Florida's omicron wave may be worse than data shows

Rays' split-city plan no more; talks on how to slow rising local rents; Hillsborough names top teacher

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View on the web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Friday, January 21, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Happy Friday! We made it to the weekend. Today’s cloudy forecast (high of 77, low of 55) might result in some rain.   Do the recent developments on the Rays, Montreal and stadiums have you feeling a little overwhelmed? Let us break it down. In other news, local officials and advocates are seeking solutions to Tampa Bay’s rising rents and Hillsborough County schools has crowned its Teacher of the Year. [DIRK SHADD | Times] Missing data, Florida’s strained testing infrastructure hampers COVID-19 tracking efforts In Florida, the omicron wave could be worse than we know.   That’s because the highly contagious COVID-19 variant has strained the state’s testing infrastructure and surpassed our ability to accurately track the pandemic.   “Throughout the pandemic we’ve never really known the true rate of spread of the infection,” said Jason Salemi, an epidemiologist at USF. “It was horrible at the beginning of the pandemic, because we had no tests, then it got better during the course of the pandemic, but omicron is just a different beast.”   Florida’s first known omicron case was detected six weeks ago. Since then, state health officials have identified nearly 1.5 million coronavirus infections, but the real number is likely much higher.   Here are five things Floridians need to know about tracking COVID-19.   Related coverage:   In a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Black pastors urged him to address what they say is an inadequate COVID-19 response that “neglected” Florida’s communities of color. AROUND THE BAY Hillsborough Teacher of the Year: Armwood High School biology teacher Laura Widerberg, known as an innovator, has worked in the district for 16 years. Awards were also given to top diversity educator and support employee.   $2.3M for workforce education: DeSantis announced Thursday he will steer the funding to six state colleges offering commercial driver’s license and nursing certification programs.   Detours ahead: A $21.3 million road construction project is expected to cause temporary traffic congestion and delays in Riverview — starting today.   Farewell, 700 block? That area of Tampa’s N Florida Avenue, which originally housed The Hub, could be razed to make way for (you guessed it) apartments.   New taco fest in town: Arizona-based AZ Food Festivals, which has been riddled with complaints in other cities, is bringing a taco and margarita event to RayJay. What does the company’s past troubles mean for Tampa?   Ex-bar manager pleads guilty: The former manager of a downtown St. Petersburg bar has agreed to a plea deal in connection with the death of a 63-year-old man.   Sentence for Palm Harbor rabbi: A federal judge gives Michael Stepakoff two months of home confinement plus a year of probation for entering the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection.   Allergy season comes early: Pollen levels (aaachoo!) are spiking earlier than usual in Tampa Bay. Blame a warm December. BRIGHT SPOT [Courtesy of Kelly Paxton Photography] Madeira Beach boy, 10, wins ‘American Ninja Warrior Junior’ Thousands applied to compete in Max Salebra’s age group on the television show, and nearly 100 were chosen. Last month, Max took home the top prize. Your support makes a difference The Tampa Bay Times needs your help to keep delivering top-notch journalism. Please consider subscribing or making a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Journalism Fund. Donate Gain unlimited access POLITICS Time for a change? For years, a Florida Senate seat has jumped across Tampa Bay’s waters to ensure the local Black population has voting power. The Senate again approved a map that would keep that configuration. But some in the region and elsewhere wonder if such a split is still necessary.   “It’s just astronomical”: State elections officials have seen a surge in what they believe are fraudulent petitions supporting a casino gaming amendment. Attorney General Ashley Moody was asked to intervene to stop it, but didn’t. The scandal could become the biggest case of election fraud in recent history.   Bar altercations: Aaron Smith-Levin has provoked two incidents over the last two years at local bars, police say. The Clearwater City Council candidate acknowledged the disturbances, citing the “hell” and “unbelievable stress” of leaving the Church of Scientology.   Parental rights in schools: Republican lawmakers in the Florida House are continuing their push for parents’ rights, advancing two bills Thursday. One would ban gender identity and sexual orientation discussions in elementary schools.   Preemption bill: A state Senate committee approved a measure that would let businesses sue local governments if an ordinance hurts profits. City and county officials warned against the bill, saying it could put taxpayers on the hook for millions in damages. Dive deeper into your favorite local subjects 📨 Our free email newsletters bring the best of the Tampa Bay Times to your inbox every week. Explore all of them here. OPINION AND COMMENTARY Cold snap we deserve: It's finally here — our long-awaited cool weather. Columnist Stephanie Hayes says now is the time to boldly eat soups and stews! To make pasta bakes! To hold hot mugs and say ahhhh! SPORTS [DIRK SHADD | Times] With split-season plan dead, what's next for Rays? It's official. Major League Baseball has killed the Rays' proposed split-city plan with Montreal. Now, the team will reluctantly head down a path it has explored — and dismissed — previously: seeking a new full-time Tampa Bay home.   You can read sports columnist John Romano's take here.   Rays president Brian Auld expressed disappointment in the league's decision. The news, which broke Thursday, drew a similar reaction from Montreal leaders. Back in Tampa Bay, elected officials and business leaders greeted the rejection of the Rays' plan with surprise and guarded optimism.   We gave fans a chance to sound off about the announcement, too. While many of them weren't shy about voicing their dislike of possibly sharing the Rays with Montreal, there are lingering concerns about the team's long-term future in town.   So, why did the Rays' plan get rejected? MLB officials aren't saying, but this story explores their potential reasons.   If all that news has made your head spin, our handy Q&A will help get you up to speed. Plus: Check out a timeline chronicling the epic journey of Tampa Bay's failed stadium proposals for the Rays.   "Time to lock in on football": Both the Bucs and Rams have changed dramatically since their first meeting in September. Take a closer look at what's different now as Sunday's division playoff game approaches.   Low on tickets: The Bucs have precious few playoff tickets for sale. Here's why.   Heddy still one of the best: Performances like Tuesday are further proof of why the Lightning's Victor Hedman deserves to be in the Norris Trophy conversation. TODAY'S TALKER [IVY CEBALLO | Times] Search for answers on how to cool down Tampa Bay's housing market heats up What will slow the record rent hikes around the region? Local officials and tenant advocacy groups are looking for solutions. The problem is, there's no one answer. Today's DayStarter was compiled by Meaghan Habuda, Rachel Adamson and Amy Gehrt. Did someone forward this to you? Get DayStarter in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. 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