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DeSantis vetoes bill to bolster warnings about Florida’s polluted waters
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday night vetoed a measure that would have increased warnings for Floridians and tourists when a beach or public waterway is polluted. The bill required the Florida Department of Health to issue health advisories if water quality failed to meet the agency’s standards, and required closing polluted beaches “if it is deemed necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public,” according to a House staff analysis of the bill.
Clearwater has a $100 million plan to prevent this neighborhood from flooding
As Hurricane Idalia swept past Tampa Bay last summer, storm surge topped seawalls and inundated David Hook’s Clearwater Beach neighborhood. Though his home was spared, houses up and down Hook’s street weren’t so lucky. Neighbors soon mounted full remodels, only to be flooded out again months later when another storm washed away progress in December.
I hate leaf blowers and you should, too
I had always thought of golf and fishing as the most popular hobbies for middle-aged men. But in my neighborhood? It’s leaf blowing. Like a weeklong pickleball match, two neighbors volley leaves back and forth from their lawns — yet no one ever wins. Because I suppose he doesn’t want the fun to end when the gas runs out, another neighbor is always strapped down with two leaf blowers.
Fourth of July fireworks and events happening around Tampa Bay
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified July 4, 1776, and established the United States of America. These days, we celebrate with barbecues, baseball and fireworks. The following is a list of many ways the Tampa Bay is marking the holiday.
Why does DeSantis keep trying to hide public records?
My newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel, has uncovered scores of scandals through the years — everything from corruption at the expressway authority to criminal activity at Joel Greenberg’s trainwreck of a tax office. We were able to expose these sordid activities for one reason: We had access to public...
Aw shucks, it’s scallop season: Where to hunt for tasty shellfish in Tampa Bay
Get some butter melting: Scallop season is here. Scalloping is like an Easter egg hunt in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Equipped with snorkeling gear, you float above the seagrass beds, scanning for the tell-tale signs of scallops — typically their shell edges or blue eyes peering out from their hiding spots.
Florida school districts get early start on teacher pay talks
The big story: In recent years, several school districts across Florida have taken months to complete their teacher contract negotiations, some not reaching deals until the school year was nearly done. The situation so irritated state officials, who said it shouldn’t take so long, that the State Board of Education...
State Farm, Allstate had worst rate of paying Florida homeowners claims, report says
TALLAHASSEE — Floridians filing a homeowners insurance claim had the lowest chance in the 50 states of getting a check from their insurer in 2022, with more than a third of claims going unpaid. And last year, those filing claims with two of the state’s largest, healthiest companies —...
A Tampa Police officer was killed in 1949. His story binds two friends.
TAMPA — As a young newsboy in Ybor City in 1949, Jesse Roger looked forward to regular chats with a Tampa Police officer named Morris Lopez. Girls, school, sports — they covered it all. During one of those chats, on July 9, 1949, Lopez was shot and killed,...
Need food for your kids over summer? Here’s how to get help.
A mom worries she won’t have enough food to get her kids through the week. A father wishes he could cook healthy meals but can’t afford the groceries. A teacher sees hungry, unfocused kids in class who aren’t getting the nutrients they need. Each of these examples...
Here come the brides: St. Petersburg is the new bachelorette party hot spot
ST. PETERSBURG — Women storm into Ferg’s in a blur of sequins, slicing through the crowd of sweaty T-shirts in their rented white dresses. Down the street, at Dirty Laundry, another party sprints to the dance floor like a color-coordinated herd of gazelles at the opening notes of “Gasolina.” Over at The One Night Stand, others contemplate a mechanical bull ride.
Jac Caglianone the latest in Plant High’s run of high-round draftees
Despite three trips to the final four since 2009, a state title continues to elude veteran Plant High School baseball coach Dennis Braun. But atoning for his lack of hardware has been high draft picks. A half-dozen of them. When record-setting University of Florida slugger (and Panthers alumnus) Jac Caglianone...
Dear Annie: Should I go to my ex’s funeral for our kids?
Dear Annie: My ex-husband is in bad health, and I expect he might pass away soon. We divorced over 20 years ago and ended on bad terms, so we haven’t communicated since. But we share two adult children who have maintained a relationship with him. I’m struggling with whether...
It’s PTSD awareness day, and struggling veterans need our help
Congress long ago designated today as National PTSD Awareness Day. Though tonight’s first presidential debate will inevitably overshadow it, we are obliged to understand the threat and severity post-traumatic stress disorder represents for our veterans struggling with it, and we must enable them to manage it. Their progress comes in small steps, day by day, hour by hour.
Biden and Trump will talk big at the debate, but how much could either really do?
A new phase of this election season will begin tonight when President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off, and the blame game is certain to be part of the spectacle. Presidents are faulted for just about everything that happens during their term. But they are not really responsible for as many things as voters, journalists or political opponents try to blame them for.
In major blow to OnlyFans model computer hacking case, judge tosses state’s evidence
MIAMI — A Miami-Dade judge on Wednesday tossed out key evidence in a computer hacking case against OnlyFans model and accused killer Courtney Clenney and her parents, ruling that prosecutors had breached an established legal principle in obtaining it. In a major blow to the state’s case, Circuit Judge...
Glasnow’s a star. Pepiot’s still a pup. Which career would you prefer?
ST. PETERSBURG — The comparisons are neither fair, nor pertinent at this stage. Ryan Pepiot is not as accomplished as Tyler Glasnow. He’s not as dominant, his ERA is not as impressive and his starts are not considered must-see television. And yet, given the choice between the rest...
In Hillsborough, DeSantis appoints commission candidate to open seat
One hopeful running for the Hillsborough County Commission just got a a new title to tout on the campaign trail: incumbent. Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Christine Miller, a Republican candidate for the County Commission, to the seat recently vacated by Commissioner Michael Owen. In a surprise resignation earlier this...
Yandy Diaz extends hit streak, ties Rays record
ST. PETERSBURG — Yandy Diaz gets a hit so often, the other team asks for some of his mojo. He tied Jason Bartlett’s all-time club record for consecutive games with a hit (19) with his leadoff single in the first inning on Wednesday. “I’m happy I was able...
Florida ‘will not comply,’ with US surgeon general’s gun violence advisory, DeSantis says
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said Florida “will not comply” with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s declaration that firearm violence is a public health crisis. Murthy, the nation’s top doctor, issued the advisory Tuesday as the U.S. grapples with growing numbers of deaths and injuries involving firearms. He called for a comprehensive approach similar to responses to tobacco and motor vehicle deaths.
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