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Tampa Bay Area Events Will Go On Despite Coronavirus Concerns

By • Mar 10, 2020
Billboard and parking garage of Raymond James Stadium
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF Public Media

With 18 cases confirmed in Florida, COVID-19 is beginning to impact major events statewide. Miami cancelled the Ultra Music Festival in response and other large gatherings are also being scrapped.

Coronavirus Prompts Gov. DeSantis To Declare State Of Emergency

By & WUSF News Staff • Mar 9, 2020
Man at podium with men and women behind him
News Service of Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency as Florida battles an outbreak of the new coronavirus that has already killed two people. The governor also appealed for calm, even as he took that step Monday.

Coronavirus Concerns Aren't Stopping Cruisers

By • Mar 9, 2020
Carnival cruise ship docked at the Port of Tampa
Delaney Brown / WUSF Public Media

As cases of coronavirus continue to pop-up on cruise ships, the U.S. State Department is urging travelers - especially those with underlying medical conditions - to stay ashore.

But as passengers at the Port of Tampa embarked on their vacations Monday, the only visible sign of concerns about COVID-19 came from a bachelorette party debating the best brand of hand sanitizer.

Gas Below $2 A Gallon In Tampa Bay? Coronavirus Concerns Could Make This Possible

By • Mar 9, 2020
CARL LISCIANDRELLO/WUSF PUBLIC MEDIA

Don't be surprised to see gas prices dip below $2 a gallon in Florida this week for the first time since 2016.

Cruise Docks At Florida Port After Coronavirus Test Clears Crew

By • Mar 9, 2020
cruise ship on the water
Princess Cruise Lines

A cruise ship held off Florida's coast while two crew members were tested for the new coronavirus has docked at a port.

Cruise Off Florida OK'd To Dock After Coronavirus Test Of 2 Staff

By • Mar 8, 2020
cruise ship on the water
Princess Cruise Lines

Authorities say a cruise ship has been cleared to enter port after being held off Florida's east coast while awaiting testing of two crew members for the new coronavirus.

Lido Key Beach Will Get More Sand. When Is Not Known

By • Mar 6, 2020
Bags of sand on the beach.
City of Sarasota

The latest beach renourishment plan for Lido Key Beach still doesn’t have a start date, but officials say they know what is needed to protect the shore for the next five years.

Officer In Crash That Killed Sarasota Philanthropists Fired

By • Mar 6, 2020
Photo of Charles & Margery Barancik
Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

A Longboat Key police officer has been fired following a crash that killed well-known philanthropists Charles and Margery Baranick.

Florida Deals With Coronavirus; Democratic Presidential Race Analysis

By Amanda Brannon • Mar 6, 2020

The coronavirus is spreading in Florida, with the latest presumptive case reported in Santa Rosa County. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a public health state of emergency.  On this week’s Roundup we discussed COVID-19 in the Sunshine State and also looked at how the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is shaping up in Florida now that early voting is underway.

A Giant Flamingo Will Soon Hang From Tampa International Airport's Main Terminal

By • Mar 6, 2020
COURTESY: TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

You’ve seen them in the yards of your neighbors, in zoos across the state or in wildlife parks and nature reserves. Now, the flamingo will soon be on display at Tampa International Airport.

St. Pete Pier Set For A May Grand Opening

By • Mar 5, 2020
An overview shot from across the water shows the end of the St. Pete Pier.
Thomas Iacobucci/WUSF Public Media

We now know the long-anticipated opening date for the St. Pete Pier.

Coronavirus Deaths In Washington State And California, Where Gov. Declares Emergency

By • Mar 5, 2020

Updated at 8:45 p.m. ET

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 11 people, after officials reported fatalities in California and Washington state on Wednesday. The most recent death is connected to a cruise ship that traveled from the U.S. to Mexico.

Officials in Placer County, Calif., announced that an elderly resident has become the first person to die from the illness in California. The patient, who was not identified, had underlying health conditions, according to the county.

Sports Gambler Charged With Threatening Rays Players, Other Athletes On Social Media

By • Mar 5, 2020
KELLY McBRIDE

A New York sports gambler is facing federal charges in Florida related to threatening social media messages sent to players with the Tampa Bay Rays and other teams.

Daylight Saving Time Returns This Weekend. Should It Stay Year-Round?

By • Mar 5, 2020
lilacs next to a wooden alarm clock
iStock

Love it or hate it, Daylight Saving Time will be back this weekend.  It's a time when we can all look forward to the bleary-eyed week after we "spring forward" again. 

Strong Storms Possible Across Northern Half of Florida Thursday

By Jeff Huffman • Mar 4, 2020

Thunderstorms capable of producing wind damage, hail, or even a tornado are possible across the Florida Panhandle late Wednesday night, then most of north and central Florida Thursday and Thursday night.

Thunderstorms were off to an early start Wednesday, but confined primarily to areas near and north of the Alabama and Georgia borders.

