EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK: Reshaping Sulphur Springs
Josiah Richardson built a water tower in 1927 as a landmark for his thriving tourist spa at Tampa's Sulphur Springs. The hotel, arcade and guest cottages are gone; bums, mutts and prostitutes now roam the gentle slopes along the Hillsborough River. Yet after decades of neglect by the city, Sulphur Springs has a chance to recapture a piece of its dignified past. The outcome of the effort will show whether Tampa is serious about neighborhoods and historic preservation.

Children aided by care standards
After years of collaboration, Florida's health-care regulators are on the verge of proposing new standards of care governing all hospitals that treat children. These pediatric standards -- the first-ever in the nation -- are sure to draw fire, especially from hospitals not currently meeting the highest standards. But they move Florida in the right direction. Once established, the standards would likely improve children's services, encourage hospitals to work together and give parents some assurance that facilities marketing themselves as capable of treating children live up to that billing.

The write-in ruse
The state Division of Elections should stipulate that the presence of a write-in candidate is not cause to close a primary.

Times alienates readers by its slant to the left
Recently, your paper reported that circulation has slipped about 4 percent since last year. That is unfortunate since, in general, you provide an excellent product.