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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporter Selene San Felice.

Axios Tampa Bay

Southeast faces severe flooding risk as more tornadoes threaten Mississippi

Energy & Environment

First Citizens agrees to buy Silicon Valley Bank

Economy & Business

Court filings: Twitter says parts of source code were leaked online

Technology

Italian officials defend "David" statue after Florida "porn" complaints

World

12 migrants found in boxcar in Texas, 1 dead and 3 injured

Politics & Policy

USF researcher living 30 feet underwater in Key Largo

"Dr. Deep Sea" is subjecting himself to hyperbaric pressure to study its effects on aging diseases.

News

GOP goes after DEI degrees

A bill filed in the House would threaten state colleges and universities that don't take action against faculty who violate the proposed law with the loss of millions in state funding.

Tampa Bay LGBTQ activists prepare for fight over drag as bans spread

Republicans have targeted drag shows with restrictive bills in at least 14 states this year.

Politics

Meet the Python Huntress defending the Everglades

Amy Siewe is one of 100 state-contracted snake hunters who catch and kill invasive Burmese pythons to prevent them from causing more harm to the Everglades.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers reload in offseason

Sports

The Bucs have been surprisingly active this offseason overhauling a roster that no longer features <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tom Brady" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/02/02/tom-brady-retirement-tampa-bay-buccaneers" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/02/02/tom-brady-retirement-tampa-bay-buccaneers" target="_self">Tom Brady</a>.Why it matters: Tampa Bay needs to reload to compete in the NFC South.

Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yells on the field with a sign that says "End Racism" behind him.

Tampa Bay's Super Bowl parties will cost more this year

Food and Drink

The cost of many Super Bowl party staples in the Tampa Bay area has been steadily rising over the last few years, per the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, Axios&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/09/super-bowl-parties-inflation-cost" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/09/super-bowl-parties-inflation-cost" target="_self">Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick report</a>.Why it matters: As Tampa Bay gears up for Sunday&#x27;s Kansas City Chiefs - Philadelphia Eagles <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="matchup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/07/arizona-super-bowl-phoenix-glendale-1996-2008-2015" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/07/arizona-super-bowl-phoenix-glendale-1996-2008-2015" target="_self">matchup</a>, our bank accounts are about to get sacked.

Sarasota entrepreneur growing mushrooms on top of the ocean

Tekmara's floating ocean pod uses a form of ag-tech similar to indoor vertical farming.

A Sarasota man says he&#x27;s found the key to sustainable farming — good morels.Driving the news: Todd Kleperis is growing mushrooms on the waters off Siesta Key in what he calls the OPod.

Kelpris and his Garden Pod, and the mushrooms growing inside it

Last Meal with the Naked Farmer's Jordan Johnson

Jordan Johnson knows a thing or two about fresh food. State of play: The founder and CEO of Naked Farmer started his &quot;fine fast&quot; eatery, serving veggie-filled dishes sourced from local farms, in St. Petersburg at the height of the pandemic.

6 cool things to do in Tampa Bay this spring

Whether your vibe is jamming out at a festival, sipping on a mimosa at brunch or spending an afternoon at the ballpark, here's your guide to springtime in Tampa Bay

Things to Do

Whether your vibe is jamming out at a festival, sipping on a mimosa at brunch or spending an afternoon at the ballpark, here&#x27;s your guide to springtime in Tampa Bay.

Jane Goodall to visit Tampa Bay ahead of her 89th birthday

She'll host a fundraiser at the Florida Aquarium, and a talk at the Tampa Theatre this month.

World-renowned ethologist and conservationist Jane Goodall will give two talks in Tampa this month.What&#x27;s happening: She&#x27;ll host a March 28 fundraiser at the Florida Aquarium, and a March 29 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="talk for students and educators at the Tampa Theatre" data-vars-click-url="https://tampatheatre.org/live/jane-goodall/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tampatheatre.org/live/jane-goodall/" target="_blank">talk for students and educators at the Tampa Theatre</a> — just days before her 89th birthday.

