Israel’s Netanyahu vows to exact a ‘huge price’ in response to deadly Hamas infiltration

AP Photo by Yousef Masoud

The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, catching the country off guard on a major holiday.....MORE

President Biden clears way for new border wall in South Texas

The administration waived 26 federal laws to allow construction of the wall.

Florida Abortion Initiative Tops 400,000 Signatures

Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at ensuring abortion rights have topped 400,000 valid petition signatures submitted to the state.

The total reflects signatures that have been validated, not necessarily the overall number of signatures collected. Floridians Protecting Freedom would need to submit at least 891,523 valid petition signatures to get on the 2024 ballot.

Also, it would need the Florida Supreme Court to approve the proposed ballot wording. The committee has submitted enough signatures to trigger a Supreme Court review, though it remains unclear when that review will take place.

Floridians for Protecting Freedom announced the ballot initiative in May after the Republican-controlled Legislature approved a bill that seeks to prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

The proposed amendment would bar laws that restrict abortion “before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Fill out and print the petition HERE

Federal Transportation Money Headed To Florida

More than $2.7 billion is headed to Florida as part of annual federal transportation funding, including some money for railroad safety and electric vehicle infrastructure.....MORE

Tampa Bay Veg Fest

TAMPA BAY VEG FEST

Perry Harvey Sr Park

1000 E Harrison St., Tampa

Saturday, Nov. 4 ▪ 11am - 5pm

Admission is FREE

With the success and thousands of participants returning for 2022 Tampa Bay Veg Fest, we are excited to invite you to the 2023 Tampa Bay Veg Fest!

We’re bringing back education, cooking demos, a very FUN Family Fun Zone, shopping, and lots of incredible vegan food.

More Info HERE

SOUND FAMILIAR? DeSantis promises to REALLY build a border wall and have Mexico pay

Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida and Trump’s nearest (though still distant) competitor in the Republican primary, is now jumping on the wall train. He says that he will fulfill Trump’s abandoned promise, by finishing the wall and making Mexico pay for it.....MORE

Florida bill would raise base teacher pay to $65K a year

A major raise is on the table for Florida teachers if a newly filed House bill becomes law.

HB 13, dubbed the “Save Our Teachers Act,” aims to raise the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers and certified prekindergarten teachers to at least $65,000.

More HERE

New Rays stadium deal could end up costing taxpayers more than $1B

The Tampa Bay Rays are here to stay in St. Petersburg, but the new stadium deal might not be a home run for taxpayers — with interest on debt, St. Pete and Pinellas County residents could end up paying more than $1 billion for the development.....MORE

PSTA to offer free bus rides for low-income residents going to work

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority currently offers reduced-cost bus rides to low-income residents who rely on public transportation to get to work. But starting Nov. 1, those rides will be completely free.....MORE

Ybor Life

7th Ave

President Biden, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost Announce Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Ybor Paparazzi

Ybor Mayor Willie

Matt Gaetz's Lawmaking Career Is Over

Health care workers go on strike in multiple states

© AP

In what the unions said is the largest health care strike in U.S. history, more than 75,000 employees of Kaiser Permanente have walked off the job across multiple states.....MORE

The Market Marie

THE MARKET MARIE

Coachman Park

300 Cleveland Street, Clearwater

Saturday, Oct. 14: 10 am - 3 pm

Saturday, Nov. 11: 10 am - 3 pm

Saturday, Dec. 9:  10 am - 3 pm

“Explore the vibrant world of small businesses and artisans at our beloved market, now at Coachman Park. As we embrace our new home, we’re extending our hours from 10 AM to 3 PM for an even bigger market day!” write the event organizers.

More Info HERE

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Cheesesteak

NY, NY Pizza - Ybor City

"That's a Spicy (Chorizo) Meatball" in Ybor City

Florida Supreme Court hears arguments on protest law amid allegations of targeting Black activists

On Wednesday, the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to a 2021 law that enhanced penalties and created new crimes during protests that turn violent.

Groups including the Dream Defenders and NAACP argue that the law was enacted seemingly in response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

More HERE

Ybor Paparazzi

Tara and Glen

The Florida GOP on Crime Rates

Trump appeals ruling stripping him of New York business certificates

Former President Trump on Wednesday appealed a court ruling that found he committed fraud and ordered his New York business certificates be stripped.....MORE

New plans detail finances of Rays stadium deal

Some are already voicing concerns about the new stadium.

“The lie that is being told is that it is more important to build the city’s future around a baseball team rather than around the people,” one community member said.

More HERE

Ron DeSantis vows to strip accreditation from colleges with DEI programs

If elected President, Ron DeSantis is promising big changes to American higher education, including moves to “totally blow up the accreditation cartel.”

During an interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show, DeSantis said embracing “alternative accreditors” would allow for social justice initiatives embraced by universities to be scuttled.

“It’s going to be, instead of you have to have gender studies or you have to have (diversity, equity and inclusion) to get accredited, it will be the opposite. We’re not going to accredit you if you have DEI and some of these other things,” the graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School said.

More HERE

Ybor Life

7th Ave

“Students Against Fascism in Education” protest New College of Florida’s new presidential pick

Former Republican House Speaker Richard Corcoran was chosen yesterday as New College of Florida’s permanent president after serving less than a year as interim president. The move further solidifies a veritable conservative grip on the traditionally liberal arts school as part of myriad of changes after Republican Governor Ron DeSantis appointed a majority of the Board of Trustees with conservative allies earlier this year, which ousted past president Patricia Okker, and replaced her promptly with Corcoran. Even before the decision was announced, dozens of students gathered on campus in protest of the decision.....MORE

Ybor Life

7th Ave

Happy Fall Y’all! Heading back to the Ybor City Saturday Market!

Justic For The TAMPA 5!