Local Ukrainians react to Russian invasion

Florida House OKs contested education bills; defendant takes stand in Pasco theater shooting case; new film features Black entertainment pioneer

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View on the web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Friday, February 25, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Hello, hello. Today's forecast shows partly cloudy skies with a high of 86 and a low of 61. Just as Tampa Bay's tourist season heats up, warmer and drier-than-usual weather this week is a preview for the next few months. Also below: Tampa City Council shows meager support for rent controls after hours of resident testimony; Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis unveil new COVID-19 guidelines for Florida; and more.      [LUIS SANTANA | Times] 'I couldn't stop shaking': Hear from Ukrainians in Tampa Bay Anna Iermolaieva was on the clock at Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center when she heard the news: Her native Ukraine was under invasion by the Russian military.   The shock that the USF biomedical sciences student felt Wednesday night turned to anger by morning. She said her friends at home and 27-year-old brother are off to enlist in a territorial defense unit.   Iermolaieva and other members of Tampa Bay's Ukrainian community worry for loved ones, but they support their homeland fighting back against Russia.   "The Ukrainian people have prepared for this," said Nadia Sawa, choir director at St. Petersburg's Epiphany of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church. "We have faith in our military and we're ready to fight. It's a feeling we all share here."  People gathered at the church Thursday night to pray for peace in Ukraine. Nearly 100 people filled the pews. Read the story.   Related coverage:   A Tampa-based nonprofit helped evacuate Americans from Afghanistan after the final withdrawal of U.S. troops. Now, it's working to map escape routes out of Ukraine.   As the U.S. response to the Russian attack on Ukraine unfolds, here's what Tampa Bay members of Congress are saying. 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. AROUND THE BAY Curtis Reeves testifies: The retired Tampa police captain took the stand in his murder trial Thursday, telling jurors he "thought this was the end of the line for me" before he shot Chad Oulson after an argument at a Wesley Chapel movie theater in 2014.   Rent controls draw little interest: The idea didn't find much support Thursday from Tampa City Council. What happens next?   Scooter success: St. Petersburg's electric scooter program has become a model for cities nationwide. Now, local officials want to extend their hours.   Making up for lost time: Clearwater joins other municipalities in moving toward greater sustainability with a series of environmental initiatives.   Public describes ideal superintendent: What does Pinellas County need in a new school leader? Residents weigh in.   Omnivore Technologies reaches deal: The Clearwater restaurant tech startup, backed by Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris Sullivan, is being sold to a leader in digital ordering and delivery.   Fast-casual spot sprouting up: On Saturday, St. Petersburg chain Naked Farmer will open its second Water Street Tampa outpost with local, seasonal fare.   "Amazing showman": Leon Claxton's Black variety shows were among the top touring acts at state fairs and carnivals from the 1930s to '60s. A new documentary tells the story of his pioneering work.   Black Art & Film Festival returns: The annual St. Petersburg event features movie and music video screenings and celebrates local artists through Sunday. BRIGHT SPOT 🏖️😎 [CHRIS URSO | Times (2021)] Tourist season is approaching. Tampa Bay can expect a beach-perfect start. Warmer, drier-than-usual weather is likely across the region when springtime arrives, experts say. This week's forecast offers a glimpse of what the next few months will hold. CORONAVIRUS DEVELOPMENTS UPDATES AT TAMPABAY.COM/CORONAVIRUS State updates guidance: DeSantis and the state's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued new COVID-19 guidelines Thursday, advising businesses to stop requiring employees to mask up. Their recommendations don't stop there.   Unlikely to prompt rare inflammation: Researchers say the COVID-19 vaccine doesn't trigger multisystem inflammatory syndrome, linked to coronavirus infection in children. There's strong evidence that vaccination protects kids from the virus and the condition.   Fewer visitors, higher revenues: Two years into the pandemic, attendance at SeaWorld and its Tampa theme parks is still down. But guests are spending more per visit. POLITICS DeSantis stokes culture wars: The governor took the stage Thursday at Orlando's Conservative Political Action Conference. As his speech turned to the broader cultural battles of the day, he used some of his harshest language yet to describe the fight of right vs. left.   Closer to becoming law: The Florida House has approved the controversial "don't say gay" and "critical race theory" bills along largely partisan lines. They now head to the state Senate.   Voting plan satisfies few: State Democrats say Republican lawmakers' elections proposal goes too far. Floridians who believe there is widespread voter fraud say it doesn't go far enough.   U.S. Capitol rioter faces sentencing: Prosecutors are seeking a 90-day term of incarceration for the Parrish man seen carrying the House speaker's lectern during the Jan. 6 insurrection. His attorneys want a judge to spare him jail time. 📹 Find us on YouTube The Tampa Bay Times video team produces special reports, sports coverage and more. Follow along with their work and subscribe to our YouTube channel. OPINION AND COMMENTARY Profits trumped grief: Many words come to mind in describing a St. Petersburg cemetery dispute that local families are caught up in — callous, insensitive — but it also reeks of greed, the Times Editorial Board says. SPORTS [MARK HUMPHREY | Associated Press] Nashville is a familiar sports success story As the Lightning's Stadium Series game in Music City nears, we take a closer look at how Nashville and Tampa Bay worked to get on the pro sports map. Their paths almost mirror each other.   The Bolts equipment staff has been gearing up for months for the team to meet the Predators outdoors. Saturday's game could include some weather obstacles.   Tom Brady's departure: Since the comeback chatter began almost immediately after the retirement, does that say something about what the GOAT thinks of the Bucs' chances to win in 2022? Sports columnist John Romano explores.   Push to make racing more inclusive: Growing up in Davie, Ernie Francis didn't see many American race car drivers who looked like he did. He's trying to inspire the next generation — including a St. Petersburg school — to diversify IndyCar and all of motorsports.   "An honor and a privilege": One Canterbury and USF St. Petersburg alumnus has seen and heard the Grand Prix. This weekend, he'll finally get to race in it.   Big-league life: Working out at college fields has become commonplace for major-leaguers in Florida and beyond amid the MLB lockout. Take a look at who was just at Eckerd. TODAY'S TALKER [PEDRO PORTAL | Miami Herald] Modern civil rights movement pushes on, a decade after Trayvon Martin's killing Trayvon's death on the night of Feb. 26, 2012, reverberated across the nation, forcing America to more directly confront racism and the lasting effects of slavery. Still, the growing list of Black people wrongly killed shows that much work remains to be done. Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton, is at the forefront. Today's DayStarter was compiled by Meaghan Habuda, Carly Thompson, Anila Lijo, 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. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, conditions & copyright Standard of accuracy © 2022 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. You are receiving this email because you signed up for the "DayStarter" newsletter from the Tampa Bay Times. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe from this email.