Flu cases on the rise around Tampa Bay

Along with the flu, more Floridians are getting COVID-19 and RSV.

The country&#x27;s worst influenza outbreak in more than a decade has left nearly every state with high or very high levels of flu activity, including Florida.<ul><li>Flu cases have now started dipping statewide but are still increasing around Tampa Bay, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida Department of Health data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/influenza/index.html" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/influenza/index.html" target="_blank">Florida Department of Health data</a>.</li></ul>Why it matters: This year&#x27;s caseload underscores how the return to pre-pandemic life has left us &quot;immunologically naïve&quot; and more vulnerable to seasonal respiratory diseases, Axios&#x27; Adriel Bettelheim <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/05/flu-outbreak-decade-hospltalizations" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/05/flu-outbreak-decade-hospltalizations" target="_self">reports</a>.

Push to get new COVID booster comes as Florida braces for flu season

The low turnout might be because people don't even know about it.

COVID

President Biden just got the updated COVID-19 booster shot, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="urged Americans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/25/president-biden-new-omicron-covid-booster-vaccine-shot" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/25/president-biden-new-omicron-covid-booster-vaccine-shot" target="_self">urged Americans</a> to do the same. But Tampa Bay isn&#x27;t buying it.What he&#x27;s saying: &quot;Now is the time to do it — by Halloween, if you can,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Biden said Tuesday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/25/president-biden-new-omicron-covid-booster-vaccine-shot" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/25/president-biden-new-omicron-covid-booster-vaccine-shot" target="_self">Biden said Tuesday</a>. &quot;That&#x27;s the best time. And that way you can be protected for the holidays.&quot;

Illustration of the first two boxes have a checkmark made of a syringe, and the third box has a large X in the middle.

Tampa Bay is a growing beer tourism destination

A handful of newer craft brewers are pushing the limits on flavor and styles in ways that are drawing national attention.

Tampa Bay&#x27;s beer scene is emerging as a bright spot on Florida&#x27;s beer map.State of beer: A handful of newer craft brewers are pushing the limits on flavor and styles in ways that are drawing national attention.

Your guide to Tampa Bay's best breweries

Three new standouts are located within 1 mile of each other.

Tampa Bay breweries cover the waterfront when it comes to different tastes and trends — making it easy for beer fans to find their favorites.What to know: The beer scene has exploded in the decade since I left Tampa. But on a recent return trip, a faithful friend ferried me to the top-rated breweries and helped me develop this guide to the best beer in Tampa Bay.

BarrieHaus Beer Co. represents good beer and local sports pride. Photo: John Frank/Axios

How parental leave policies at Tampa's biggest employers compare

Business

The University of South Florida has some of the most generous parental leave policies in Tampa, including 19.5 weeks of paid time off for instructors.Why it matters: A host of research shows <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="paid parental leave" data-vars-click-url="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/04/feature-parental-leave" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/04/feature-parental-leave" target="_blank">paid parental leave</a> leads to better <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="birth outcomes" data-vars-click-url="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-017-2393-x" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-017-2393-x" target="_blank">birth outcomes</a>, healthier families and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="household stability" data-vars-click-url="https://siepr.stanford.edu/news/its-good-new-moms-when-dads-can-stay-home" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://siepr.stanford.edu/news/its-good-new-moms-when-dads-can-stay-home" target="_blank">household stability</a>.

Illustration of four toy blocks with symbols of a check mark, a pregnant person, a heart, and a baby.

How December's air travel crisis affected Tampa International Airport

Just 58% of Southwest flights departed TPA on time in December.

Tampa International Airport travelers heard more groans of delayed flights this winter, as those same groans echoed in airports around the nation.State of play: 69.1% of domestic flights departed TPA on time in December 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Florida Republicans target pronouns in schools

The bill would ban public school employees from calling students by pronouns that differ from those given to them at birth — even with parental consent.

