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Tampa Bay Times
Here’s which Florida Republicans will be at the GOP’s national convention
Gov. Ron DeSantis and dozens of other high-ranking Florida politicians are headed to Milwaukee next week for the Republican National Convention. The convention, which will take place July 15 to 18, is a chance for the party to rally behind former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 election. DeSantis,...
Florida Democrat: Impeach 2 conservative Supreme Court justices
Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democratic U.S. representative from Florida, is backing the progressive-led push to have two conservative Supreme Court justices impeached. Articles of impeachment drafted by Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York accused Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito of failing to disclose gifts from wealthy supporters and refusing to recuse themselves from high-profile cases in which the justices had a conflict of interest.
Rays’ Wander Franco faces additional charge of human trafficking
ST. PETERSBURG — Rays shortstop Wander Franco could face a prison term of up to 20 years if convicted of human trafficking, which was among the formal charges filed against him this week by prosecutors in the Dominican Republic. The new charge was included in a news release from...
Video shows plane tire exploding on takeoff at Tampa International Airport
A flight headed to Phoenix was delayed Wednesday morning after a tire on the plane exploded during takeoff at Tampa International Airport, video shows. Video posted on YouTube by the user Captain Steven Markovich shows an American Airlines plane taxiing on the runway when its right tire catches fire and smoke fills the air. Video shows the tires sparking and fragments of tires left on the runway.
Pass-a-Grille Beach renourishment gets federal approval, will continue
Pinellas County will move forward with plans to fully renourish eroded Pass-a-Grille Beach this summer after the county said Wednesday it had received federal approval for the project. In June, the county renourished a section of the beach between Fourth Avenue and Ninth Avenue with about 10,000 cubic yards of...
The latest on Florida State, ACC, Clemson lawsuits
The dueling lawsuits between Florida State and the ACC are playing out in courts: Florida State University Board of Trustees vs. Atlantic Coast Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference vs. Board of Trustees of Florida State University. We’re using this as a landing spot for the latest updates with FSU’s case...
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...
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