Publication
Florida police and fire unions oppose property tax rollback
One of the largest unions representing police officers in Florida said Friday it would be opposing Amendment 3, the ballot initiative meant to begin rolling back property taxes. Fraternal Order of Police President Jeff Stinson said in a statement that...
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The GOP has seen this movie before. Florida Republicans should pay attention | Column
By most measures, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds seems to have the GOP gubernatorial primary secured. But that’s the least interesting thing about the race. He has President Donald Trump’s endorsement and millions of dollars in the bank. He’s spending $20...
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Tampa Police Department partners with University of Tampa to recruit students
The big story: A partnership between the University of Tampa and the Tampa Police Department is aiming to help students become local officers after they graduate. Seniors majoring in criminology or criminal justice will be able to spend their last...
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St. Petersburg council member skipped key Duke Energy votes. His district has concerns
St. Petersburg City Council member Corey Givens Jr. sat through more than four hours of debate and resident testimony as suspense built toward a vote. It was June 4, and the council was weighing whether to hire consultants to evaluate the pros and cons...
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Armed Pinellas man demanded strangers show him ID. Police say it was legal
The young entrepreneurs carefully picked their outfits. A collared shirt for Giovonnie Lenhart. Long black pants for Santiago Salinas. Closed-toe Birkenstocks with socks for Alekos Speaker. The college students set out June 25 to promote their...
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Luna: Time for common sense on pesticide liability protections | Column
The fastest way to find out who Washington really serves is to threaten the corporate interests it protects. The fight over pesticide liability protections in the Farm Bill was never just about one amendment, but whether Congress would stand with...
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Democratic socialists are changing national politics. Is Florida next?
Fed up with a Democratic Party that they view as too old, conservative and out of step, young progressive voters have lifted the Democratic Socialists of America to a string of improbable victories across the U.S. Zohran Mamdani’s victorious campaign...
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Clearwater man shot his ex’s lover. Would a jury find that he planned it?
In the five days Stuart Beck has been on trial, theories have abounded about what happened inside a Clearwater apartment in the early hours of July 6, 2022. Did he plan to shoot 20-year-old Michael Conrad out of a jealous rage? Or was it a...
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Americans can’t handle a diarrhea apocalypse | Column
Delightful poo-poo memes are going around. In one of my faves, people list stuff that doesn’t have cyclospora. It’s not salads. It’s Snickers, mac and cheese, cookies. Hilarious, I thought after a scroll. Solid creative energy from the internet hive...
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How is USF St. Pete’s Marine Science Lab doing 2 months after catastrophic fire?
The University of South Florida employee pushed a dolly loaded with cardboard boxes into the classroom. The room full of displaced students and faculty instantly brightened. The USF College of Marine Science students jumped from their chairs to rip...
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Florida health care, children’s services to be hit under property tax plan
TALLAHASSEE - Hospitals and children’s health groups say a proposal to cut property taxes could hit them hard - and comes as the need for care in Florida is only growing. They say the property tax plan, if passed, could force groups to cut services...
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Former Florida cop accused of domestic violence arrested for 4th time in 6 months
A former Broward Sheriff’s Office sergeant was arrested Saturday on a charge of violating an injunction for protection, his fourth arrest related to domestic violence allegations within six months. Scott Nida, 55, was arrested by deputies in Pompano...
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Oldsmar Flea Market will stay open, despite selling off part of its property
The Oldsmar Flea Market will remain open despite part of its property being sold for $13.9 million - paving the way for a 279-unit apartment complex to be developed by Kolter Multifamily LLC. The flea market will continue to operate in a smaller space...
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As sea temperatures rise in the Florida Keys, coral evacuation has begun
The warning bells are ringing for another potentially killer season for Florida’s beleaguered coral reefs, sending reef restoration companies scrambling to protect their brood. While the atmospheric phenomena of El Niño is linked to a quieter hurricane...
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Hillsborough sheriff’s office investigating death at Dick’s House of Sports in Brandon
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that occurred inside a Dick’s House of Sports store at the Brandon Exchange. Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said deputies received a 911 call from an employee at 4:28 p.m. that reported a...
