At the center of a looming Rays stadium vote is a question: Can a half-cent sales tax that Hillsborough County voters approved for infrastructure be used for a new ballpark?

• Most commissioners have said on the record that it shouldn't be, but the tax's language and deliberations from before its passage suggest it can be.

Why it matters: Commissioner Ken Hagan made clear in February that the stadium plan isn't possible without revenue from the county's half-cent sales tax.

Driving the news: Hillsborough commissioners are expected to vote on a stadium deal — as soon as April 1 — in which the Rays will seek more than $400 million from the county's half-cent sales tax.

• A framework from Hagan's office outlines how the county could get there: through surplus revenue, funds initially planned for other sports facilities, or unallocated dollars.

Friction point: Commissioner Joshua Wostal told Axios that he expects a legal challenge to occur if money from the half-cent sales tax is used.

Catch up quick: The renewed Community Investment Tax — approved by voters in 2024 — will fund infrastructure for transportation, public works, safety, facilities, utilities and schools.

• Five percent will be shaved off the top for the school board each year. The rest will be split, relative to population, among Hillsborough County, the city of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.
• Hillsborough County is expected to receive $2.66 billion, $597 million of which is reserved for public facilities, including repairs at Stienbrenner Field, Benchmark International Arena and Raymond James Stadium.

Between the lines: The original Community Investment Tax explicitly allowed its revenue to be used for "a community stadium."

• That language wasn't carried over in the renewed tax, but the ordinance defers to state statutes for its definitions of infrastructure and public facilities, and those statutes include recreational facilities.
• That is how the county's existing stadiums will be funded by the tax.

Flashback: Wostal proposed language on April 17, 2024, barring the tax from being used for new stadiums, an idea that drew bipartisan support — including from Hagan.

• County attorneys acknowledged then that "public facilities" is broad enough to cover a county-owned stadium, but they said that commissioners could simply choose not to own a new professional sports facility.
• Wostal then withdrew his proposal. The interlocal agreement approved later did not prohibit the use of the tax revenue for a new stadium.

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Pollen season is in full swing in Tampa Bay.

Why it matters: We live in a tough region for people with pollen allergies, according to a new report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Driving the news: The Lakeland, Sarasota and Tampa metro areas ranked high in the foundation's top 100 allergy capitals, at 20th, 28th and 29th, respectively.

• That's based on total pollen scores (tree, grass and weed), over-the-counter allergy medication use and the number of allergy specialists in the area.

State of play: Those cities, along with St. Petersburg and Clearwater, all had high or very high tree pollen counts Wednesday, driven by oak, alder and birch trees, per mypollenpal.com.

• The drought doesn't help, WUSF reported.

State of play: Allergy symptoms can include a runny nose, a stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and nasal congestion.

• Newer antihistamines like Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec offer relief without the drowsiness associated with older antihistamines like Benadryl.
• They can be combined with nasal steroid sprays like Flonase.
• You can also improve your allergy symptoms by changing the air filter in your home and showering after you've been outside, advises the Mayo Clinic.

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⛵ An international sailboat race will stop in St. Petersburg for the first time during its 2027 event. (Tampa Bay Times)

• Sailors competing in The Ocean Race will dock May 4-16 along the waterfront near the University of South Florida St. Petersburg on their way from Itajai, Brazil, to Cascais, Portugal.

⚾ The St. Petersburg City Council voted to increase insurance coverage on Tropicana Field, which required millions of dollars in repairs after it sustained damage from Hurricane Milton. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

⛹️ Tampa residents should expect busier roads downtown this weekend as Benchmark International Arena hosts the NCAA Division I men's basketball championship. (Tampa Bay 28)

It's almost the weekend, and it's going to be beeeeautiful out.

• Here are some ways to spend it.

🎸 St. Petersburg Bayfest: Chow down on some seafood, shop the arts marketplace and dance to live music from bands like Soul Circus Cowboys and tribute group Absolute Queen at this new festival on the waterfront.

• Friday through Sunday at North Straub Park. Tickets are $7.68 including fees.

🤠 Country in the Park, Pinellas Park: The annual (FREE!) country music festival will feature headliners Jerrod Niemann and Lorrie Morgan, plus food and bevs for sale.

• Saturday from noon-10pm at England Brothers Park.

🌸 Spring Craft & Art Fair, Gulfport: Shop artwork, gifts and springy decor hand-crafted by members of the Gulfport Senior Center.

• Saturday from 9am-noon at the Gulfport Senior Center.

⚽️ Rowdies home opener, St. Pete: Get rowdy with hometown fans as the Rowdies play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Al Lang Stadium.

• Saturday at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $27.

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Colorectal cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Americans under 50, per new JAMA research.

Why it matters: Screening more young adults for colorectal cancer could save lives.

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered its recommended starting age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 in 2021, meaning most insurers are now required to cover it starting at that age.

The big picture: More young people are being diagnosed in Florida.

• Colorectal cancer cases in Floridians under 50 have risen about 58% since the early 2000s, from around 6.5 cases per 100,000 people to 10.3, per NCI and CDC data.

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