Editorials
A big hole in the Rays' lineup
Here's the positive spin being put on the departure of John McHale Jr. after only 10 months as chief operating officer of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays: The franchise's operations have improved so dramatically during his short tenure that McHale can leave for a job in the commissioner's office with complete confidence that the Rays will thrive in his absence.

Assaults on sunshine
Tallahassee lawmakers are being even more brazen than usual in trying to create unjustifiable new exceptions to Florida's open-government laws.

Letters
Al-Arian's words reflect hatred
Re: The Al-Arian argument, March 3.

Philip Gailey
Public needs to speak out for open government
People keep moving to Florida, and too many of the newcomers don't know -- or care -- about the state's "Government-in-the-Sunshine" laws. That may be one reason why Florida legislators year after year keep chipping away at these laws that require, with carefully drawn exceptions, open meetings and open records. This issue doesn't seem to have the kind of organized constituency that lawmakers pay attention to. Editorial writers can scream their heads off, but until there is a public outcry that can be heard from Key West to Tallahassee, the forces of darkness will keep drawing the shades on open government in Florida.

Robyn E. Blumner
Internet filters shouldn't bring religious bias to schools
It's a partnership as natural as Adam and Eve: Organizations devoted to promoting conservative religious beliefs are linking up with Internet filtering software to sculpt the world of cyberspace into a Christian-friendly environment.

Adam Smith
Reno is a master at evading questions
The first time I encountered The Glare, I realized Janet Reno was no ordinary interview.

Martin Dyckman
Looking for some honesty on taxes
TALLAHASSEE -- If you own real estate, Gov. Jeb Bush may be raising your taxes this year. To paraphrase Walter Mondale, Bush won't tell you. I just did.