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Hope, then heartbreak, as first ‘spinning’ sawfish dies in Tampa Bay
GULF OF MEXICO — The day was supposed to be a celebration. As one of Florida’s rarest marine animals dies at alarming rates, a team of shark researchers had a surge of hope when, two days earlier, they caught a healthy adult smalltooth sawfish offshore Tampa Bay. Not...
Why the Rays are thinking more and running less
ST. PETERSBURG — Jose Caballero has stolen more bases than any other player in the American League and, with 24, has the third most in the majors. But the Rays infielder also has made the walk of shame more than anyone, the lonely trek off the field after being caught stealing an MLB-most eight times and picked off four more.
Rays winning just enough to make trade deadline a potential nightmare
ST. PETERSBURG — They are not dominant, scary or amazing. But they are kind of feisty. They have struggled against AL East teams, right-handers and contenders. But, somehow, they are still hanging around. Meet the 2024 Rays. A team on the pleasant side of infuriating. My oh my, this...
Rays designate reliever Chris Devenski for assignment
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays have designated struggling reliever Chris Devenski for assignment on Tuesday. Tampa Bay recalled right-hander Edwin Uceta from Triple A. Devenski gave up a two-run home run Monday night, his third straight appearance allowing a homer. It was the second time this year that Devenski had allowed a home run in three straight appearances.
10 places along the water — with shade! — around Tampa Bay
Summer is here and it’s hot. Really hot. But you don’t have to take a vacation from basking in the natural beauty of the area. Tampa Bay is rich with waterfront parks that have shade via trees or pavilions. Another bonus is that many don’t charge for parking.
New Tampa residents pack meeting to voice fears, concerns about recent violence
TAMPA — Some expressed concern for their families. Others were looking for answers. More than 150 people packed in from wall to wall at the New Tampa Center Monday night to hear from the Tampa Police Department about a series of deadly shootings in the area in recent days.
This South Tampa taco spot is opening a St. Petersburg location
St. Pete’s Mexican restaurant scene will grow when popular South Tampa spot Green Lemon comes to town. Operated by Ciccio Restaurant Group, the restaurant will be located at 4400 Fourth St. N. and is projected to open this fall, according to Jordan Warshavsky, a partner in the group. The...
New Stanley Cup champions on Lightning’s preseason schedule
TAMPA — The Lightning’s 2024-25 preseason schedule will include seven games, including three on home ice at Amalie Arena and another in Orlando. Tampa Bay will open its preseason slate on Sept. 24 against Carolina at Amalie Arena at 7 p.m., then face the Panthers the following night at the Kia Center in Orlando for a 7 p.m.
3 more Pinellas schools are getting new principals
The Pinellas County school board filled three additional school principal posts on Tuesday, two because of retirements and one due to a last-minute change of plans. Both San Jose and Fuguitt elementary schools are getting new leadership as their principals end their careers with the district. Kathryn Gualtieri, assistant principal...
Ace Atkins revs into Memphis in ‘Don’t Let the Devil Ride’
Addison McKellar is living the dream — she has a tasteful Tudor mansion in one of the toniest neighborhoods in Memphis, a couple of sometimes sweet kids and a charming, socially connected husband, Dean, whose construction company keeps the money flowing in. But now Dean has disappeared, and the harder Addy looks for him, the more it seems like he was never there.
Man arrested on murder charge in case of body found near New Tampa Nature Park
A Tampa man has been arrested on a murder charge after police say he killed a man who was living in his car and stole the car. Officers responded Friday to the 17000 block of Dona Michelle Drive near New Tampa Nature Park for a death investigation and found a body “in a state of advanced decomposition,” the Tampa Police Department said in a news release. Detectives discovered that the 35-year-old man had been living in his red 2006 Dodge Charger.
Some Tampa Bay candidates can’t use their nicknames on the ballot
Voters around Tampa Bay were expected to encounter some telling nicknames for candidates on the November ballot. A Hillsborough School Board hopeful planned to run as Johnny “Principal” Bush because he’d been one. The incumbent countered that she’d get listed as Lynn “Teacher” Gray for similar reasons.
Is Tampa Bay a buyer’s or seller’s market? Some say it’s a ‘no man’s land’
After a sluggish winter season, home sales have begun to pick back up in the Tampa Bay region. The Tampa Bay area saw a 1.7% increase in single-family home sales compared to this time last year, according to May data from Greater Tampa Realtors. There was also a 5.5% increase...
Seeking alternatives to shuttering half-full schools in Florida
The big story: Closing neighborhood schools is not the only way to resolve capacity concerns that have plagued districts around Florida. While some of the state’s biggest school systems are shuttering under-used campuses, others are looking at less divisive approaches to the problem. They’re focusing on ideas such as creating new programs to attract more students and establishing community partnerships to use the vacant space.
A milestone for Tampa’s tiny homes for the homeless: A community center
TAMPA — For more than two decades, Maria Rivera-Hernandez dedicated herself to helping New York City’s homeless. A director of social services at a local nonprofit, she ran shelters, shepherded women off the streets and did her best to offer some semblance of security as housing demand dwarfed supply.
Florida districts are closing under-used schools. Pinellas and Pasco aren’t. Why?
Facing tight finances and shrinking student enrollment, K-12 districts across Florida are making the politically unpopular move of shutting down schools. After a year of stop-and-go planning along with dissent on the school board, Hillsborough closed one elementary school in 2023, made districtwide boundary changes for the coming school year and closed five more schools.
Catching a Florida lizard in the house or modern dance?
A homeowner cracks the front door to retrieve a package. Tampa Bay’s sodden June air crashes through the entryway like a Gulf wave. The homeowner breathes in, letting the warmth fill her air-conditioned lungs, soaking in sun to combat the stain of blue monitor light. The fine hairs on her arms elevate. She closes her eyes. Big mistake. Huge.
Clearwater settles lawsuits alleging racial bias in wrongful arrest
CLEARWATER — The city has paid $50,000 to settle two lawsuits from a man who alleged Clearwater police officers violated his civil rights when they arrested him for a burglary he did not commit. Jacques LaPread, 51, was arrested in June 2019 and spent a night in jail after...
Bucs middle linebacker K.J. Britt definitely inspired by the classics
TAMPA — K.J. Britt is an old movie buff. Some are silent films. No dialogue needed. A few decades ago, the Bucs linebacker would have been just fine with a grainy image and the whirring sound of a projector. That’s because he spends a lot of time studying the...
Widen I-275 in Tampa and watch the traffic jam up
Earlier this month, the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization decided to again break a problem it had fixed years ago. Led by Commissioner Joshua Wostal, the group voted 8-7 to put back on the priority list a freeway widening project on I-275 that had previously been shelved. This vote, like so many decisions by local transportation overseers, illustrates just how outdated Tampa Bay’s transportation planning actually is.
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