Pricey fountain in Ybor City gets an overhaul

“The sad thing is, obviously they had to enclose the fountain. We all know because the homeless population overwhelmed it, used it as their bathtub, shower, beach area if you would,” said Thomas Falahee, who owns the Stained Market Place across from the fountain.....MORE

Democrats, advocates demand action on gun control

Creator: William Wootton

Following another round of deadly mass shootings, Democrats and advocates are demanding that Congress move forward with gun control legislation.....MORE

A teen fired 141 rounds from his AR-15-style rifle in his neighborhood.

Police in Farmington, New, Mexico, released chilling video of Monday’s shooting spree and provided details on how residents rushed to help the victims.

Video footage of shooting spree

Chief Steve Hebbe described a chaotic scene in the neighborhood. Three people were killed and six others wounded in the mass shooting. He said residents helped officers follow the trail of the gunman.

More HERE

Federal judge to weigh temporary halt on transgender health care rules, law

Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken a pincer grip to transgender care by using his administrative power to halt minors from accessing it, prevent state dollars from being used to pay for it, and using his sway over lawmakers to codify the high-profile rules into law.

These changes, which have been roundly criticized as cruel and discriminatory by transgender advocates, will have a key moment in court on Friday.

More HERE

JENerational Change: DeSantis To Trump: You're Not Right-Wing ENOUGH On Abortion

Hosted by Jen Perelman and Peter Hager

Governor DeSantis is banking his presidential aspirations on a far-right socially conservative message which includes effectively banning abortion. He'll soon find out that Trump is not afraid to run populist LEFT, even on abortion.

We'll be speaking with Jason Haber, Author of The Business of Good: Social Entrepreneurship and the New Bottom Line.

Then, we'll be speaking with Christian Sorensen, former U.S. Air Force Arabic linguist about the 'Business of War' in Ukraine and beyond.

Ron DeSantis signs five bills that LGBTQ Floridians call a “slate of hate”

With LGBTQ advocates decrying it as a “slate of hate,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a suite of bills that will prohibit or limit medical care for transgender people, prevent minors from attending drag shows and impose restrictions on which bathrooms trans people can use.....MORE

New College students plan alternative graduation in protest of commencement speaker, campus changes

Students at the embattled New College of Florida plan to hold an alternative graduation in protest of the state’s takeover and the person slated to speak at the school’s official commencement ceremony.....MORE

Tampa City Council aims to address affordable housing crisis

The housing and rental market in Tampa is red hot, but a downside of that is that there are few affordable housing options.

On Thursday, city council members will look at options to address the affordable housing crisis.

More HERE

Governor Newsom SHUTS UP Ron DeSantis in takedown of the year

INTERVIEW: Brian interviews California Governor Gavin Newsom about Ron DeSantis' authoritarian moves and his recent trips to the South to meet with Democrats in red states.

Tampa Pride event canceled after governor's controversial bill signing

The President of Tampa Pride, Carrie West, spoke by phone and told us that the group's "Pride on the River" event is being pulled—because the group "didn't feel comfortable having a public celebration on the waterfront given the current climate."....MORE

House Dems call for probe into DeSantis' use of Florida police force

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday called for an investigation into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R) handling of the state's law enforcement agency.....MORE

Tampa Hoods: Ybor City

7th Ave

Goal 290 Ft Cuban Sandwich!

Hillsborough County commissioners award commendation to 'plandemic' MAGA pastor

Screengrab via Hillsborough County

This morning, a Tampa pastor with a well-documented history of spreading dangerous conspiracy theories— like mass shootings are false flags and the COVID-19 pandemic was planned by Bill Gates—was awarded a commendation by the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners for his community service.....MORE

Florida Department Of Health Says Prepare Now For 2023 Hurricane Season

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is less than one month away, and the lessons of last year’s Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, are still fresh in the minds of Floridians.

That’s why your West Central Florida County Health Departments serving Citrus, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties strongly encourage residents to prepare now to protect their health heading into the season.

More HERE

Gov. DeSantis signs new law governing bathroom use by birth gender

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation (HB 1521) that will require restrooms to be segregated by gender in public buildings. The new law also will make it a crime to use the restroom not matching a person’s sex at birth.....MORE

Gov. DeSantis signs measure revamping high school sports

A measure that revamps high school sports — expanding student options for where to play and allowing prayer before games — touched down and has been signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The legislation (HB 225) will change up the makeup of the board that governs Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), which sets the ground rules for student athletics. It also expands where students can choose to play sports.

More HERE

DeSantis signs bills aimed at transgender care, pronouns and education

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a series of laws aimed at changing education’s approach to transgender children, bathroom use and pronouns on Wednesday.....MORE

USF students arrested over diversity protest enter not guilty plea

Photo by Dave Decker

It’s been two-and-a-half months since University of South Florida’s police chief was caught on video appearing to assault a student during a diversity rally, and today, five people arrested in the wake of the March 6 incident have plans to enter not guilty pleas at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in downtown Tampa......MORE

Tampa Locavore

Yodi at Trophy Fish

A Spooky Look Behind The Scenes of The SpookEasy Lounge Commercial by Collective Meets!

DeSantis to send Florida National Guard soldiers to Texas for border security

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he plans to send more than 1,100 National Guard soldiers and law enforcement officers to Texas to assist with border security between the United States and Mexico.....MORE

Former Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Andrew Gillum’s Case Dismissed

A federal judge on Tuesday agreed to dismiss charges against former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum, after a mistrial on conspiracy and fraud charges.....MORE

Job cuts, no Social Security checks: How consumers could be pinched by a US government default

All the hand-wringing in Washington over raising the debt limit can seem far removed from the lives of everyday Americans, but they could end up facing huge consequences.

If the economy tanked due to default, more than 8 million people could lose their jobs, government officials estimate. Millions of Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families could lose their monthly payments. Vital federal services including border and air traffic control could be disrupted if workers can’t get their government paychecks.

More HERE

Ybor City developer Darryl Shaw would like to build a 5,000-seat stadium for his new pro women's soccer team

Local soccer fans already knew that Ybor City developer Darryl Shaw had plans to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Tampa, but he’s apparently got his eyes on a stadium, too.

Shaw told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that the 2024 start means the team will have to play in a temporary venue, but that he’s hoping to build a roughly 5,000-person stadium plus office space for the team—and preferably in Ybor City where he’s assembled dozens of properties.

More HERE

BREAKING: New lawsuit reveals BOMBSHELL allegation against Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani

Michael Popok of Legal AF reports on a new bombshell lawsuit filed against Rudy Giuliani not only claiming “under oath”  that he is a serial predator and sexual abuser, but that he participated in a pay-to-play criminal scheme with Trump in which they were selling pardons for $2 million a pop with plans to split the money.

Judge Orders Trump To Take Special Class On How To Behave During Investigation

The judge overseeing the pending criminal trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan has issued a special order for Trump to attend a "class" on how to behave as the trial approaches. Specifically, Trump is going to be taught how he is allowed to handle evidence and how he should NOT divulge any of the information publicly. The class is really meant as a way to prevent Trump from claiming ignorance when he eventually violates the protective order, giving them clearance to punish him, as Farron Cousins explains.