Tampa Bay

Drew WilsonJuly 24, 2018

State Sen. Dana Young is hitting Hillsborough airwaves this week with the first TV ad backing her Senate District 18 re-election bid. The 30-second ad, titled “Good Ideas,” pitches the Tampa Republican as a problem solver in a time of partisan fighting. It begins with her addressing the camera before moving on to shots of […]

Joe HendersonJuly 23, 2018

Supporters of a drive to place a sales tax increase on the November ballot in Hillsborough County said Monday they planned to turn in about 10,000 additional signed petitions to the Supervisor of Elections. That should move backers of the All For Transportation initiative within striking distance of the approximately 49,000 valid petitions they will […]

Jacob OglesJuly 22, 2018

Time is winding down on a petition drive to get a public transportation referendum on the ballot in Hillsborough County, but a significant infusion of dollars continues to fuel the effort. All for Transportation has through this Friday to submit about 49,000 valid petitions to place an initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot. “We’re getting […]

Staff ReportsJuly 22, 2018

A fetish video producer imprisoned for exploiting homeless people will soon be released from prison. Jeffrey Williams, owner of J.P. Productions and the force behind kink website SheFights.net, made national headlines when videos of scantily clad women beating “hobos” outraged advocates for the homeless and mentally ill. The videos were made in Tampa Bay, many in […]

Jacob OglesJuly 22, 2018

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist hopes for a boost from the Kennedy clan next month. The Tampa Democrat will speak at a rally with U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III in St. Petersburg in early August. The #ProtectOurCare event will take place Aug. 7 at Williams Park, where a line-up of advocates will discuss ways to preserve […]

Staff ReportsJuly 20, 2018

A Tampa cop beat the rap for allegedly misusing police resources, but the city still won’t help pay his bills. A federal lawsuit alleged that Tampa Police Officer Richard Mercado improperly accessed the personal information of Dunnellon man Jorge Torres using DAVID, the state driver and information database. Torres claimed Mercado was dating Torres’ wife, […]

Jacob OglesJuly 20, 2018

A former youth pastor at a Tampa church says allegations of sexual abuse were covered up, and he was fired after telling higher-ups at the Riverhills Church of God. John Lancer worked as a youth pastor at the church in 2016 when janitor Luis Lugo was fired for allegedly exposing himself to an elementary school student, […]

Drew WilsonJuly 20, 2018

A deep-dive into the financial disclosure filed by David Shapiro found some possibly hypocritical investments, particularly for a candidate saying he’ll push for “a full ban on weapons of war.” Shapiro is a leading Democrat in the race for Florida’s 16th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Congressman Vern Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican. According to Shapiro’s official personal finance report filed with the […]

Drew WilsonJuly 20, 2018

Dover Republican Rep. Ross Spano is hosting a different kind of campaign event this weekend. The candidate for Florida’s 15th Congressional District is teaming up with the Plant City Republican Women Federated to host a free concealed carry weapons permit training class State law requires CCW applicants to “submit proof of competency with a firearm.” […]

Drew WilsonJuly 19, 2018

Philanthropist David Straz is rolling out the first digital and TV ads supporting his Tampa Mayor bid starting today, eight months out from the March 5 election. “I want to introduce myself to the people of Tampa and demonstrate the impact I have had on our community as a private citizen,” Straz said Thursday. “Much […]

Tampa Bay

Dana Young won’t ‘let politicians get in the way of good ideas’

All For Transportation closer to goal in Hillsborough

All for Transportation enters final stretch with petition drive

Fetish video producer’s prison term nears end

Charlie Crist bringing Joe Kennedy to St. Pete for health care rally

Tampa cop beats harassment rap, but city won’t foot bill

Youth pastor says Tampa church covered up sex abuse

David Shapiro seeks ‘full ban’ on weapons of war, but invests in ammo makers

Ross Spano’s CD 15 campaign footing the bill for concealed weapons course

David Straz releases first ads for Tampa Mayor campaign