The message was clear from more than 200 people gathered outside the entrance of Honeymoon Island State Park on Tuesday: Florida’s state parks are not for sale. My dispatch Tampa Bay Times: tampabay.com/news/environme…

Some details from the #USF construction contract for its on-campus football stadium: *Who's responsible for on-site toilets *NIL deals? *A $10 liability cost *Diversity goals *Built-in rain days Not yet included: The guaranteed maximum price. tampabay.com/sports/2024/08…

At Tampa’s oldest public housing, plywood covers windows. Kids no longer fill the playground. On Saturday, residents gathered to celebrate their community before the bulldozers arrive. “We have rich history here. We can never forget that.” W Ian Hodgson tampabay.com/news/tampa/202…

Gov. Ron DeSantis broke his days of silence Wednesday on the controversy that has erupted over his administration’s plans to build golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels on Florida state parks, saying the state will go “back to the drawing board." tampabay.com/news/florida-p…

Two people were arrested Monday on charges that they illegally harvested 801 pounds of saw palmetto berries. What are these berries? And why would someone steal 800 pounds of them? Those Qs, answered Tampa Bay Times 👇🍇 tampabay.com/news/environme…

And that’s a wrap — for now. tampabay.com/news/florida-p…

Still a lot of unanswered questions on this saga, so if you have information you’d like to share, please do. My DMs are open for tips + requests for my Signal #

Good morning. Only 20 months into his tenure, Alex Golesh has proven to possess more swagger than any previous ⁦USF Football⁩ coach. Our story… tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2…

We reported last week that the Boy Scouts were in talks to sell 50 acres of Sand Hill Reservation to Withlacoochee Electric. Now the board will decide Sept. 19 whether to market another 450 wooded acres for residential and commercial development. tampabay.com/news/hernando/…

Oh baby, Bucs’ Baker Mayfield finally feels at home trib.al/X4o1iIZ

NEW: Lawyers spent a week drilling into TECO’s requested rate hikes, with days so long they took swigs of room-temp cold brew to stay sharp. During questioning, TECO confirmed its proposal would shift millions of costs from big companies to residents: tampabay.com/news/business/…

NEW: The Florida DEP News employee who was fired over leaked state park info tells me it was secrecy and likely enviro destruction that led him to speak out “This was going to be a complete bulldozing of all of that habitat," he told me today More Tampa Bay Times tampabay.com/news/environme…

FAN ALERT: Rob Gronkowski is working the drive-thru window RIGHT NOW --from 12:30-2 p.m. at new Greenlane healthy fast food resto just opened on 4th Street & 80th in St. Pete. Gronk make slushy for u Tampa Bay Times Sports by Tampa Bay Times Business by Tampa Bay Times Rob Gronkowski tampabay.com/sports/bucs/20…

New: In a move that supporters of Florida's abortion amendment fear could be “political interference,” Ron DeSantis administration is examining tens of thousands of petitions for "suspected fraudsters." w/Lawrence Mower Romy Ellenbogen tampabay.com/news/florida-p…

Why aren't some Florida schools teaching sex ed anymore? That story, plus the latest on art classes, snack time, email signatures and more, in today's Tampa Bay Times Florida education news roundup. tampabay.com/news/education…

ICYMI: After narrowly escaping the Taliban in his native Afghanistan, Bashir Rostami's lone prep wrestling season at Freedom High was de-railed. Today, he finally has landed a college opportunity. Newberry Wrestling tampabay.com/sports/high-sc…

🥗 Did you miss Gronk in St. Pete yesterday? In Tampa Bay Times DayStarter, we spotlight his short-noticed shift at Greenlane. Don’t miss another newsletter: tbtim.es/daystarter

NEW: Five Florida Democratic Congress members sent a letter to Ron DeSantis today demanding a formal investigation into plans to build golf courses, hotels and more on state parks They also want the release of public records. More Tampa Bay Times tampabay.com/news/environme…

NEW: Days after a state worker was fired for disclosing info about the state park plans, the DeSantis admin released personnel files detailing issues from a previous state job. AHCA released the files without being asked, an unusual step. w/ Max Chesnes tampabay.com/news/environme…

New: Florida residents felt shaken after DeSantis' election crime police knocked on their doors to question the validity of their signatures on petitions that helped get the abortion amendment on the ballot. w/Romy Ellenbogen Lawrence Mower tampabay.com/news/florida-p…