Hillsborough County firefighters conducted water rescue drills this week in preparation for the busy July Fourth holiday weekend. The training, which was conducted off Little Harbor Pier in Ruskin, included plucking would-be victims from the rough waters of the Bay. There were also drills related to navigational techniques and search patterns. ...more

July 3, 2009

•As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, 4.17 inches of rain had fallen at Tampa International Airport. That compares with 5.1 inches for the whole month of June. ...more

July 2, 2009

Citing the economic downturn, the county's water department will close its South Shore customer service center July 2 at the South Shore Regional Service Center, 410 30th St. SE, Ruskin. The four employees at the office will be reassigned to other posts in the water resource department. ...more

July 1, 2009

Hillsborough County Planning & Growth Management and Office of Neighborhood Relations will host a public workshop regarding progress on the Little Manatee South Community Plan. ...more

June 11, 2009

Regarding the Sen. Mike Bennett builder or growth bill passed by the Legislature but opposed by all four senators representing the Tampa area and its suburbs, along with Polk County Sen. Paula Dockery: ...more

May 22, 2009

As of 5 p.m. Monday, rainfall totals in the Bay area for the day included: TAMPA ...more

May 19, 2009

Personally, I could care less if a pet store that deals with exotic pets goes broke. ("Pet peeves," May 11). ...more

May 13, 2009

Hillsborough County neighborhoods needing playground equipment, planning festivals or trying to beautify can apply for grants of up to $1,500 from the county. ...more

May 6, 2009

Hillsborough County neighborhoods needing playground equipment, planning festivals or trying to beautify can apply for grants of up to $1,500 from the county. ...more

May 1, 2009

A Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy knew something was amiss about a backhoe chugging along in Gibsonton about 3 this morning, an affidavit states. The deputy pulled over the backhoe on Nundy Avenue just west of U.S. 41 South after noting the driver wasn't using slow-moving-vehicle indicators. Further investigation and a chat with the driver, Charles James Smith, 24, revealed the backhoe was stolen, an affidavit states. ...more

April 28, 2009