Republican lawmakers want to bar the use of preferred pronouns for students and teachers in Florida schools.Driving the news: A proposed law that builds off of last year&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Parental Rights in Education Act" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/28/dont-say-gay-bill-desantis" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/28/dont-say-gay-bill-desantis" target="_self">Parental Rights in Education Act</a> — dubbed &quot;Don&#x27;t Say Gay&quot; by critics — cleared a state Senate education committee on Monday.

Illustration of a collage featuring the Florida State Capitol building and snippets of a bill barring the use of preferred pronouns for students and teachers.

Florida lawmakers lead fight over daylight saving time

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers wants this year to be the last time we change our clocks.

Next week when you clock out of your nine-to-five, you won&#x27;t be driving home in the darkness and you could even stop by South Pointe Park to catch the sunset.What&#x27;s happening: Our clocks will &quot;spring forward&quot; an hour Sunday for daylight saving time, meaning we&#x27;ll lose an hour of sleep but gain more light later in the day.

Parkgoers in South Beach watch the sunset by the water.

Christopher Rufo's anti-DEI crusade visits University of South Florida

Rufo called on DeSantis to "not hesitate in demolishing" DEI programs.

The activist who&#x27;s helped frame critical race theory as a threat for conservatives has a new target: the University of South Florida.Driving the news: Christopher Rufo, 38, the Washington-based <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="provocateur" data-vars-click-url="https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conservative-activist-invented-the-conflict-over-critical-race-theory" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conservative-activist-invented-the-conflict-over-critical-race-theory" target="_blank">provocateur</a> and close ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, late last week took on USF&#x27;s diversity, equity and inclusion programs on the website of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="City Journal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.city-journal.org/the-university-of-south-floridas-diversity-cult" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.city-journal.org/the-university-of-south-floridas-diversity-cult" target="_blank">City Journal</a>, the magazine of the center-right Manhattan Institute, where he&#x27;s a senior fellow.

Florida Supreme Court to consider recreational marijuana amendment

State lawmakers and marijuana groups have been pushing for Florida to legalize recreational use for years.

A voter-backed amendment to allow recreational marijuana use in Florida is a step closer to being on our 2024 ballot.Driving the news: Late last week, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Smart and Safe Florida" data-vars-click-url="https://smartandsafeflorida.com/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://smartandsafeflorida.com/" target="_blank">Smart and Safe Florida</a>, the political committee behind the amendment, submitted<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" 294,046 valid petition signatures" data-vars-click-url="https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/Initiatives/initdetail.asp?account=83475&amp;seqnum=2" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/Initiatives/initdetail.asp?account=83475&amp;seqnum=2" target="_blank"> 294,046 valid petition signatures</a> to the state&#x27;s Division of Elections.

Floridians among the cheapest tippers in the U.S., data shows

Don&#x27;t forget to tip, seriously.By the numbers: With an average tip of 18.3%, Florida ranked 48th out of 50 states when it came to the average tipping percentage in the last quarter of 2022, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data from Toast" data-vars-click-url="https://pos.toasttab.com/news/q4-2022-restaurant-trends-report-valentines-super-bowl-tipping-data" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pos.toasttab.com/news/q4-2022-restaurant-trends-report-valentines-super-bowl-tipping-data" target="_blank">data from Toast</a>.

St. Pete activists keep banned books stocked

Small acts of rebellion after "The Bluest Eye" was removed from school shelves.

Toni Morrison&#x27;s &quot;The Bluest Eye&quot; will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="no longer be on Pinellas County school shelves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/01/25/pinellas-schools-remove-book-by-prize-winning-author-toni-morrison/?itm_source=parsely-api" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/01/25/pinellas-schools-remove-book-by-prize-winning-author-toni-morrison/?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank">no longer be on Pinellas County school shelves</a>, but it&#x27;s popping up on library shelves around St. Pete.What&#x27;s happening: Literacy advocates and St. Pete residents are stocking the book and others challenged by the state with hopes to keep the stories accessible for students.

Illustration of a stack of books with barbed wire wrapped around them. 

