Conservative powerbroker Ralph Hughes, who spent millions of dollars promoting his anti-tax, small government causes and his favored political candidates, died owing the federal government tens of millions of dollars in taxes, according to the IRS.......here 
Fried Shrimp
The eight-foot alligator opens its jaws wide and hisses in the dark at Julie Harter, who takes a few steps closer and dangles a lasso just like the kind that rodeo cowboys use..........more
Other board members sat silently as Commissioner Rose Ferlita got up to ask a clerk to replay Beckner's opening comments over headphones...........here
Tampa's mayor has decided not to honor a controversial Muslim civil rights group this year. Mayor Pam Iorio said Thursday she made the decision after hearing from people who complained that the Council on American-Islamic Relations has ties to terrorist groups.......more
"He said, 'Well, if you're ever looking for a job, I could use you up here. That is, if you don't mind hanging with Democrats for a while,'" said Baker, a Republican.............here
Thinking about a vacation? 
E-mail pictures with your name and photo details in the body of the message. Then view your photos in tampabay.com's Wildlife Photo Gallery and vote for your favorites........here
Hamburger
Commissioners,
Residents of this contentious beach community in attendance at Sunday’s Tampa Bay Rays game against the Washington Nationals were surprised to see a former commissioner standing with a group of beach mayors on the field.........more
The recession is hurting U.S. cities at "radically varying levels," which will lead to an uneven economic recovery, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.......here
I had my own concerns with two of her minions getting these raises. Lucia Garsys is listed in the Times article as a “former planner,” yet she makes even more money than the head of The Planning Commission. How can Bean justify this, and more importantly how can Commissioners let her get away with this? Especially with elections nearing?........Kevin Beckner
Two dozen Yorkshire Terriers will go up for adoption Thursday at Hillsborough Animal Services. The dogs were confiscated from a suspected puppy mill being run by a mother and son out of two locations in Seffner and Tampa..........here
In keeping with the growing worldwide celebration of Juneteenth, WMNF is, in its second year, embarking on pre-empting its regular broadcast to provide a full day of African American programming on Friday, June 19, 2009 commencing at 4:00 AM until 6:00 AM on Saturday, June 20, 2009..........here
I wasn’t the only one that thought something smelled funny about this Cone Ranch deal, a recent proposal by 