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Florida regulators stood by as dozens of sloths died, new records reveal
The first warning reached the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before a single sloth had arrived in Orlando. On Dec. 9, 2024, a member of the public called the agency after seeing advertisements for a new business called Sloth World....
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This Tampa Bay cemetery buries people in the woods. It’s getting more popular
Laura Starkey greets the widow who picnics by her husband’s grave. She remembers the old woman who wove urns. She welcomes the children of a cancer patient, the parents of a young marine and the son of a cowboy. Some of their loved ones were laid to...
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An open letter to Florida’s summer gnats | Column
Attention disgusting little guys, I write by the light of a candle in hopes you won’t locate me. I have been reduced to a hostage in my own home, a scavenging rat-style person dragging a pizza crust from the fridge to eat under cloak and dagger. Why...
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Kamoutsas nets pay raise in move to Polk State from Florida commissioner
The big story: After spending a year ruffling feathers as Florida’s education commissioner, Anastasios Kamoutsas officially took over as Polk State College president on Monday. He got a pay raise to go with the new gig. His previous job carried the...
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Free speech? Florida students have diplomas threatened for silent ICE protest | Column
Back in March, a handful of students at Florida International University stood up at an event where the school president was speaking and showed off their T-shirts. They didn’t say anything to interrupt the program or speakers. Instead, they simply...
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To find adoptive parents, Florida foster kids embrace their creativity
The kids gathered in the gallery at Florida CraftArt, trailed by their therapists and foster parents. After checking out glowing glass rods and painted teapots, they headed upstairs to make their own art. A teenage girl looked bored. She’d been to this...
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Argentina survives scare from underdog Cape Verde in World Cup thriller
MIAMI GARDENS - Lionel Messi and Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday and advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 in a thrilling match in which the tiny island nation challenged the reigning champion until the final minutes of extra time. The go-ahead...
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What does freedom mean to Floridians? We asked. You responded.
What does freedom mean to Floridians in 2026? What about the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? How about “proud to be an American”? Every birthday prompts some existentialism amid the celebration. This just happens to be a really...
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Woman killed in Florida gator attack was ‘unforgettable soul,’ friend who was with her says
ORLANDO - Brittany Clark was a “beautiful, unforgettable soul” who fought to survive after an alligator attacked her while she cooled off from a hike in the Econlockhatchee River on Sunday, according to a friend with her that afternoon. Clark, 31, of...
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How a tiny Caribbean island made American independence possible | Column
The American Revolution is often told as a heroic story of 13 colonies rising up against a mighty empire and, with some help from France, winning their independence. But the real story is more complicated. As the United States celebrates the 250th...
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What should Wimauma’s new middle school be named? Hillsborough wants ideas
The Hillsborough County school district is seeking name ideas for a new middle school in Wimauma expected to open in 2027. The district said the school - located near the Aquilla J. Morgan High School, which opened last year, and a future elementary...
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Off-roader faced 90 years in prison for injuring Florida cop’s foot. What would he get?
A locksmith who was facing the possibility of decades in prison for injuring a Pinecrest officer’s foot and leading police on a chase is free on probation after a deal was struck in Miami-Dade court on Tuesday morning. Adolfo Denis Jr.’s life has been...
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God is waiting for us to graduate from kindergarten | Letters
Despite critics, Tarpon Springs mayor doubles down on proclamation honoring gay couple | June 18 Mature understandingA mature understanding of the Bible views it as inspired, but not the literal “word of God.” Bible passages were used before the Civil...
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Review: At Ye’s Tampa concert, the rapper is on still top of the world
On Friday night in Tampa, Ye was on top of the world. No, literally. He spent all of his roughly twohour comeback show pacing atop a giant globe in the center of Raymond James Stadium. The 49 year-old rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, towered tall...
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USF receives $1.5 million cybersecurity grant from Tampa firm
The big story: The University of South Florida received a $1.5 million gift from Tampa computer service company ReliaQuest. The money will be put towards students at the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. About $1...
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Even as it’s abandoned, boondoggle ‘Alcatraz’ may cost taxpayers more | Column
Today, we have items on the return of Matt Gaetz, some odd choices for a time capsule and more debate-dodging in Florida. But first, let’s look at the latest developments in what increasingly looks like one of the biggest boondoggles taxpayers have...
