Tag Archives: Tampa

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Hillsborough County prosecutors charged a man with murder Friday, alleging that the fatal shooting of a gay man last month at the West Dog Park in Tampa was a hate crime. Gerald Declan Radford faces a second-degree murder charge in the Feb. 2 death of John Walter Lay. Friends of both men told the Tampa …

The Associated Press reports: A fight between two groups turned deadly in Florida when a shooting in a Tampa street during Halloween festivities resulted in two deaths and 18 people hospitalized early Sunday morning, police said. One suspect is in custody and at least one more is being sought. Officers responded to the shooting in Tampa just before 3 a.m. …

Law & Crime reports: A 64-year-old admitted double murderer who insisted upon receiving the death penalty in Florida bizarrely thanked his trial judge for the capital sentence Friday and asserted this his “soul is fine.” Steven Lorenzo had already confessed in December to murdering Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz, both 26, in 2003. Prosecutors said that Lorenzo drugged, sexually assaulted, …

Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports: A Tampa ordinance that barred counselors from providing voluntarily therapy to minors who sought to rid their same-sex attractions was ruled unconstitutional by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Thursday’s ruling drew heavily from Otto v. City of Boca Raton, in which the circuit court ruled that similar bans in Palm Beach County and the City …

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Tampa police Chief Mary O’Connor resigned Monday effective immediately after an investigation into a Pinellas County traffic stop where she flashed a badge and asked a deputy to “just let us go.” Mayor Jane Castor asked for and received the resignation, Castor announced Monday in a news release. An internal review by the department’s Professional …

Florida Politics reports: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has placed Police Chief Mary O’Connor on administrative leave, pending an investigation into a traffic stop in which O’Connor flashed her badge and asked for leniency. Body camera video shows O’Connor on a golf cart identifying herself as the Tampa Chief of Police and telling the Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy she hoped he …

Via press release from the City of Tampa: A man who fired his weapon outside a South Tampa bar after yelling racial slurs on Monday has been taken into custody. Just before 9 PM on November 21, 2022, the Tampa Police Department responded to the SOHO Saloon, located at 410 S Howard Ave for a call of shots being fired. …

The New York Times reports: A Frontier Airlines flight from Cincinnati to Tampa was diverted to Atlanta late Friday after a passenger was seen with a box cutter, the airline said. No injuries were reported, and the plane landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where the passenger was taken into custody by the Atlanta police, Jennifer F. de la …

NBC News reports: A storm surge warning is in effect for the Tampa Bay area, which means deadly inundation could hit within the next 48 hours. A surge of up to 10 feet of ocean water and 16 inches of rain was predicted across the Tampa Bay area, with as much as 24 inches in isolated areas. That’s enough water …

Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports: Tampa International Airport said it will suspend all operations beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday due to Hurricane Ian. The storm continues to threaten the Tampa Bay area with strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge, the airport said. Officials said the 5 p.m. closure will allow the airport to prepare the airfield and terminals, including the …

Tampa’s CBS affiliate reports: Hillsborough County officials on Monday announced a mandatory evacuation order for all residents living within Zone A in advance of Hurricane Ian. A voluntary evacuation is recommended for residents living in Zone B. These evacuation orders will go into effect at 2 p.m. Monday. In a news conference, officials said they are expecting to see a …

CBS Sports reports: At least five players on the Tampa Bay Rays roster opted not to wear a patch the team added to their uniforms intended to celebrate Pride month in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox (box score). During the team’s 16th annual Pride Night celebration Rays caps and uniforms had logos colored in the style of …

From the Hillsborough County School Board: The Hillsborough County School Board will hold an Emergency School Board Meeting on Wednesday, August 18, from 1-3:30 p.m. in the School Board Auditorium. Board Members will meet to discuss the latest district COVID-19 impact and will discuss the best way to mitigate against the spread of the virus, up to and including mandatory …

Tampa’s NBC News affiliate reports: Thousands of people flocked to streets across Tampa, Florida on Sunday evening to celebrate the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory, many of them ignoring public health measures implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Photos and video of the celebration, which kicked off soon after the home-team Bucs notched a 31-9 win over the Kansas …

The Hill reports: There will be heavy security at the Super Bowl on Sunday despite limited attendance after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) risk assessment found the event could be a target for criminal activity. DHS announced on Saturday that 500 DHS personnel will be at the Super Bowl since it garnered a Level 1 Special Event Assessment Rating. …

Just in from Equality Florida: Today, a federal trial court departed from numerous Florida and national rulings by striking down Tampa’s protections against conversion therapy for minors. Plaintiffs and the extremist, far-right Liberty Counsel brought the Vazzo v. City of Tampa lawsuit seeking to subject minors to the widely discredited and dangerous practice of conversion therapy. “This is a harmful …

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Jane Castor is Tampa’s next mayor, making history as the first openly gay mayor to gain office in Tampa Bay. The retired police chief crushed opponent David Straz with 73 percent of the vote, stretching a near-win in the primary seven weeks ago into a full-on rout Tuesday night. It was over before the first …

NBC News Tampa reports: A woman who visited Hamburger Mary’s in Tampa is suing the establishment for $1.5 million after, she said, she was injured by a drag queen’s breasts. According to the complaint, Neldin Molina said she was with other guests and family members at the restaurant for dinner in May of 2015 to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Amanda …

The Liberty Counsel has failed multiple times to overturn statewide ex-gay torture bans in California and New Jersey and were even smacked down TWICE by the US Supreme Court. But they’re trying yet again, this time in Tampa. Via press release: Liberty Counsel filed suit in federal court against the City of Tampa for its adoption of Ordinance 2017-47, which …

Overnight open thread for Irma watchers. Here’s the latest: Hurricane Irma churned toward Florida on Saturday, leaving a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and prompting one of the largest emergency evacuations in American history. The National Hurricane Center said on Saturday evening the eye of Irma was beginning to slowly move away from the coast of Cuba …