Recent tests conducted at two Hillsborough County schools have revealed higher-than-acceptable levels of arsenic, mercury, lead and other toxic contaminants in the soil, the district says. ...more

November 14, 2009

A group of residents plans to protest in front of Long Middle School on Monday to show their opposition to a cell tower being erected at the school. ...more

October 31, 2009

Florida officials say they will soon begin air tests in some homes to determine whether fumes emitted from Chinese drywall can sicken people. ...more

April 17, 2009

Dear Mr. HandyPerson, I read your column regularly and find many sensible solutions to problems. However, in your column on discouraging raccoons, you left out fox urine as a deterrent. ...more

March 22, 2009

Parents opposed to a cell phone tower at Cimino Elementary School are urging likeminded parents to attend a March 16 Hillsborough County zoning hearing in a last-ditch effort to stop the tower from being erected. ...more

March 4, 2009

Hoping to garner more community support for their cause, parents opposed to placing a cell phone tower at Cimino Elementary School and other public schools will host a meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Bloomingdale Regional Library. Meeting organizer Louise Bravo, the parent of a Cimino Elementary student, said a groundswell of protest is the only way to stop Collier Enterprises II from placing the 100-foot cell tower at the school, at 4329 Culbreath Road, following Principal Deborah Talley's Feb. 10 decision to recommend putting up the cell tower. Cimino PTA President Pearl Chiarenza said all the studies she has seen have been inconclusive, and she is in favor of constructing the tower. ...more

February 24, 2009

Schools that want to put up cell phone towers would have to hold two public hearings under land development code changes recommended Wednesday by the Hillsborough County Commission. ...more

February 19, 2009

Bloat, or gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV), is a serious health risk for many dogs, but few know anything about it. ...more

January 19, 2009

An underground plume of industrial chemicals has spread farther than previously thought and is contaminating the air inside homes, according to new filings in a federal class-action lawsuit. ...more

January 10, 2009

An underground plume of industrial chemicals in the Azalea area of St. Petersburg has spread farther than previously thought and is contaminating the air inside homes, according to new filings in a federal class-action lawsuit. ...more

January 9, 2009