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Hillsborough College may pair with Feeding Tampa Bay for culinary program
The big story: Hillsborough College’s Board of Trustees will vote Wednesday on a lease agreement with Feeding Tampa Bay for its culinary and hospitality programs. As local officials consider the Tampa Bay Rays stadium plan at the college’s Dale Mabry...
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Florida high schoolers stand alone in exemption from state cellphone ban
The big story: Florida made history as the first state to pass a law regulating cellphone use in schools in 2023. Recent studies found that the initial cellphone ban increased student performance on reading and math tests throughout the state and...
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Downtown Largo will soon allow open alcohol consumption. What to know
When city officials first floated the idea of turning part of downtown Largo into an outdoor entertainment district, the opening of its anchor - Horizon West Bay - was still two years away. On June 2, the City Commission made it official, voting 7-0 to...
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Why delaying UF’s presidential confirmation sets the wrong precedent | Column
As former chairs of the Florida Board of Governors, we believe the recent decision to remove Dr. Stuart Bell’s confirmation from the upcoming agenda next week is a mistake and an abuse of the authority entrusted to the chair. The chair’s role is to...
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Florida AG James Uthmeier enters MLB Pride Night controversy
James Uthmeier, Florida’s attorney general, has subpoenaed a second professional sports league in as many months. On Friday, Uthmeier announced he is launching an investigation into Major League Baseball for what he alleges is religious discrimination...
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‘This year in Cuba.’ Holding onto a sliver of hope in Miami | Column
When I was growing up, every Christmas and New Year’s one family member or another would raise their glass to “next year in Cuba.” This was the holiday-party metronome of my childhood. Later, the poet, writer and academic, Gustavo Pérez Firmat, would...
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Here’s why these Republicans want to challenge Rep. Kathy Castor
Tampa Bay Republicans with ambitions for Congress have a new chance after redistricting. Eight Republicans are seeking the right to challenge Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor, whose seat flipped from blue to red under the state’s new congressional map....
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Baker Mayfield deserves a raise, but the Bucs have reason to be wary
Your quarterback? He is confident. Your football team? They are cautious. Your blood pressure? It’s about to implode. Yup, welcome to the NFL’s perfect impasse. Baker Mayfield wants a bigger contract, and the Bucs want a clearer picture of the future....
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Florida couple’s 6-year-old died in crash after driver fled cop over tints
When Samari Curbelo tries to fall asleep, she pictures her 6-year-old daughter in a casket and wonders whether she was in pain when she died. “Is she calling for us? Does she know where she’s at?” said Curbelo, 35. “Those are things you don’t want to...
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Tampa is a world-class place for cancer research. Why that matters | Column
Some of the world’s most influential scientists in cancer research gathered March 2-3 in Tampa for the inaugural “Microbes, Genes & Cancer” symposium. What matters is not only who attended, but what their presence reflects about where cancer care is...
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Why would a new Florida graduate want to be a public school teacher? | Letters
Florida graduates, want a career with purpose? Try teaching | Column, June 5 Teachers deserve moreI appreciate the recent guest column by James V. Shuls encouraging college grads to go into teaching. After all, I’ve long believed that there is no more...
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US opens home World Cup with dynamic 3-goal victory over Paraguay
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ historic three-goal first half, and the U.S. opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night....
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See images from Bucs’ annual Cut and Color Funds the Cure event
After wrapping up a two-hour practice Thursday, dozens of Bucs players ran into the indoor facility at AdventHealth Training Center to hang out with pediatric cancer patients and survivors for the Cut and Color Funds the Cure event to benefit the...
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Florida’s wildlife conservation model is working - and deserves support | Column
In recent commentary, critics have raised concerns about the leadership of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, suggesting that commissioners lack the scientific backgrounds needed to guide conservation in our state. While healthy...
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As Kanye West heads to Tampa, Florida Holocaust Museum offers free admission
Ahead of the upcoming Ye shows in Tampa, the Florida Holocaust Museum is speaking out - and offering an alternative activity for the concert weekend. The St. Petersburg museum is offering free admission from June 26-28, overlapping with the former...
