource Services restrictions. For information on those rules, call 813-275-7094. "Conditions continue to be drier than normal …
An identity thief who has stolen someone’s name and Social Security number will not be able to obtain new credit in that name as credit files are essentially locked.
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Thursday, May 10
From Hillsborough County Government Online: According to statistics from the Federal Trade Commission’s 2011 Consumer Sentinel, Florida had the highest per capita rate of reported identity theft complaints in the nation. Many Florida consumers are unaware of a valuable tool available since 2006 that allows them to freeze credit reports to combat identity theft and prevent financial loss. What you should know about a credit report security freeze: The cost to place a freeze on credit files: How to freeze a credit report: Log onto the County’s Consumer Protection Agency website and click on “Identity theft” to obtain a copy of Security Freeze Information, or call 813-903-3430.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Florida College Democrats around the state descended on the offices of Senator Rubio to ask him to support freezing the loan-interest rate at 3.4 percent.
Student loan interest rates are poised to double come July 1 if Congress does not act, and that doesn’t sit well with members of the Florida College Democrats. “It’s kicking the students while they’re down,” said Colton Canton, president of the organization’s arm at the University of South Florida. As outstanding loan debt hits the $1 trillion mark, members of the Florida College Democrats visited the offices of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, Monday, asking him to help keep rates low. Canton and two other members of the group, unannounced, knocked on the door of Rubio’s office off Fowler Avenue to make their plea. What do you think? Should interest rates on student loans be locked in by Congress? Let us know in the comments section. U.S…
Members of the Florida College Democrats will visit the senator’s North Tampa office today.
With student loan interest rates poised to double, members of the Florida College Democrats plan to take action today. Students from the group will visit Sen. Marco Rubio’s offices throughout the state asking for his support to keep rates low. What do you think about the potential hike in student loan interest rates? Let us know in the comments section below. “The interest rate on student loans is set to double unless Congress acts, and this week the U.S. Senate will vote on a plan to prevent this crippling hike – on the same day outstanding student loan debt in our country will hit $1 trillion,” a press release from the Florida College Democrats said. “But the outcome is far from clear. That’s why President Obama is urging Americans …
Friday, May 4, 2012
“Be Floridian” is messaging on Tampa buses to support new city fertilizer ordinance.
Submitted by Nanette O’Hara: Bright orange bus wraps heralded the roll-out of the “Be Floridian” awareness campaign Friday, May 4, in support of Tampa’s new fertilizer ordinance. The bus wraps urge residents to skip the fertilizer in the summer to protect Tampa Bay and other waterways that are our major source of fun. The campaign’s mascot is the iconic plastic pink yard flamingo. “Be Floridian” is a regional education campaign developed by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. It debuted last year in Pinellas County and expands this year to Tampa, which is joining Pinellas in enacting the strictest urban fertilizer regulations in Florida. The city’s ordinance bans the use and sale of lawn and landscape fertilizers containing nitrogen from June …
The New Tampa Regional Library is one of the drop-off locations for residents wishing to donate cell phones.
For members of the military, staying in touch with family members is an invaluable way to boost morale. That's why, four years ago, the county launched its Cell Phones for Soldiers program, collecting used cell phones that could be exchanged for calling cards for members of the military stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas locations. On May 2 at the Hillsborough County Commission meeting, the county demonstrated the success of the program when it presented 2,600 calling cards representing 170,000 minutes to the MacDill Air Force Base Airman & Family Readiness Center, the 6th Medical Group and 6th Air Mobility Wing, and the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps. Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded as a …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
County Commissioner Ken Hagan said the county's current 65 percent euthanasia rate is unacceptable.
There's changes on the horizon for Hillsborough County Animal Services as a new director comes on board and the county studies ways to reduce the number of animals euthanized at the shelter at 440 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa. At the Hillsborough County Commission meeting May 2, County Administrator Mike Merrill said the county will release the name of the new director of the shelter. For the past several years, Animal Services has been overseen by interim directors, most recently Jack Carlisle. Merrill told commissioners that the chosen candidate was selected after a comprehensive review of candidates including members of the veterinary community and members of the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee. "There were a lot of …
chayask
4:55 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I have two comments that might make a point in how important grammar and punctuation are: Grammar is the difference between knowing your s&*t and knowing you're s&*t. 'Let's eat Grandma!' or, 'Let's eat, Grandma!" These are two examples of what will not be caught by spell check and why we should not be relying on them. Students DO need to be taught grammar, punctuation, and spelling; they ARE … more ›