FEATURED ATHLETE RIKKA LOVELY, SR., GAITHER After leaving the area briefly last summer with her mother, who is in the U.S. Army, Lovely returned to Gaither. ...more

February 27, 2009

The man who is reported to be President Barack Obama's choice to be the nation's "drug czar" was once a St. Petersburg police officer. ...more

February 24, 2009

The county's Ridge Road extension could become a road to nowhere. ...more

February 18, 2009

Unless Bryce Brown makes a decision Wednesday, the nation's top-ranked recruit will play college football somewhere other than Miami. The national letter of intent Brown was offered by Miami expires Wednesday, and a person involved in recruiting the running back from Wichita, Kansas told The Associated Press the Hurricanes will not reissue the scholarship offer. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because neither Brown's representatives nor Miami could authorize him to speak publicly. "Miami will not give him another letter," the person said. Brian Butler, Brown's advisor, told The AP that he was unaware those scholarship offers have an expiration date, but reiterated that the U.S. Army All-American — who was wooed by most of the nation's big-time programs, and still is having discussions with several of them — won't be signing until March 16. "Not until then," said Butler, who handles all of Brown's dealings with media and coaches. "If there's no letter here from Miami on March 16, then I'll get on the phone. So that's up to Miami. Bryce has his timeline set. We're not changing it at all." Citing NCAA rules, which specifically ban coaches from discussing recruits until their paperwork is filed, Miami coach Randy Shannon refused comment. Signing day was Feb. 4, and that's the date on the NLI issued to Brown by Miami, which means that paper would be valid until Wednesday. Brown, of Wichita East (Kan.) High, committed to Miami months ago. The brother of Miami linebacker Arthur Brown rushed for 1,873 yards and 29 touchdowns in nine games this past season, averaging 9.2 yards per carry for a team that finished 6-3. Later Tuesday, the saga turned again, when Brown announced that his final two recruiting visits will be at LSU later this month and Miami in early March. "They'll be in spring ball, so I want to see how the coaches interact with the players at practice and look at how the new offense is coming along," Brown said in a statement posted on his advisor's Web site, his preferred way of making recruiting-related announcements. "And, most importantly, spend some time with my brother." Other schools Brown is still believed to be considering include Auburn, Kansas State, Tennessee, Oregon and Southern California. His father, Arthur Brown Sr., said he wants his son at Miami. "Most definitely," Arthur Brown Sr. said. "That would be my ideal preference, for he and his brother to play together. That's always been my preference." Even without Brown, Miami had one of the nation's highest-ranked recruiting classes this year, a group that included Parade All-American running back Lamar Miller. He rushed for 1,719 yards and 22 touchdowns this past fall for Miami Killian High. ...more

February 17, 2009

Famed prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch is scheduled to appear at the Brookridge subdivision's Memorial Day service. ...more

February 16, 2009

Longtime WFLA, Channel 8, reporter Rod Challenger is retiring Friday after 30 years at the NBC affiliate. Challenger, 65, manager of News Channel 8's Pinellas Bureau, says he wants to travel and spend more time with his family. ...more

February 12, 2009

Alicia Anderson remembers what she was thinking before everything went black. ...more

February 11, 2009

Suspected hit-and-run driver killed himself after being stopped for speeding ...more

February 10, 2009

Pasco leaders hope to stop and get directions next week about how much federal stimulus money the county might expect for road projects here. Proposals for the federal aid package have been changing almost daily, Doug Uden, the county's transportation planning coordinator, said. ...more

February 7, 2009

Joe Peters discovered resources he never knew were available. He also ran into a couple men who served in his same squadron more than 50 years ago. ...more

February 1, 2009