Tampa Bay

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

While Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls is expected to glide to another two-year term in the Florida House this November, at least the Democratic Party has now put up a candidate to run against him. On Friday, Alex Stephen Toth, also of Palm Harbor, filed to run for the House District 65 seat. Sprowls, 34, […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

The Second Amendment has already surfaced as an issue in the Attorney General race, although a different perspective will likely emerge once Sean Shaw hits the campaign trail full-time. The Tampa Democrat hasn’t done much campaigning since he officially entered the contest last month, but, undoubtedly, he will transition into candidate-mode when the Legislative Session […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 26, 2018

Last week U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney put out the “Rooney out” message, launching a wave of speculation over who could step in and win the heavily Republican CD 17 in the fall. So far, all the GOP candidates running to replace Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam – former Winter Haven Rep. Baxter Troutman, Lehigh Acres Rep. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2018

Chanting “we want change now,” hundreds of Blake High School students marched to Curtis Hixon Park Friday afternoon, calling for gun-control measures in the wake of the massacre in Parkland last week. The crowd was stacked with mostly students, joined by other Tampa Bay area activists determined to perhaps finally see gun regulations enacted following […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

In the aftermath of the shooting massacre in Parkland last week, Florida Democrats (and some Republicans) have talked about reducing the ability for some individuals to acquire firearms. Meanwhile, state Rep. Ross Spano, a candidate for Attorney General, is going in the opposite direction. Spano and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd released their own sets of proposals Friday to […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

David Jolly says he’s not sure that a ban on assault weapons is possible in Washington, but believes a solution that could happen immediately is to make them “functionally obsolete” for the average citizen. “Make the requirements to get an assault weapon as hard as it is to get a security clearance in this White […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2018

At one time, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn “vowed” to appeal the federal jury verdict for firefighter Tanja Vidovic, winning her case of claiming that the city discriminated against her because she was pregnant and fired her in retaliation for complaining about it. But the mayor’s office is now saying Buckhorn, in fact, has not decided whether to […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2018

A community forum to discuss the recent agreement between 17 Florida Sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is scheduled to take place Thursday night in St. Petersburg. That agreement allows local authorities to hold undocumented immigrants beyond the time they normally would have to be released based on state or local cases. It […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 21, 2018

Rob Wallace, a Republican who served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 to 2002 representing Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, died on Monday, jumping from a Dale Mabry Highway overpass. Wallace was 65. At least one witness saw Wallace plunge 40 to 50 feet onto Gunn Highway, according to a Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s report. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 21, 2018

Mike Deeson is pushing back on the city of Tampa’s official position regarding where finance director Sonya Little resides. The former Channel 10 news investigative reporter filed a lawsuit Monday against the City of Tampa, claiming it is in violation of public records laws by denying him the home address of the city’s CFO, whom Deeson maintains […]

Tampa Bay
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Chris Sprowls gets Democratic opponent in HD 65 race

Sean Shaw: Second Amendment silent on assault weapons

How the dominoes could fall after ‘Rooney out’

Hundreds of high-school students protest gun violence in Tampa rally

Ross Spano, Grady Judd call for allowing guns in schools, churches

David Jolly: Assault weapon license should be as hard to get as White House security clearance

Bob Buckhorn now says Tampa may not appeal firefighter’s sexual discrimination ruling

Bob Gualtieri vexed over immigration misinformation

Former state lawmaker Rob Wallace commits suicide

Mike Deeson says city of Tampa participating in ‘sham’ regarding CFO’s address