Morning Roundup
No intro needed: Kudos to the Tampa Tribune for writing about each and every cable TV debate in the races for mayor and City Council over the past four days. They're not groundbreaking stuff but important for democracy. The Times attended but did not write daily news stories about what the candidates said, using some…
1,400 Licensed Gun-Carrying Felons
Ahhhh, it's only 1/3 of one-percent of the state's licensed concealed-weapon people, but, still, WTF? Experts told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel for its stories yesterday and today that probably no one in authority in the whole state realizes how many of these guys were slipping through the cracks. The main culprit seems to be the…
Gov. Granholm Coming to Tampa
Tampa City Council candidate Mary Mulhern is calling in the big guns — her sister-in-law, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm — in her bid against City Councilman Shawn Harrison, who has her beat more than 10-1 in the bank account department. Mulhern's campaign says Granholm will be in town for one day on Saturday, Feb. 17.…
Gwen Miller in for a Rough Ride
With the mayor facing only token opposition, it looks like the role of media target is falling to Tampa City Council Chairwoman Gwen Miller, who has drawn five opponents in her bid for a fourth term on the board. Miller and her challengers — Rick Barcena, Randy Baron, Denise Chavez, Julie Jenkins and Joe Redner…
Tent City on MySpace
The tent city in St. Petersburg has its own MySpace page now. (via Nabob of Nothing)
Orange Reaction
Some interesting reactions on Orange ceasing publication: The party line. Deggans throws a shout-out our way (thanks) but cautions that Orange's demise isn't a sign that other free weeklies can't work. He's right. Orange freelancer and homeless-hater-turned-homeless-cigarette-purchaser Rachel* writes that editor Mitzi Gordon was not-too-smart and suckered into trying to print the article that got…
Orange Is Finished
Orange publisher Carla Floyd confirms to me this afternoon that Media General's 20-week foray into the world of faux-alt weeklies is over. Floyd said the publication didn't perform financially and didn't "meet our business expectations." Its editor, Mitzi Gordon, says she was fired this week after we published details of a spat she had with…
Jeb’s Parting Shot: Dollars for Home-Strengthening, Pennies for Repair
A 2006 federal grant to Katrina-Wilma states meant $100M for Florida, but it's now clear that Gov. Bush, in his final days, approved a plan to spend most of it on his My Safe Florida Home program (strengthening homes against future storms) rather than on the blue-tarpaulined roofs still needing repair (mostly of low-income people).…
Florida’s Tabloid Leader, the St. Petersburg Times!
Here's the rule: If you find some evidence that a candidate for governor may have fathered a child he now rejects, you can write about it. You set out the evidence; the candidate flatly denies it; the voters decide. That's what happened in the fall campaign. Done. You don't bring it up again unless you…
Morning Roundup
The morning forecast, cold and generally shitty. And that's just inside our offices (rimshot please): Florida joins the other big states looking to move up their presidential primaries, with possibly unintended consequences. How the blogosphere got the Mel Martinez story wrong. A place where cities and their county government agree to work together on growth…
Afternoon Roundup
Over a chilled glass of freshly squeezed Florida red grapefruit juice, two eggs poached medium, rustic toast from Pane Rustica, applewood smoked bacon done extra crispy, Indigo coffee fresh from the drive-thru and a hyp-full of China white heroin, here are your hump day offerings: The 100 Hours agenda of House Democrats doesn't really help…
The Hastings Solution to Indigent Health Care
It's a little town in St. Johns County about 15 miles southwest of St. Augustine, rural and poor, but Hastings takes care of its own, whether they can pay or not, and they do such a good job that grants to the clinic have come pretty easily. Patients rave about it, even those who can…
Our Most Maligned Tool
For years, the box cutter was known only as a handy tool for shredding cardboard and slicing carpet. More recently (think: Post 9/11 world), the box cutter has amassed a nasty reputation as an implement of doom and destruction. In the wake of St. Pete police officers cutting open the tents of homeless people, I…
Events around the city
Wine tastings and dinners
My god has kung-fu grip
Finding Jesus and confidence at Grace Martial Arts’ weekly self-defense classes
Shutdown
A bitter breakup leads to a controversial blog — and a challenge to the First Amendment
Take 10
THEATER
‘100 Hour’ agenda
The Democrats owe poor black and Latino voters better, one study says
Animal house
One film stars a pig. The other just wallows with a few.
Renaissance man
Musician, intellectual, author — just a few of the hats worn by DJ Spooky
Capsule reviews of recently released movies
Blood and Chocolate, Dreamgirls, Perfume
The big bang
Smokin’ Aces
Gasparilla Pirate Fest 2007
Saturday, Jan. 27
Concerts
Jack Jones, Less Than Jake, Julio Iglesias
Hot, hot, hot
FASHION
The Blotter
Bizarre crimes from Tampa police files
How many drunks?
SPOKEN WORD
Why did the United States invade Somalia?
Your War Questions Answered
Two little
A Hat Trick two-fer showcases a prolific playwright
CL previews upcoming shows
Ronnie Baker Brooks, Chris Proctor
She bangs
Hilary, liquid experience, Rosie
Mail bonding
Passion for wine, finding your taste, another leftover recipe
A picture is worth …
Well, you know
Trash & Treasure
A Peep Show in Tampa; an ambitious show at Florida Craftsmen
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
FESTIVAL
Spicy and Gnarly
Chili Peppers with Gnarls Barkley, Mastodon, Cage
One last goodbye
Requiem for a golden cat
No Dick for mayor
Greco declines, and burnishes his legacy instead; is Gwen Miller in trouble?
Mix ‘n match
One eatery tries to impress, another serves food that complements its surroundings
His dream is still alive
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Spins
Jazz, Junior Panthers, Sonny Rollins, more
Music of My Mind
Stevie Wonder
In the flesh
FASHION SHOW
