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Top New College administrator leaving for Florida Poly
New College of Florida vice provost Bradley Thiessen stepped down from his role earlier this week to become interim vice president and provost at Florida Polytechnic University. Thiessen served in key administrative roles at New College during a tumultuous transition after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed six trustees to the school...
St. Petersburg police arrest second person accused of vandalizing Pride mural
A second person has been arrested in connection with vandalism to an LGBTQ+ pride street mural in St. Petersburg. In May, St. Petersburg police said they were investigating two cases of vandalism to the city’s Progressive Pride street mural, located at Central Avenue and 25th Street. Police said the vandalism occurred on May 17 and May 22.
St. Pete Beach district fire chief resigns after road rage incident with cyclist
The St. Pete Beach district fire chief who was arrested in May after he was accused of veering his pickup into a cyclist and pushing him has resigned. Thomas P. McClave Jr. submitted a letter last month resigning his position effective June 19. The Tampa Bay Times obtained the letter Wednesday through a records request filed last week.
At Nash Keys piano bar, partners push for hope in downtown Clearwater
CLEARWATER — Another Friday night and Cleveland Street was dead. Then came the music and singing from inside The Nash Keys. Couples on date nights, a 40th birthday party, friends who had traveled all the way from Tampa and Tarpon Springs, all filled tables in front of a pair of piano players belting out requests from the audience. Strangers sang along together — Sweet Caroline, Only the Good Die Young — and got under the rose-colored lights and danced.
Florida appeals judge’s ruling over federal children’s health insurance guidelines
TALLAHASSEE — After a U.S. district judge rejected its arguments, Florida is going to an appeals court in a dispute about new federal guidelines in a program that provides subsidized health insurance to children. Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office and lawyers for the state Agency for Health Care Administration...
Florida Republicans are staying pretty quiet on Biden. Is it a strategy?
In January 2023, a member of the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission said regulators could one day move to ban gas stoves. Florida Republicans quickly responded, telling voters that President Joe Biden was coming for their appliances. “How about, NO,” Sen. Rick Scott wrote on the social media platform X....
Rays tried, but Aaron Judge couldn’t imagine joining Yankees’ rival
ST. PETERSBURG — There were twists and turns during the fall of 2022 that Aaron Judge expected. After breaking Roger Maris’ American League home run record with 62, the slugging outfielder entered the offseason as the biggest name on the market. When he turned down the Yankees’ offer...
How do local zookeepers keep animals cool in Florida’s summer heat?
TAMPA — It was only 9:30 a.m., but it was already 89 degrees with 90% humidity. At ZooTampa, that meant the panthers had some blood popsicles with chicken broth waiting for them. And the black bears had a block of ice embedded with watermelon and apples. Just like a...
Pasco will buy land in Holiday for future homeless shelter
Pasco officials took a cautious step toward assisting the county’s homeless population on Tuesday when the County Commission voted unanimously to spend $775,000 to purchase just over two acres in Holiday. The land was home to an assisted living facility run by the same owner for 30 years. The...
Don’t let Duke Energy and Tampa Electric prioritize profit over people
Floridians pay some of the highest electricity bills in the country. U.S. Energy Information Administration reports show that the average Florida household pays about $2,000 annually, but the average U.S. household spends under $1,500. In Florida, investor-owned electric utilities are given “regulated monopolies.” This means they have a territory in...
Hurricane center tracks system off coast forecast to dump rain on Central Florida
The National Hurricane Center began tracking a system expected to bring extended lightning storms to Florida as drifts up the coast. As of the center’s 8 a.m. tropical outlook, the broad trough of low pressure was producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. “Environmental conditions appear only marginally favorable for some...
Murder, arson, drugs and GPS trackers: 6 arrested in Hillsborough gang take down
A violent gang based in Hillsborough County that committed crimes throughout Florida and in other states has been dismantled with the arrest of six members, including its leader, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Tampa announced on Monday. A 40-page indictment released by prosecutors shows that gang members are suspected...
Family mourns man killed in hit-and-run crash, blames Tampa police
Frank Rodriguez left the Applebee’s on West Hillsborough Avenue near closing time June 21 after a late family dinner. The 29-year-old Tampa man had shared a table with his sister, father and girlfriend. Rodriguez, who recently had been released from prison and was looking for a fresh start, was supposed to start a new job as a cook at the restaurant in a few days.
Trump returns to campaign trail in Florida: ‘It doesn’t matter who they nominate’
Donald Trump decamped to friendly territory on Tuesday, holding a rally at his sprawling Doral golf club where he let loose on President Joe Biden following weeks of turmoil within the Democratic Party. He didn’t hold back. Speaking to thousands of supporters at Trump National Doral Miami, Trump piled...
More than 40 back-to-school events happening around Tampa Bay
School is out and the kids are playing, but back-to-school events are already starting. Free school physicals are taking place this month, and other events are quickly approaching. Here’s a list of school supply giveaways, tax-free shopping days and other ways to get ready to head back to the classroom.
Florida universities take hard line against student protesters
The big news: Florida’s universities continue to take a hard line against students who participated in pro-Palestine campus protests. Despite recommendations for lighter penalties, the University of Florida’s dean of students suspended several demonstrators, withholding the diploma of at least one. All have been banned from campus, and would have to apply for readmission to resume their studies.
Pinellas County transit to receive largest grant to date for electric buses
Pinellas County’s public transit agency will soon add 16 new electric and hybrid buses to its fleet, thanks to a grant from the Federal Transit Administration for $27.8 million. It’s the largest grant the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has ever received through a competitive process, agency spokesperson Stephanie Weaver...
There’s an invasive Cuban tree frog in your home. Here’s what to do next.
Cuban tree frogs can hide in your toilet, in your gutters, in crevasses around your yard. On warm nights, they hang on walls and windows near lighted areas and wait for insects to eat. They’ve adapted to living among humans — and have been known to jump on people as they enter and exit their homes at night.
Bucs training camp kicks off in 12 days. Here are 12 predictions
As sure as Bucco Bruce winks, the oppressive summer humidity has hit our region. And the Bucs rookies aren’t far behind. Only 12 days from Wednesday, Bucs newbies report for training camp, signaling the start of another NFL season. The dog days are about to be supplanted by demanding ones; the soupy heat will test character and core strength, while presumably clarifying the depth chart.
In U-turn, Tampa renews contract for gunshot detection technology
For a moment, it seemed Tampa was joining other U.S. cities that have parted ways with technology that can detect where guns have been fired after concerns arose about accuracy and transparency. In early June, the City Council narrowly voted to deny a $280,000 contract for another year of ShotSpotter,...
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