There's a lot that tri-county area residents can give to make someone's holiday season special.

As Florida lawmakers grapple with this year's $2.3 billion shortfall, the palpable effects of a sour state economy can be seen on Lady Lake's balance sheets.

Christina Morse, of Lady Lake, says she consolidates a lot of her driving as she fills up her car at the Sunoco station on Main Street, in Leesburg, on Friday, January 2, 2008.

Many local budget managers found 2008 a creative -- and challenging -- year, as the nation's financial purse strings were being pulled tightly inward.

David Davis was skeptical when he received a call from a phone solicitor who said he was collecting donations for a police organization.