Sen. Aaron Bean offers alternative to Medicaid expansion
Aaron Bean It's quite evident that the Florida Legislature will not accept the federal government's cost-sharing plan to add more Floridians to the Medicaid rolls. But what's the alternative? Last month, Senator Joe Negron (R-Stuart) introduced a proposal that would take those federal Medicaid expansion dollars and enroll people in insurance through — but not…
New Music Tuesday! (April 2): Caveman, Tyler the Creator, Bonobo, Cold War Kids & more
Releases out this week, with audio & video included.
Tom Carper now supports same-sex marriage, Bill Nelson still doesn’t
On Facebook Tuesday morning, Tom Carper became the latest Democratic senator to announce his support for same-sex marriage. "All Americans ultimately should be free to marry the people they love and intend to share their lives with, regardless of their sexual orientation," he wrote on his Facebook page. "That's why today, after a great deal…
Expectations for Tampa Bay Rays are sky high
David Price Today, the Tampa Bay Rays begin their 2013 season at 3:10 p.m against Buck Showalter's Baltimore Orioles, one of the surprise teams of the 2012 season. Expectations for the Rays are huge, partially because of Sports Illustrated's prediction that the Rays will advance to their second World Series in six years. The prediction…
Want to attend Tampa Bike Safety Summit? You need to apply now …
As CL reported last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will be in Tampa next week (April 11) for what is being called The Tampa Regional Bicycle Safety Summit, which will be free and open to the public at the Tampa Convention Center. The first part of the morning will feature a bicycle safety expo,…
Mitch Perry Report 4.2.13: Play Ball
Happy Opening Day to you all in the Tampa Bay area. Yesterday was a wondrous day around the country as Major League Baseball began its 2013 season, with the Rays opener scheduled at 3:10 p.m. today. Read more about my thoughts on the upcoming season here. Yesterday the Connecticut Legislature passed sweeping proposals to stop…
Parent Trigger bill moves ahead in Florida Senate
Florida state Senator Kelli Stargel After three hearings in the House, the Parent Empowerment Act, aka parent trigger, went before the Senate Education Committee on Monday afternoon, where it passed on a party line vote. The legislation allows parents to reassign students to better-performing local schools, convert a failed school into a charter, or contract…
Les Miller believes the government can help reduce gun violence
Les Miller In January, the Hillsborough County Commission approved a task force to address how to prevent gun violence in the county. The committee is composed of law enforcement officials, educators, and mental health and medical professionals. It was a measure pushed by County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who wasn't successful in getting his colleagues to…
Datz chef moves to Cafe Dufrain
Datz Former Datz chef Jason Dame is moving to Cafe Dufrain as Executive Chef. Datz chef Jason Dame is moving to Cafe Dufrain. The announcement came late Sunday. Datz posted this statement on Facebook about Dame's move. "Please join us in congratulating Chef Jason Dame on his recent appointment to Executive Chef at the highly-acclaimed…
Bus Toll Lanes in Hillsborough County’s future?
Last month the Florida Department of Transportation announced a $2 billion public-private project that will add toll lanes to a 21-mile section of I-4 that runs through downtown Orlando. Such lanes seem to be the wave of the future as cities try to reduce congestion and help pay for transportation needs. This morning at the…
#MusicMonday 88: David Bowie, CL Birthday Bash playlist, Bob Dylan & more
Find out what the CL Music Team is jamming to rocket launch the work week. Click here to check out previous entries. Leilani – Creative Loafing Birthday Bash PlaylistWith some help from a few CL staffers, I curated a playlist for the Creative Loafing Festival, a celebration of CL's 25th anniversary with a range of…
Between the sheets: top 10 most provocative books out this month
The best books on sex, sexuality, and gender (re)released this April.
Mitch Perry Report 4.1.13: Enjoying watered down college basketball
A week ago, I dubbed the Sunshine State "The basketball capital of America (for this week at least)", based on the fact that three Florida universities made up the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA men's hoops tourney, as well as the fact that the Miami Heat at that time had won 26 games in a…
Ray Lewis preaches the word to kids Easter weekend
The NFL's two-time Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis made a guest appearance Saturday at St. John Cathedral in Tampa as a part of the church's mission to empower families in the community. Out of respect to the two-time Super Bowl champion, the church has named the service as the "Ray Lewis Experience."
