Nelson: Obama birth control compromise “seems to solve the problem”

2012-02-10T17:40:18-05:00

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson issued a cautious statement today saying the President Barack Obama’s compromise on insurance coverage of birth control “seems to solve the problem” of church-affiliated organizations who objected to having their employee policies provide the coverage.

On Thursday, Nelson, who faces a potentially tough re-election fight, was…

Sharpe suspending campaign

2012-02-10T15:11:14-05:00

As expected, Republican Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe has announced he’s suspending his campaign for Congress, in which he would have faced Democratic incumbent Rep. Kathy Castor.

Sharpe said he’s making the move because the district, under the new districting plan just passed in the state Legislature, makes Castor’s district…

Sharpe to make announcement, may be out of House race

2012-02-09T18:16:20-05:00

Republican Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe will make an announcement Friday about his race for the U.S. House against Democratic incumbent Rep. Kathy Castor, and friends and supporters expect he’ll leave the race.

In recent days, Sharpe has been saying the newly redrawn Tampa-based congressional District 14 is just too…

Largo Military Museum Gets New Name, Mission

2012-02-08T16:55:57-05:00

In an effort to expand its audience, The Armed Forces Military Museum in Largo has changed its name to the Armed Forces History Museum.

“We wanted to broaden the scope,” says Cindy Bosselmann, the museum’s director of marketing and promotional events. “A strictly military museum was not broad enough. We…

Planned Parenthood: Polls show Catholics, voters favor contraception coverage

2012-02-07T15:10:34-05:00

Planned Parenthood today went on a public relations offensive over the issue of a federal requirement for health insurance plans to cover contraception, sponsoring one poll and publicizing another that it says show voters, including Catholics, favor the coverage.

A poll done for Planned Parenthood by Public Policy Polling indicates…

Weatherford denies any attempt to undermine West

2012-02-07T12:11:14-05:00

House redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford today denied there was any attempt in the state Legislature to undermine U.S. Rep. Allen West, as West contended in a news release last week.

“I’m a huge supporter of Allen West—he has hit conservative icon status very quickly,” said Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican…

Michelle Obama to tour Florida for healthy eating

2012-02-07T11:46:44-05:00

First Lady Michelle Obama will make stops in Homewood, Orlando and Longwood Friday and Saturday as part of a tour on the two-year anniversary of her Let’s Move! healthy eating initiative.

The initiative, begun in February 2010, is intended to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.

On…

Pentagon Co-Spokesman Changed Trim After Boss’ Haircuts

2012-02-07T11:26:27-05:00

As someone who looks on from the outside, the relation between the newsmaker and the gatekeeper has always fascinated me.

Especially when it comes to the military, and the newsmaker has at least one star on the uniform.

I like finding out how the message gets crafted, how it’s delivered…

Brig. Gen. Becomes Highest-Ranking Death in Afghanistan

2012-02-04T23:26:23-05:00

An Army brigadier general became the highest-ranking service member to die in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, one of three U.S. service members to have died in Afghanistan this week.

Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner, 49, of Fairfax, Va., died Feb. 3, in Kabul…

Special Operations Command To Go Para-Commando Over University of Tampa

2012-02-03T20:57:18-05:00

If you see folks falling from the sky over the University of Tampa tomorrow morning, it’s more than likely the The U.S. Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team, known as the Para-Commandos.

The Para-Commandos are scheduled to perform a free fall parachute demonstration on 8 a.m. during the 38th Annual…