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Tampa Bay Times
Free bread? Here are 16 Tampa Bay restaurants that still serve it
Calling all carboholics: The complimentary bread basket is endangered. It has been for some time now. Many restaurants find it more financially and environmentally sustainable to charge for higher quality bread. Offering cost-free carbs that might not get eaten, and therefore end up in the trash, is wasteful. Some have ditched the pre-dinner tradition altogether, making the moment a fresh-baked bounty hits the table that much more special.
A call to stand up for our veterans and their families
As a nation, we owe our veterans more than just a debt of gratitude, and though that goes a long way, what is owed and deserved goes beyond words and ceremonial gestures. These brave men and women have risked their lives to protect our freedoms, and they deserve tangible support that acknowledges their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families. Yet, recent actions by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to cancel state veteran benefits — benefits that provided free public college tuition for the children of some veterans — represent a profound betrayal of our promises to those who have served as soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and guardsmen.
Tampa’s housing director is resigning, another setback for Mayor Castor
The city of Tampa’s housing director is resigning, the Tampa Bay Times has confirmed, the latest senior economic development official saying goodbye to Mayor Jane Castor’s administration. The high-level departures have dealt a setback to a city gripped by steep rents and property prices. Kayon Henderson has spent...
Atlantic disturbance headed to Florida could develop by end of week
While Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in Mexico Thursday morning, forecasters also increased their confidence that a disturbance in the Atlantic could form as it heads to Florida. The National Hurricane Center now gives the system a 40% chance of becoming a tropical depression over the next two days. The...
Nesting sea turtle on Anna Maria Island hit, killed by car, group says
A female loggerhead sea turtle was killed after a car hit it on Wednesday, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring group said in a social media post. The environmental conservation organization said Gulf Drive’s streetlights illuminating a crosswalk caused disorientation to the nesting sea turtle. According...
Pasco commission and clerk reach settlement in budget dispute
After three years of legal wrangling over the funding her office gets from Pasco County, Clerk of Court and Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles has settled a lawsuit with the county. While Alvarez-Sowles was not successful in winning money to run a full office in a second courthouse, an appeals court did...
Across Florida, residents fear impact of higher Duke, Tampa Electric rates
TAMPA — They came from homes where air conditioners sat silent, relief from the heat a luxury they can no longer afford. They came between shifts — cleaning houses, installing floors, pouring drinks — earning wages that no longer stretch as far as they need. They came exasperated, after shelling out for solar panels only to still feel the pinch of energy costs.
Florida’s population is surging. Some school districts aren’t.
The big story: Florida lately has been among the fastest growing states in the nation, with its population surging. Some school districts are not experiencing the influx they expected would come with the growth. One of those is Flagler County, near Daytona Beach, where school board members were so convinced enrollment would boom that they recently requested an impact fee increase to help create more seats for the anticipated students.
Pasco approves new road tax, ends old neighborhood paving system
Earlier this month, Pasco County commissioners rejected establishing a new road maintenance tax on county property owners because it would have had some residents paying twice. They’re now moving forward with the new tax this week after agreeing in concept to stop collecting payments from residents for old neighborhood repaving...
Florida arts and culture funding slashed from budget
Dozens of Tampa Bay institutions are scrambling for funding after Gov. Ron DeSantis last week vetoed more than $32 million in arts and culture grants from next year’s budget. “It’s a huge disappointment and a quandary,” said Michael Tomor, executive director of the Tampa Museum of Art. The museum...
While waiting on Steven Stamkos, here’s what else looms for Lightning
TAMPA — After a slow start to the month, moves are starting to happen in the NHL. This week, the pace picked up. The top goaltender on the trade market, Jacob Markstrom, found a new home in New Jersey. San Jose claimed former Tampa Bay forward Barclay Goodrow off waivers, giving the Rangers needed cap relief. Wednesday was the busiest player movement day of the offseason so far.
Dear Annie: Boyfriend hangs out with friends, doesn’t include me
Dear Annie: I’ve been dating my boyfriend, “Tom,” for three years, and we recently moved in together. Things have been mostly great, but there’s one issue I’m struggling with. Tom spends a lot of time with his friends and usually doesn’t include me. He’ll go out with them several times a week, sometimes staying out late, while I’m left at home by myself.
Jake Paul calls Tampa fight vs. Mike Perry ‘appetizer’ for Mike Tyson
YouTube star-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul described his fight against bare knuckle champion and mixed martial arts star Mike Perry next month in Tampa as an “appetizer” for his November bout against former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson. “He’s like a little mozzarella stick on the sampler platter,” Paul said Wednesday,...
Here’s a retiree’s plan to win Florida for Biden
As we wend our way through our long Florida summer steam bath, and the even more interminable presidential campaign, I try to avoid the worst of both. As did Englishmen of yore, I stay out of the noonday sun. As to mad dogs, I try to tune them out, too, but we’ve got one very angry, snarling former president, sounding ever angrier, ever more extreme.
This is how the Supreme Court’s role in our partisan polarization has been greatly exaggerated
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Supreme Court, like the country, is deeply divided along partisan and ideological lines. But this overlooks the court’s historic recent run of unanimous decisions and the fact that the liberal and conservative justices often don’t vote as blocs. Court critics tend to respond...
Science, not stridence, will solve Florida’s water problems
This spring, a blue-green algae bloom caused officials to issue a health alert around the Alva Boat Ramp in Lee County on the Caloosahatchee River. It got some press, and I was hearted by how the media simply reported on it, and that advocacy groups didn’t race to assign blame to any particular stakeholder.
Rays find a way at the end, beat Twins in 10 innings
MINNEAPOLIS — The Rays wasted several chances and were foiled by the Twins in a few others to take a lead in the late innings of Wednesday’s game. Then in the 10th they got a break and broke through, scoring a run on an errant throw and holding on for a 3-2 win over the Twins.
Rays’ Pete Fairbanks relieved, hoping for quick return from thumb injury
MINNEAPOLIS — Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks tested his bruised right thumb by playing catch Wednesday and said he expects to be available to pitch by Thursday’s series finale against the Twins. Fairbanks was forced to leave Tuesday’s game with two outs in the ninth inning when he was...
Crash on I-75 in Pasco County snarls traffic for evening commuters
A crash on northbound Interstate 75 in Pasco County was snarling traffic for evening commuters on Wednesday. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the crash was reported on I-75 at State Road 52 about 5:30 p.m., and traffic cameras appeared to show at least one semitruck stopped across the roadway. Two left lanes were blocked as of 6 p.m.
As St. Pete prepares for Pride, police chief urges vigilance
It may be hard to take your eyes off the dazzling parade floats, but St. Petersburg’s police chief told Pride attendees to keep watch for anything suspicious this weekend. The police department is expecting 200,000 people at this year’s Pride festivities, Chief Anthony Holloway said at a news conference Tuesday, and it will be deploying officers, surveillance equipment and police boats to keep the event secure.
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