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Here’s what $1 million can buy you in Tampa
Here’s a look at what sold for close to $1 million in May. A single-family house in Tampa that sold for $1 million tops the list at 2,383 square feet. Please note that the properties in the list below are for real estate sales where the title was...
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E-bike gangs on the Pinellas Trail? A letter writer describes his encounter | Letters
E-bikes are all over Tampa Bay. Is a crackdown on bad behavior coming? | Feb. 3 E-bike gangs?I have been riding my road bike (human muscles are required) on the Pinellas Trail for multiple decades and have witnessed the growing presence of e-vehicles...
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Dangerously overcrowded boat with 240 Haitians intercepted near Turks and Caicos
An overloaded boat carrying 240 Haitian migrants was interdicted near the Turks and Caicos Islands on Sunday as Haiti’s humanitarian crisis deepens amid escalating gang violence and continued forced deportations from neighboring countries. The small...
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Tampa Bay area man stole radioactive device to sell on Facebook, cops say
A Bradenton man faces felony charges after Florida Highway Patrol investigators recovered a stolen moisture density gauge containing a radioactive isotope from his home. Marco Antonio Benitez Jr., 24, was arrested May 28 and charged with grand theft...
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In rural Florida, the anti-data center movement gathers strength
When Citrus County retirees and activists started to organize against a nearby data center proposal, they weren’t sure how many of their neighbors would show up. They had been trying to gin up support on Facebook and Nextdoor. They had explained the...
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Orlando has a plan to breathe new life into its downtown. Will it work?
Arguing the historic preservation efforts are impeding rather than enhancing downtown, Orlando is proposing to ease restrictions on building in its Downtown Historic District, which officials contend have left valuable properties vacant and...
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In Florida, the AI race and data centers meet hurricane season | Column
The global AI race won’t be won in Silicon Valley alone. It may hinge just as much on whether places like Florida can keep the lights on after a hurricane. The United States is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the infrastructure that will...
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Florida lawmakers aim to slash property taxes. Would schools be impacted?
The big story: Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee today for a two- to three-day special session all about property tax reduction. The goal that Republican leaders have set is to get a proposal before voters in November. There’s one idea up for...
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Hurray for Rick Scott. Now some friendly advice | Letters
Rick Scott blasts UF for picking presidential finalist ‘in the dark’ | May 22 Shining a lightI was genuinely stunned by Sen. Rick Scott’s letter to the University of Florida, which was packed with righteous fury. He was appalled that the search for a...
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Here are the lessons you learned from Tampa Bay’s historic 2024 hurricane season
Thirteen days brought us two storms and countless lessons in 2024. Whether it was a clearer understanding of your home’s flood risk, a preferred hurricane snack, or the importance of friends and family, Tampa Bay’s experience with Helene and Milton...
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$4M for Groveland Four families comes after decades of fighting for justice
ORLANDO - A $4 million fund negotiated by state lawmakers for relatives of the Groveland Four, the quartet of Lake County Black men falsely accused of raping a white woman in 1949, culminates a long battle to come to terms with a dark moment in Florida...
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Rain!!!!!!!! | Column
As I drifted off to sleep Tuesday night, a foreign sound started rustling in the distance, a whisper that grew stronger and smoother until steady beats plunked the window like a marimba. First thought: murderous intruder? Second thought: rain! Did you...
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$5.7 million house sells in St Pete Beach
A single-family home in St Pete Beach sold on May 5 for $5.7 million. The house has 4,213 square feet of living space. The home at 1403 Pass A Grille Way includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms. It was sold by Glen A. Davenport and Hollyce R....
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By slashing NOAA funding, president’s budget puts Florida at risk | Column
It’s becoming a regular rite of spring. Floridians start buying batteries, flashlights and other supplies for the coming hurricane season - and the Trump administration proposes devastating spending cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...
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Tampa Theatre’s 100-year history comes alive in Andrew Huse’s final book
As downtown Tampa’s iconic movie palace preps for its 100th birthday in October, a new book will help readers travel through time. “Tampa Theatre: A Century of Stories” will be released in late September. The 272-page coffee table book dives into the...
