Deadline looms for school meal sign-ups
Free or reduced-price meals, as well as some government programs, depend on parents turning in updated applications.

GOP sheriff hopeful touts experience
First in a series of profiles of the candidates in the Republican sheriff's primary.

Mural idea adds spice to primary
A former proposal to depict a partially nude woman on a New Port Richey building surfaces in the Democratic race.

Isolated prisoner starts to eat again
The fast attracted the attention of supporters of transgendered people, a friend said, and that has given the inmate hope.

Candidate replies
The Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. Here are those replies.

Bonus, raise given teachers far from generous in reality
Editor: The Pasco School District has enjoyed some positive press lately about the $1,000 bonus and the generous raise given to teachers. It is time for some realism. The raise is not a true raise since it includes the $1,000 bonus. This one time only bonus was a signing bonus due to the shortage of teachers. However, if it is figured into the raise, the raise is actually about 3 percent to 3.2 percent for a five- to 10-year teacher. It is also a "boomerang bonus" because it goes back to the district if the teacher goes over the allowed leave days. The teachers also sacrificed two days off in exchange for the bonus. Another disgrace has come to my attention: a school charges $6 for math workbooks but the workbooks were free to the school. Parents are being ripped off. This is a great disappointment and requires an explanation.

Man in his 60s sought in armed robbery
PORT RICHEY -- A man armed with a revolver and holding a newspaper to conceal his face robbed AABCO Mortgage Loans at 10037 U.S. 19 on Wednesday afternoon.

Gators, Rams to face off in early duel
Land O'Lakes, hosting Saturday's Gator Invitational, is looking forward to trying to defeat defending state champions Ridgewood.

Defending champs reload
Junior Mi-Heui "Mickey" Cho will be joined at Saddlebrook this season by top junior players from France and Brazil.

Flag football division begins play
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Two weeks after the scheduled kickoff of the Pasco Police Athletic League's flag football division, everything was finally a go for a game on Wednesday night as New Port Richey took on host Tarpon Springs at the Tarpon Sports Complex.

Woman, 76, falls, breaks arm in purse snatching
DADE CITY -- A 76-year-old woman fell and broke her arm Tuesday night after two men grabbed her purse as she left a Dade City restaurant, the Police Department reported.