Tag Archives: Tampa

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 …

From the Washington Post: The Tampa Bay Rays wore “Orlando” patches and Orlando Rays hats to honor the Orlando shooting victims Friday night. (Chris O’Meara/Associated Press) The Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants honored the victims of last weekend’s shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub during pride night Friday at Tropicana Field. The Rays sported hats of the Orlando Rays, …

TampaBay.com reports: Two people died after attending the Sunset Music Festival at Raymond James Stadium over the Memorial Day weekend, according to Tampa police. A 22-year-old man was hospitalized Saturday and died Sunday, Tampa police spokesman Steve Hegarty said, and a 21-year-old woman was taken to a hospital Sunday and died Monday. While investigators await the results of toxicology tests, …

JMG reader Dan writes: “A few of us in the Tampa Bay area are trying to organize a meet-up at the Tampa Theatre on Sunday, Aug 2nd for the Summer Classics Movie Series feature Gone With the Wind. Although we interact regularly with other locals on your forum, we thought it might be fun to meet in person. Can you …

As the date for same-sex marriage nears, Tampa’s tourism authority is prepping a national ad campaign to lure honeymoon business. Earlier this week, a federal appeals court ruled that a stay in the state’s ban on same-sex nuptials will be lifted Jan. 5 because of the ban’s unconstitutionality. If that holds up, Visit Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County’s nonprofit tourism branch, …