Marco Rubio thinks immigration reform is being rushed. But is it really?
After two of the so-called "Gang of Eight" U.S. Senators working on a comprehensive immigration bill, Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), discussed their slightly differing opinions about how close they are to bringing a full bill to the Senate floor on Meet The Press on Sunday, pundit Peggy Noonan was then asked what…
Mark Kelly tells Marco Rubio to listen to his own constitutents regarding gun control measures
Mark Kelly Public opinion in Florida is strongly in favor of some form of gun control measures in the wake of the Newton massacre – unless you don't believe the recent Quinnipiac poll that found 91 percent of Florida voters saying they support universal background checks for all gun purchases. That same survey also found…
Feedback: Dawson’s debut
You wrote it, we printed it.
Tampa Dream Defenders fight for Licenses for All
Speakers for Tampa Dream Defenders: Jonathan Salegio, Andrea Hurtado, Marisol Marquez, Veronica Juarez, and Maritza Jaramillo. The Tampa Dream Defenders aim to follow in the footsteps of civil rights activists including Malcolm, Garvey and King. They aim to fight for the legalization of undocumented immigrants. Their first goal is to pass legislation to give those…
This Week @ CLTampa.com
It was a crazy, pre-Easter week here at CL. Here's what you may have missed: • This week's cover story: Chris Girandola on "Why the Rowdies Rule. National champs, rabid fans, a waterfront stadium — what’s not to like?" • In an online exclusive, Tiffany Razzano writes about a Tampa dance studio that's accused of…
Man on a tightrope
The power — and pleasure — of uncertainty.
Virgin Bro
How proactive should I be in getting my disabled brother laid?
Held hostage by The Host
The latest Stephenie Meyer adaptation sucks the life out of our critic.
Sir, you’re in the wrong bathroom
Life is full of important questions: Why am I here? Is global warming real? Are you a girl or a boy? For the record, I’ve only been asked this question by a handful of bold and curious individuals. Usually, the question presents itself in other ways. Like, most recently, when I used the ladies room…
Mitch Perry Report 3.29.13 – A really Good Friday
Good morning everyone. Nothing dominates the mind on this quasi holiday Friday. Can I begin by saying how much I don't care about Matt Lauer's bad week? Trust me folks, there are some people who've had it worse, or am I supposed to feel sorry for a healthy 55-year-old New York City denizen who's taking…
Great whites
Three key grapes: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
Smooth operators
A primer on the wonderful world of Irish whiskey.
The naked publicist, Tanya Tate
An interview with the British porn star on domination, publicity stunts, how she manipulates performers, her love of comic books, and her attempted seduction of Harry Styles.
Kathy Castor touts infrastructure spending while visiting a Tampa steel manufacturer
Tampa Tank Inc.'s David Hale (on left) and Dale Ison show Congresswoman Kathy Castor what they're doing to shore up a Miami bridge. Although national unemployment has improved slightly in recent months (it's currently at 7.7 percent), the Bureau of Labor Statistics admitted earlier this month that overall it has shown "little movement" since last…
Wall-to-Wall humanity
The artist formally known as Swoon populates a gallery in Bradenton.
Revenge is served with intriguing twists in When the World Was Green (A Chef’s Fable)
If you don’t mind your epiphany coming quietly, you might just find American Stage’s latest production unforgettable.
In campaign mode, Rick Scott boasts of job improvement — and tells President Obama to show him the money
President Obama travels to Miami Friday for a visit to the PortMiami to talk about the economy, and Rick Scott has a message for him: give us some money. Although the governor typically rails against the big-spending ways of Washington, on a conference call this morning he was complaining about the federal government not paying…
Damn you, Greg Gumbel
Love and basketball and my almost indomitable mother.
