This is the last MPR column for the next week and a half, as I will be going to home to San Francisco to observe Christmas with family and friends.
But there's still news to report, and we do carry our laptop with us, meaning if there's something significant happening on this vacation, we'll be filling this space.
In any event, just for fun, today I've listed my favorites of the year in film, music and books. You can check out that list here.
In terms of politics, there's a lot happening inside of Tampa's city limits. As you may have heard, we've got a mayor's election in a few months. Last night the Tampa Police Benevolent Association announced they were endorsing former Mayor Dick Greco in 2011. They also made endorsements for city council.
Speaking of the City Council, several members reacted strongly to suggestions that they're indifferent to the concerns that members of the public have regarding panhandlers that solicit on street right-of-ways in the city.
And back to the Tampa elections, we attended a fundraiser for District 5 candidate Carrie West earlier this week, and we just learned that Mike Suarez has entered the race for council in District 1.
And as so many Congressional Democrats became up in arms nearly two weeks ago when President Obama announced his compromise with Republicans on the Bush-era tax cuts, as well as other features such as an extension of unemployment benefits, many Democrats rebelled. Others said they would support the legislation.
And others, like Tampa area Democrat Kathy Castor, were pretty low-key about how they felt about the issue. But a few hours before the very late night vote in Washington last night, Castor was with the majority in supporting the bill.
the report here.
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2010.