 

Tornadoes In Tennessee Kill At Least 24, Cause Widespread Damage In Nashville

By • Mar 3, 2020

Updated 9:20 p.m. ET

Tornadoes gashed through central Tennessee early Tuesday, with the worst damage concentrated in and around Nashville. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says at least 24 people were killed across four counties, and there are fears the death toll could climb as first responders continue to search for victims.

Coronavirus In Florida: How Schools, Airports And Other Public Spaces Are Dealing With It

By • Mar 2, 2020
List of ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Hillsborough County

After two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Hillsborough and Manatee counties, governmental agencies, universities, and private companies are stepping up their response.

WUSF Is Hiring A Web Producer

By WUSF Staff • Mar 2, 2020

Are you a web savvy team player whos looking to break into the world of public media?

Did you just catch that typo in the lede? 

If so, you might be the candidate we need. 

Lightning Captain Stamkos To Miss Rest Of Regular Season

By • Mar 1, 2020
Steven Stamkos
WIkipedia.com

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will undergo surgery for a core muscle injury and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season and potentially the first round of the playoffs.

The Lightning said Saturday that Stamkos will be out for approximately six to eight weeks, including rest and recovery. The Lightning are second in the Atlantic Division and the playoffs are scheduled to begin the week of April 6.

Florida Democrats Disavow Sanders’ Cuba Comments; Are Schools Overusing Baker Act?

By Amanda Brannon • Feb 28, 2020

This week, the Florida Democratic Party disavowed some controversial comments made by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, their party’s current frontrunner in the presidential race.

Sanders praised Castro’s literacy and health care programs in Cuba, sparking outrage among Cuban exiles here in Florida. Also, recently there has been outrage after young children around the state have been Baker Acted or even arrested.

Six Months After Hurricane Dorian, Venice Ministry Hasn't Stopped Bahamas Relief

By • Feb 28, 2020
Boxes of donations in the airport hangar of Agape flights in Venice.
Agape Flights

Inside a Venice airport hangar, about a dozen volunteers for Agape Flights have run into a problem. They need to load a generator on to a cargo plane but it’s on a forklift and the driver can't quite maneuver around several large pallets of bottled water.

Tampa-Area Emergency Responders Meet Under 'Blue Skies' To Prepare For Disasters

By • Feb 28, 2020
Physicians and staff assess a mannequin
Jonah Hinebaugh/WUSF Public Media

Tabletop exercises are never the same as setting up actual gurneys, transportation and the other logistics demanded by an emergency evacuation, according to Dr. Timothy McGuirk.

Photos: St. Pete Pier Is Progressing, And Timeline For Opening In Focus

By • Feb 28, 2020
An overview shot from across the water shows the end of the St. Pete Pier.
Thomas Iacobucci/WUSF Public Media

While construction on the St. Pete Pier nears completion, a cohesive timeline of when that will happen - and when it will open - is becoming clearer. 

This Georgia Town Has Welcomed Thousands Of Refugees. Hear What Residents Have To Say

By Andrea Tudhope & America Amplified • Feb 27, 2020
Andrea Tudhope / America Amplified
Andrea Tudhope / America Amplified

Refugee admission into the U.S. has dropped dramatically in recent years. 

Six Florida Cities Rank In Top 100 For Refugee Resettlement

By • Feb 27, 2020
A woman and child sit
Courtesy of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services

The Tampa Bay area is becoming a popular location for refugee resettlement - there are more refugees per capita in Clearwater and Tampa than anywhere else in Florida. 

Damaging Winds Possible in Central Florida Wednesday

By Ray Hawthorne • Feb 26, 2020

A line of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts is expected to barrel through Central Florida Wednesday afternoon.

Study Looks At The Where And Why People Move To Florida

By • Feb 24, 2020
Graph of Florida being the number one out-of state destination to move to
Hire A Helper

We’ve all seen the signs of Florida’s population growth: more housing complexes are being built, traveling to work takes a few minutes longer than before, the parking lots have less empty spaces. But where are all these people coming from?

In a study on migration, HireAHelper found that in 22 states, Florida is the top destination for those who decide to move out.

Soggy Days Ahead in the Sunshine State from Slow-Moving Front

By Jeff Huffman • Feb 24, 2020

Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are likely across Florida over the next three days, thanks to a slow-moving front that could produce heavy rain in some areas.

The rain could be welcome news to farmers in the Florida Panhandle Monday night and Tuesday, who are dealing with a moderate or severe drought. However, the heaviest rain is likely to fall a little farther south Tuesday night and Wednesday, across portions of North-Central Florida where up to three inches is possible.

A Uniform Switch: Bucs To Unveil New Look In April

By • Feb 24, 2020
TWITTER

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans who have been clamoring for the team to rid itself of the uniforms they’ve worn since 2014 will be getting their wish.

Groveland Four Honored In Monument Unveiled In Lake County

By Joe Byrnes - WMFE • Feb 24, 2020

Lake County unveiled a memorial Friday to remember the Groveland Four.

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