Rays stadium deal; Wesley Chapel fire; Hermès

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Monday, Aug 24, 2026

 
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Good Monday morning. Prepare for some afternoon rain (high of 89).

In today’s edition, read about the Wesley Chapel apartment fire that displaced 400 residents and Tampa Bay restaurants that have closed this summer. Plus, see what’s new at Publix.

Pinellas needs to get rid of toilet water. It’s going 1,000 feet under

Tampa Bay will soon be outlawed from dumping treated wastewater in our waterways.

But where should it go?

Local governments are turning to a controversial alternative: pumping that waste deep underground.

 
 

AROUND THE BAY

  • Tampa City Council officially schedules Rays stadium vote for this week

  • See the Rays' proposed stadium deal

  • After Pinellas school board recount, Bostock narrowly wins

  • Duke Energy tries to disqualify consumer group from Florida data center hearings

  • Pinellas has few rules for e-bikes. Could that soon change?

  • Temple Terrace water fix could bring 35% rate hike

  • Sudden detention center closure leaves Hillsborough juvenile justice board frustrated

  • Clearwater to vote on Scientology-backed entertainment center next month

  • New Port Richey seeks to crack down on parking violations

  • Hermès is coming to Tampa’s Hyde Park Village next year

  • 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival: What’s on the menu?

  • New at Publix: Seasonal ice cream and deals

  • Wesley Chapel apartment fire was caused by lightning strike, officials say
 

FEATURED

[Courtesy of Carly Wilson]

How a tragedy led to hope for Florida students in recovery

The family of Derek Mitchell, who died from a drug overdose in 2021, is giving back to a local university in hopes of sparing others the heartbreak they faced.

 

POLITICS

FIND MORE AT TAMPABAY.COM/POLITICS

As Florida attorney general, James Uthmeier has worked to bring church and state together. But in the battle over school vaccines, the Catholic Church and Florida bishops are emphasizing their separation.

3 reasons: How did Alex Vindman perform in Tampa Bay? Where did Angie Nixon do best? We answer your questions about the surprising result in Florida's Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

 
 

SPORTS

Angry politicians? No way! Another day, another skirmish in the battle over a Rays stadium. Here's why this latest tussle is not as ominous as it might look, sports columnist John Romano writes.

Did you see Jalon Daniels? The undrafted free agent from Kansas entered the Bucs' preseason game and not only changed the tempo, but also the scoreboard.

For more in-depth sports coverage, sign up for Sports Today, our daily newsletter focused on your favorite Tampa Bay teams.

 

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Dive deep every weekday into all things Bucs, Rays, Lightning, USF and more with award-winning Times journalist Rick Stroud. If it’s major Tampa Bay sports news, he’s talking about it.

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VIEWPOINTS

State of unpredictability: It’s interesting to see political commentators peer into our peninsula as if we are curiosities under a bell jar, writes columnist Stephanie Hayes. But Floridians know the state has always been a six-lane highway of contradictions. 

 

TODAY'S TALKER

[MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times]

Gone but never forgotten: Tampa Bay restaurants that closed this summer

Slow business, surging prices, growing uncertainty. It’s been a tough summer for Tampa Bay restaurants. Here are 10 places that have shut down in the past few months.

In Largo: See which restaurants are opening and closing.