Good morning, Tampa Bay. Here’s what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
It’s warmer and more humid today.
Highs will be in the upper 70s to 80 degrees.
Highs: 79
Lows: 69
Rain Coverage: 40%
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Around Tampa Bay
1. Rents at longtime affordable St. Pete apartment complex expected to jump in new year
The St. Petersburg Tenants Union calls it an increasingly rare happening in the city: apartments that rent for less than $1,000 a month.
2. ‘Giving Machines’ in Clearwater help people in need
People in the Tampa Bay area have a new way to donate to charity.
3. DeSantis suggests ending all tolls for Florida residents
Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped an idea during a Wednesday cabinet meeting that could save Florida residents hundreds of dollars a year — shifting the cost of toll roads to non-residents.
4. Crews control 10-acre wildfire in Pasco County
The fire has been put out.
Around the Nation
1. Rob Reiner’s son Nick appears in court on 2 counts of murder in killing of his parents
2. 4 Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies
3. Trump previewing his 2026 agenda in address to nation as his popularity wanes
4. Jack Smith tells lawmakers his team developed ‘proof beyond a reasonable doubt’ against Trump
5. U.S. government admits role in causing helicopter-plane collision that killed 67 in Washington
6. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month
Don’t Miss This
St. Pete invests additional $1M for Shore Acres pump station
Toys for Tots Pinellas searches for permanent home as demand reaches record high
In the mood for some Crème Brûlée? Check out Chef Ricardo’s from Tampa’s Chef & the Baker
Taste of the Islands considered option for Tangerine Plaza
Quote of the Day
After decades of political maneuvering through Congress and government agencies, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is poised to achieve federal recognition through the National Defense Authorization Act. The U.S. House passed the bill last week and the Senate voted to approve it Wednesday afternoon.
The Lumbees’ efforts to gain federal recognition — which would come with federal funding, access to resources like the Indian Health Service and the ability to take land into trust — have been controversial for many years both in Indian Country and in Washington. But their cause has been championed by President Donald Trump, who promised on the campaign trail last year to acknowledge the Lumbees as a tribal nation.