Florida League of Women Voters slams latest attempt to reduce judicial independence
Adam Skaggs with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Last November, Floridians overwhelmingly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have made it easier for the Legislature to repeal court decisions they don't approve of. Amendment 5 would also have stipulated that all appointments to the Florida Supreme Court be subject to confirmation by…
Inside the photo booth: Fashion Designer Ricky Lindsay
Kevin Tighe Ricky Lindsay & Sislady Sosa, Riverview, FL 3.24.13 (click to enlarge) Fashion designer Ricky Lindsay embraces all that is fashion and that includes model Sislady Sosa, seen here modeling Ricky's latest creation, which took second place at the Grand Prix Fashion Show this past weekend. Ricky first began designing women's clothes when he…
Mitch Perry Report 3.28.13 – Charlie Crist to announce his candidacy for governor in Tampa on May 11?
After weeks of preparation, Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee chair Mark Hanisee sent out the announcement last night that Charlie Crist will be the featured speaker at an incredibly rare Hillsborough/Pinellas joint Kennedy-King dinner at the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday night, May 11. If you're thinking this could be the night the former Republican…
Why the Rowdies rule
National champs, rabid fans, a waterfront stadium — what’s not to like?
Fingers on the parent trigger
The surprising facts about who’s for and against the controversial parent trigger law.
Death Starsky: Rap, soul and robots
Basiqs emcees Sin and Gage return with a new alt hip hop project.
So you think you can dance?
A Tampa dance studio is accused of denying lessons to a lesbian couple.
This week in Tampa Bay area live music: Diana Krall, Bombadil, Secondhand Serenade & more
Concerts, March 28-April 3.
Pensare amore
Authentic Italian flavors shine in Chef Ciro Mancini’s Dunedin kitchen.
The Revival Tour rolls into Orlando with Chuck Ragan, Jenny Owens & others
Even if it hadn’t been my friend’s birthday, last Friday night at The Social in Orlando still would have vibrated with the spirit of celebration as delivered by Chuck Ragan’s Revival Tour. Back in 2008, Hot Water Music front-man Ragan lead the Revival Tour on its maiden voyage. It had been conceived as a way…
Review: Alicia Keys hits Tampa Bay Times Forum with Miguel
A look back at the Sun., March 24 show, with pics.
Rotten tomatoes
After the CIW’s two-week march to Lakeland, Publix says it still won’t sign onto the Fair Food Program.
Local poet’s journey takes her from victim to survivor
Have you ever wondered how much skin is on the human body? It’s about 18 square feet, says poet R. MonaLeza. And the human body is constantly shedding and regrowing this skin; it’s constantly changing. That’s why the author has named her latest book of self-published poetry, which focuses on her struggle to overcome emotional…
Muralist Sebastian takes a tasty detour to NY Café
Daniel Veintimilla BIG BITE: Sebastian's mural in progress at NY Café. St. Pete-based muralist Sebastian Coolidge, aka “Sebastian” — he likes to be known by just his first name a la Prince, Cher and Madonna — has been in the area for around a year but has already made a name for himself by way…
Bob Buckhorn talks about running for governor (and Jill Kelley) at Tampa Chamber event
Bob Buckhorn faces the Chamber (of Commerce) Let's be perfectly clear: Bob Buckhorn has never publicly told anybody that he's contemplating a run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014. Nevertheless his name continues to be added to the mix when it comes to discussing who will challenge Rick Scott next year (such as…
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and others join the DC Fly-In
NAMM’s annual event saw a multitude of music education advocates
Growler legalization could be uphill battle
Legalizing 64-ounce growlers won’t be easy for lawmakers.
Lesbian emcee joins other local hip hop artists at The Bends tonight
St. Petersburg emcee Figment proves there’s more to lesbian music than girls with acoustic guitars. Eschewing that stereotype, the hip hop artist and spoken word poet instead picks up a mic and expresses herself through a flow of beats and rhymes. “Hip hop is a very real form of music and expression, one of realist…
Quality time with Lincoln
Spielberg’s bio-pic looks even better on Blu-ray.
Eli Crawford, of Eli’s Bar-B-Que, dies at 71
Shanna Gillette Eli Crawford of Eli's Bar-B-Que, has died at 71. It wasn't just the ribs, almost inappropriately tender and juicy, that made Eli's Bar-B-Que in Dunedin. It was Eli Crawford, a shepherd of meat to the promise land of barbecue. It was almost as if the racks of ribs knew they were in the…
