Tampa City Council members moved forward Thursday with the decision to change the name of the street now known as "La Sétima" to "La Séptima," but not before Council member Charlie Miranda made a proposal to reduce the cost of the change:

Offer the old signs for sale.

"I think you'll be surprised what someone will pay for an old sign," he said. "If, legally, I can be a bidder, I will bid."

Last week, the council decided to change the Spanish secondary name for Seventh Avenue, the Latin Quarter's main strip, from La Sétima to La Séptima, which supporters say is a more accurate and commonly regarded Spanish spelling for "The Seventh." Changing the street signs on about 10 blocks in Ybor City will cost an estimated $2,000. ... Read more

Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller asked the county attorney Wednesday for a legal opinion on whether the county can order an audit of the Children's Board.

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County has been in the spotlight recently for handing out no-bid contracts to companies with relationships with that board's employees. Scrutiny began after CEO Luanne Panacek had a friend spread holy oil around the office after a particularly contentious meeting with her board.

Miller asked acting county attorney Don Odom whether the county could conduct a management and financial audit of the agency.

The Children's Board is actually a separate government from the county's, with its own board of directors and property tax, money from which it controls. It grants money to social service groups that provide programs for children. ... Read more

Another governmental agency is trying to get money back from former Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White.

The State Board of Administration filed suit against White earlier this month seeking $68,436 he withdrew from a retirement account after leaving office in 2010.

Under Florida statutes, public employees convicted of certain crimes, including bribery, are subject to forfeiting their retirement benefits. White, 47, a Democrat, was convicted of seven federal charges in November 2011, including that he accepted bribes from tow truck drivers seeking favors while he was on the County Commission.

“Plaintiff has therefore forfeited his right to his Investment Plan funds due to his felony conviction of the crimes...committed within the course and scope of his employment with the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners,” the lawsuit reads.

In other words, the SBA, which oversees the state’s investments, including the retirement accounts of public employees, says White must return the early payout. ... Read more

An aide to state Sen. Jim Norman has reached a plea agreement in the federal tax case against him.

Terms of the agreement between aide Ben Kelly and the U.S. Attorney’s office have not yet been disclosed. Kelly’s attorney, Todd Foster, and U.S. Attorney Robert O’Neill, said they could not provide details until the agreement is finalized. That should happen by the end of the month, both said.

Kelly faces five misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns from 2006 to 2010. The charges spun off from a federal investigation of the 2006 purchase by Norman’s wife of a lakefront Arkansas home with the help of $500,000 from a long-time campaign supporter of her husband’s.

Kelly was an aide to Norman, R-Tampa, for most of his 18-year tenure as a Hillsborough County commissioner, which ended in 2010. He also worked on his election campaigns and joined Norman’s staff when he was elected to the Senate that same year.