Tampa Bay

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 10, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott activated the Florida Disaster Fund to support those impacted by Hurricane Michael, a dangerous Category 4 storm expected to make landfall in the Panhandle Wednesday afternoon. The Fund provides financial support to communities throughout the state in times of disaster. Contributions can be made at the Florida Disaster Fund website or by texting DISASTER to 20222 […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 10, 2018

Short-term lodging service Airbnb and some of its hosts are offering free places to stay for displaced neighbors and relief workers deployed to help with storm recovery before, during and after Hurricane Michael. The program runs through October 29. More than 170 property owners are participating in the Open Homes Program as Hurricane Michael barrels toward […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 10, 2018

Two Hillsborough County Commission races look like they might be landslides based on campaign finance activity. Incumbents Ken Hagan and Stacy White are crushing their opponents in the money battle. Hagan has raised more than $500,000 in bid against Democrat Angela Birdsong for the District two seat covering north Hillsborough County currently held by Victor […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 10, 2018

Florida is ready for a robust storm response after Hurricane Michael passes through the Panhandle, Gov. Rick Scott said during an 8:30 a.m. briefing Wednesday morning. Michael is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm with winds up to 145 mph. “This is devastating,” Scott said. “This is the worst storm the Panhandle has […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 10, 2018

Infant and toddler advocacy and education group ZERO TO THREE is offering 10 tips to parents before, during and after Hurricane Michael as the storm prepares to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle Wednesday afternoon. In a matter of hours overnight, the storm grew in strength from Category 2 to a Category 4 hurricane, fueled […]

Jacob OglesOctober 10, 2018

Democrats running in the Sarasota-Bradenton area banded together at an event organized by the progressive group Indivisible. State Rep. Margaret Good, the incumbent in state House District 72, and Democratic Congressional candidate David Shapiro, who thus far mustered a serious campaign for Florida’s 16th Congressional District, rallied the crowd of activists from both Indivisible’s Northeast […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

A new poll by WPA Intelligence, a Republican polling company, puts Ross Spano 7 points ahead of his Democratic challenger, Kristen Carlson, in Florida’s 15th Congressional District. Anti-big government group Club for Growth Action commissioned the poll for the district that covers parts of Hillsborough, Lake and Polk counties. The poll also showed Spano with advantages […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

Todd Marks is leading the campaign finance charge in the Hillsborough County District 7 race by more than double, according to the most recent campaign finance reports available. Marks has raised $244,000 as of the end of September. His closest competitor, Democrat Kimberly Overman, raised $112,000. A Green Party candidate, Kim “Klarc” O’Connor, has just […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2018

Stephen Lytle has gotten off to a fast start in his bid to replace exiting Tampa City Councilmember Yvonne Yolie Capin in the District 3 council seat. Lytle, a University of South Florida alumnus, launched his campaign at the end of August, and said Tuesday that he’d raked in more than $32,000 in campaign contributions […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist continues to lead his Democratic opponent in fundraising efforts, but the gap between the candidates’ cash on hand is slight. Crist has about $95,000 left in the bank with about four weeks before the November 6 election while Mariella Smith has $76,000. A third candidate in the race, Joe Kotvas, […]

Tampa Bay
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Rick Scott activates Florida Disaster Fund for Michael relief

Airbnb extends ‘Open Homes Program’ to Tampa for Hurricane Michael evacuees and relief workers

Ken Hagan, Stacy White crushing competition in Hillsborough Co. Commission campaign cash

Panhandle braces for ‘devastating’ Hurricane Michael

Weathering Hurricane Michael with a baby or toddler? Here’s how

David Shapiro, Margaret Good rally Sarasota voters around Democratic slate

Club for Growth poll puts Ross Spano way out front in Kristen Carlson matchup

Kimberly Overman trailing Todd Marks in Hillsborough District 7 campaign cash

Stephen Lytle raises $32K in 30 days for Tampa City Council bid

Victor Crist still leading Mariella Smith in fundraising battle