Florida doesn't use the term 'rape' in statutes. Instead, it has a crime of 'sexual battery.' But that term is not in the language of the Heartbeat Protection Act.

Tallahassee Democrat

tallahassee.com/story/news/pol…

I wrote about the building that you cannot not see when you're anywhere near downtown St. Pete: axios.com/local/tampa-ba…

New: Workers at a Starbucks in Tampa yesterday voted to unionize with Starbucks Workers United, joining seven other unionized locations in Florida and over 400 across the U.S.

Reporting for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay: cltampa.com/food-drink/tam…

Clearwater leaders are no longer hiding their impatience as blocks of downtown properties tied to the Church of Scientology remain empty despite years of closed-door talks.

tampabay.com/news/clearwate…

Kathryn Varn I didn't find out I was pregnant with my youngest son until 10 weeks because I don't have regular cycles and I had no other symptoms until that point. It wasn't even on my radar.

Half an hour before the St. Petersburg City Council meets for the 2nd time since a Rays stadium deal was announced to discuss the Historic Gas Plant redevelopment, ~25 protesters are outside City Hall

Groups include No Home Run, Faith in Florida, SP Tenants Union & Allendale UMC

if they don't hire former local reporters who worked at small-town papers to write and consult on this incredibly strange world that those of us who lived it know is mired in trauma and legal and societal thorns, the journalism world will collectively lose its f*cking mind

can't wait for the episode about a company meeting that's all doom & layoffs & the CEO tries to cheer everyone up by reading thank-you notes from readers except the first one is from a woman saying how much her mother appreciated reading the paper at the hospital as she was dying

New: Florida's top health care regulator said that one of the chief criticisms of the 6-week abortion ban — that many women don't know they're pregnant by that cutoff — was a 'myth.'

But there's one big problem with their reasoning. What experts told me: axios.com/local/tampa-ba…

We've got two updates on Florida's abortion ban in this morning's @Axios Tampa Bay newsletter:

What a Florida health agency gets wrong about the abortion ban axios.com/local/tampa-ba…

How to navigate the six-week ban as a patient, with links to resources axios.com/local/tampa-ba…

HAPPENING NOW!

📺Watch live here: youtube.com/live/7C1y77Bnk…

New: The City of Doral passed a resolution for an 'immediate end to all hostilities in Israel, Gaza, & Occupied Palestinian Territories,' becoming the 1st South FL municipality to call for a ceasefire.

Advocates say they hope others will follow.

Axios:
axios.com/local/miami/20…

Next Tuesday!! Join Kathryn Varn and me at J.C. Newman Cigar Co. for a FREE book event to discuss @a24’s FLORIDA!, our guide to our weird and wonderful state. Register now: eventbrite.com/e/florida-in-c…

🎤 ✨ I opened for Kate Hudson…Axios' Jim Vandehei shares tips on how to focus on the 'good stuff' today.com/video/axios-ji…

A Starbucks location in Tampa, FL publicly filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board yesterday, requesting a union election.

Florida issued rules clarifying exceptions to the new six-week abortion ban 'due to a deeply dishonest scare campaign' from media & Biden, rules say.

That politicized language 'raises concern to me about the scientific approach,' a retired OBGYN told me. axios.com/local/tampa-ba…

Can't wait to make my book club read this 😈

A natural sequel to when we read Maurice Chammah🍹🎻's 'Let the Lord Sort Them,' a deep dive into the death penalty, a couple years ago.

Throughout reporting this story, this stat kept ringing in my head:

Chicago Abortion Fund anticipates needing $100,000 more a month to absorb the influx of southerners seeking care in Illinois. That's more than a third of the fund's typical monthly budget.
axios.com/local/tampa-ba…