Tampa Bay researchers are tracking the big seaweed bloom near Florida

The large floating blooms have become an annual occurrence since about 2011, and University of South Florida researchers want to get to the bottom of why.

University of South Florida researchers are studying a massive seaweed bloom that&#x27;s starting to wreak havoc on Florida&#x27;s beaches.The really big picture: The Sargassum bloom is 5,000 miles wide, spanning twice the width of the continental U.S., and weighs an estimated 12 million tons — roughly half the record-setting total found across the Atlantic Ocean last year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Miami&#x27;s Martin Vassolo reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/03/22/florida-seaweed-blob-tracker" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/03/22/florida-seaweed-blob-tracker" target="_self">Axios Miami&#x27;s Martin Vassolo reports</a>.

people walking along a beach covered in seaweed

Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard abruptly quits mid-council meeting

"I'm not the right leader for this council anymore, and I'm concerned where the city is going," he said.

In a shock to Clearwater&#x27;s City Council and to politicians across Tampa Bay, Mayor Frank Hibbard <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="resigned in the middle of Monday&#x27;s council meeting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/live/ws5TBl_7iR8?feature=share&amp;t=3102" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/live/ws5TBl_7iR8?feature=share&amp;t=3102" target="_blank">resigned in the middle of Monday&#x27;s council meeting</a>.Driving the news: Hibbard announced his decision after calling for a recess about an hour into the meeting, where he had been pushing back on efforts to make a new $90 million City Hall and municipal services complex the city&#x27;s top budget priority.

Snifflin' season is in full swing in Tampa Bay

Sarasota, Lakeland and Tampa were named three of the country's 20 "allergy capitals" in a report released last week.

If you&#x27;re thinking allergy season is particularly bad this year, it&#x27;s not all in your head (well, the actual pollen is).Driving the news: Sarasota, Lakeland and Tampa were named three of the country&#x27;s 20 &quot;allergy capitals&quot; in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a report released last week" data-vars-click-url="https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/aafa-2023-allergy-capitals-report.pdf" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/aafa-2023-allergy-capitals-report.pdf" target="_blank">a report released last week</a> by the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Illustration of a tree pruned in the shape of a head with a large nose, with used tissues next to its pot.

Evictions are climbing in Tampa Bay

High rent prices have renters spending record shares of their paychecks on their monthly housing bills.

Eviction filings in Tampa Bay continue to exceed pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eviction Lab" data-vars-click-url="https://evictionlab.org/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://evictionlab.org/" target="_blank">Eviction Lab</a>.Driving the news: The Princeton University project tracked 1,605 eviction filings in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties last month, which is up 24% from the historical average.

Tiny waterfront condo in Clearwater asks $495K

See inside this totally renovated condo, ripe for an Airbnb.

Real Estate

Would you pay nearly half a million dollars for a 405-square-foot studio? That&#x27;s what a Clearwater seller is asking for his condo.What&#x27;s happening: This studio at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="800 Bayway Blvd." data-vars-click-url="https://www.premiersothebysrealty.com/condo-townhouse/mfr/t3364100/800-bayway-boulevard-22-clearwater-fl-33767" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.premiersothebysrealty.com/condo-townhouse/mfr/t3364100/800-bayway-boulevard-22-clearwater-fl-33767" target="_blank">800 Bayway Blvd.</a> was put on the market for $525K last spring and the asking price has dropped $30K since.

Modern waterfront home in St. Pete asks $2.4M

There's a 58-foot screened-in porch, and private dock and boat slip.

If you&#x27;re a car enthusiast, we might have found your dream house — listed at a cool $2,396,000.<ul><li>This 2,934-square-foot home in St. Petersburg has a two-story garage with two car lifts.</li></ul>

Tampa Bay is a growing beer tourism destination

Your guide to Tampa Bay's best breweries

How parental leave policies at Tampa's biggest employers compare

How December's air travel crisis affected Tampa International Airport

Tampa Bay reporter picks

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