Good Thursday morning. Morning thunderstorms will lead to a cloudy day.
In today’s edition, read about new plans for St. Petersburg’s Woodson Museum; how Scientology went from paying $1.4 million for a Clearwater road to nothing; and a Pasco County man that may become Florida’s oldest executed prisoner.
Deanna Joseph’s son died 12 years ago, when he was struck by a car on Interstate 4 after deputies kicked him out of the Florida State Fair. She and her husband, Andrew Joseph Jr., sued the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office over the 14-year-old’s death.
They earned a $15 million jury award after nearly six years of litigation. But that verdict has been tied up in an appeals court since 2024, and Deanna Joseph’s husband passed away in May.
Forever home search: For years, Terri Lipsey Scott dreamed of a new home for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida. Now, a building for the museum could be the first to rise as part of the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment.
Fingers continue to wag: St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch’s reelection campaign demanded it stop airing what it called a misleading political advertisement from challenger Charlie Crist’s camp.
“Fight Back FIBA”: Hillsborough County community members urged commissioners to reconsider funding for a nonprofit that helps Israeli businesses open offices.
Converted into a home: An old strip mall along North Florida Avenue was flipped into an affordable housing complex.
Before class starts: Hillsborough schools are bringing in five new principals.
Cover immediate operations: Hillsborough County's school board authorized the district to borrow up to $300 million through short-term tax anticipation notes to bridge temporary cash-flow gaps and pay employees.
AI data centers have spurred a backlash that seems to surpass political differences. But what are data centers? Why do they take so many resources to run? And are these massive facilities on the way to Florida? Columnist Stephanie Hayes turns to energy reporter Emily L. Mahoney to explain the human upshot of artificial intelligence.
Could Dems claw back the seat? Florida's mid-decade redistricting made some of Tampa Bay's Republican incumbents safer. But this GOP representative is facing his most competitive race yet.
Cut services: Hospitals and children’s health groups say a proposal to cut property taxes could hit them hard — and comes as the need for care in Florida is only growing.
Rays took the shortstop: More than 18 years later, we're still talking about Tim Beckham and Buster Posey. Now, the Rays have similarly chosen a high school slugger over a college catcher near the top of the draft, writes sports columnist John Romano.
Dominick Occhicone, who faces execution July 28 for a Pasco County murder, will be the oldest person Florida has put to death in modern times. His attorneys argue his advanced age makes his execution unconstitutionally cruel. Why did it take 39 years for his case to get here? The answers are complicated.
