Tampa Bay

Drew WilsonSeptember 18, 2018

Former Republican Rep. Ed Hooper has taken back the lead from former Democratic Rep. Amanda Murphy in the race to fill Pasco and Pinellas county-based Senate District 16. According to a new poll conducted over the weekend, Hooper is the pick for 47 percent of SD 16 voters with Murphy coming in just behind him […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 18, 2018

The first general election season poll of the Senate District 18 battle brought some good news for incumbent state Sen. Dana Young. The St. Pete Polls survey shows the Tampa Republican with a 3-point lead, 45-42 percent, over House Minority Leader Janet Cruz. The remaining 13 percent of voters are undecided. The poll shows an […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 18, 2018

Red-tide-to-blame-as-hundreds-of-thousands-of-dead-fish-wash-up-on-Pinellas-beaches.jpg

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is getting an additional $1.2 million to enhance research and increase production of redfish in Port Manatee, the state announced Monday. The new funding should help recover Florida’s fisheries from the ongoing red tide sweeping Florida’s Gulf coast and wreaking havoc on Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee County beaches. […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 18, 2018

St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes has released a new ad for his re-election campaign highlighting his roots in Senate District 24 and promising to hold “bureaucrats and politicians” accountable. The 30-second ad features shots of Brandes walking with and talking to employees of a lumber yard and touts the values instilled in him when […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 17, 2018

Governor Rick Scott re-appointed Shaun Oxtal to the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, his office announced Monday. Oxtal is the managing director for Capright, a global real estate valuation and consulting firm with offices in Tampa. Oxtal will work with other business leaders serving on THEA’s board to further the agency’s work on four local transportation […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 17, 2018

Health care companies are venturing into the world of transportation. Two such Tampa Bay area enterprises contributed a combined $175,000 to the All for Transportation campaign pushing for a 1 percent sales tax increase to fund sweeping transportation and transit enhancements. Bay Care Health Systems cut a $50,000 check to the referendum campaign. House of […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 17, 2018

St. Petersburg ranks among the top in the nation on integration policies affecting newcomers, including immigrants, according to a new national assessment of policies and socioeconomic outcomes, Mayor Rick Kriseman announced Monday. Immigrants in the St. Pete area pay $549.5 million in taxes every year, according to the inaugural New American Economy Cities Index. The […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 17, 2018

Everyone knew Florida’s Senate District 18 battle between Democrat Janet Cruz and Republican incumbent Dana Young would be contentious. Both women are strong, smart, battle-tested, and play to win – just what we want from candidates. There is no middle ground here. Voters have a clear choice, and that’s always good. Democrats targeted the Hillsborough County […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 16, 2018

State Senate President Bill Galvano, Majority Leader Wilton Simpson and Fort Myers Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto will be in Tampa next Friday to help four area Senate candidates boost their campaign accounts ahead of the November general election. The Sept. 17 event will be held in the Snowy Egret Room on the second floor of the […]

Jacob OglesSeptember 15, 2018

Parkland shooting survivors David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez will join other gun control activists today at a political rally organized by Tampa Bay high school students. March For Our Lives Tampa will host a “Band and Ballots” concert at Curtis Hixon Park to raise gun violence awareness. “The event is a night of local bands bringing […]

Tampa Bay
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Ed Hooper takes slim lead in SD 16 comeback bid

Dana Young has 3-point lead over Janet Cruz in SD 18 battleground

State to boost redfish hatcheries amid red tide epidemic

Jeff Brandes says he will hold politicians accountable in new SD 24 ad

Personnel note: Real estate pro Shaun Oxtal reappointed to transportation board

Hillsborough transit tax campaign funding approaches $1M

St. Pete among tops in nation as immigrant-friendly

Dana Young vs. Janet Cruz race contentious now with more to come

Top Senate Republicans raising cash for Tampa Bay candidates on Monday

David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez among speakers at March For Our Lives concert today