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Teen takeover at Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park? Where are the parents | Letters
Tampa Bay officials respond after ‘teen takeover’ at Curtis Hixon Park | March 15 Enough excusesTwenty-two people were arrested in the recent “teen takeover,” most of them boys under 18. Thirteen were younger than 15 years old - nearly 60%. Yet much of...
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Lawyers say Alligator Alcatraz detainee transfers are ramping up
Immigration lawyers and advocates say detainees at Alligator Alcatraz are being moved unusually fast to other locations amid reports the detention center in the Everglades could shut down as soon as next month. Immigration attorney Laura Quintero, who...
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A Florida lovebug’s dating profile | Column
Name: Lovebug #543,952 Location: Florida, all up in your business, floating into open mouths in the grocery store parking lot, landing on bare legs at the Memorial Day barbecue. You know how we do. Age: I’m 2 days old (unless you count my six months as...
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Busch Gardens Tampa’s 2026 summer events feature drone shows and free beer
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is ready for thrills this summer. The theme park announced Summer Nights will return May 22-Aug. 9. It will feature drone shows, seasonal festivals and complimentary beer. Here’s what’s in store: Attractions:Wild Skies Drone...
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Tampa Bay Chamber supports the proposed Rays project | Column
The Tampa Bay Chamber strongly supports the proposed new stadium and mixed-use development project for the Tampa Bay Rays and believes this investment represents a transformational opportunity for the future of the Tampa Bay region. The framework...
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Raccoons, meet your match: Pasco teen’s invention targets the masked bandits
Eva Livingston has a fix for one of suburbia’s most persistent nuisances: the raccoon that treats garbage night like a buffet. The Angeline Academy of Innovation freshman won first place at the Pasco Young Entrepreneur Competition in April for the...
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If you’re renewing your Florida driver’s license, make sure you do this
It’s been less than two years since a new Florida law went into effect that assigned drivers new ID numbers when they renew their licenses. But as midterms approach, it’s unclear if this seemingly innocuous bureaucratic maneuver will cause voter...
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Keep church and state separate. If not, revoke all tax exemptions | Letters
Rejecting church and state separation pushed by Trump religion commission | May 10 Revoke tax exemption I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state. Anyone should be able to practice whatever religion they wish without the influence of...
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Review and setlist: Journey brings farewell tour to Tampa, and everyone left happy
Sue-happy Journey breezed into Tampa on Friday, took a nearly 2 1/2-hour recess from their legal escapades and delivered a crowd-pleasing set of classic rock. The court of public opinion, a packed house inside Benchmark International Arena, reveled in...
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Who could have predicted Alligator Alcatraz would fail? | Column
Folks, take it easy. There was no way to know it would end like this. Who could have predicted that a stunt with all the subtlety of a juggling bear would fizzle out in less than a year? Don’t dare imply that Alligator Alcatraz, Florida’s most odious,...
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‘Trump’ and ‘DeSantis’ graffiti among vandalism at historic Tampa Bay area cemetery
Broken headstones, damaged graves and spray-painted graffiti now mark a historic Florida cemetery after vandals targeted the site, according to investigators. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery in...
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Trump’s EPA wants to roll back rules for a toxic gas. What it means for Florida
Top federal environment officials are proposing to weaken rules for companies that emit ethylene oxide, a toxic gas that polluted a residential area of Tampa Bay in recent years. Starting about a decade ago, a sterilizer plant in Temple Terrace relied...
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How to get out of a reading rut | Column
A version of this column first appeared in Stephinitely, a weekly newsletter from columnist Stephanie Hayes featuring a bonus column and behind-the-scenes chatter. Get it in your inbox every Monday. Is anyone else in a reading rut? What I mean is, does...
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Affordable housing planned for former Playhouse Theatre property
An affordable housing project may be built on the former Playhouse Theatre property and adjacent land in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District. Tampa-based developer Blue Sky Communities plans to create the JR Tower at 1850 Central Ave. and 1833...
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St. Petersburg and Wauchula are in the same congressional district. We drove it
Seventy-five miles, 90 driving minutes and two counties separate downtown St. Petersburg and Arcadia, a city of around 8,000 deep in the state’s rural interior. Welcome to the new District 16, one sprawling puzzle piece of Florida’s new congressional...
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