Disney's Reedy Creek and other special districts, explained

Masks urged indoors amid 'high' COVID-19 levels; court upholds Herrin sentencing; Bolts off to Eastern Conference Final

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View on the web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Tuesday, May 24, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Good morning. Today is looking mostly cloudy, with highs in or near the low 90s.   Tampa Bay residents should start masking up in public indoor spaces over “high” community levels of COVID-19; a state appeals court has upheld a driver’s prison sentence for his role in a fatal Tampa crash; and gas prices are affecting Meals on Wheels’ fleet of volunteers. [PAUL HENNESSY | SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire] Hillsborough County has more special districts than any other Florida county By now, you’ve heard of Walt Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. But what about the other special tax districts in the state?   Florida is home to more than 1,800 of them, from housing and community development districts to quasi-governmental agencies.   Some state officials have long eyed tightening control over the influential districts. After Florida’s clampdown on Disney, they might do just that.   Still, whether this could have a ripple effect in your neighborhood is complicated.   Here are six questions about special districts, answered.   Related stories:   State lawmakers say their plan to address the property insurance crisis won’t lower homeowners’ rates any time soon. But if you’re having trouble finding coverage because of an older roof, relief may be in sight.   Read about the latest twist in the redistricting legal battle in Florida.   A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a 2021 state law aimed at punishing social media platforms is unconstitutional. It’s your Times This week, we’ve launched a fundraiser to draw attention to our work — and the journalists who do it. If you believe in the importance of local news, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Your contributions help us keep you informed and fund crucial investigative reporting. Thank you. Donate AROUND THE BAY “100 Most Influential People”: Nadine Smith, the St. Petersburg resident who founded Equality Florida, made Time Magazine’s prestigious annual list.   Volunteers needed: As gas prices continue to spike, officials at Meals on Wheels of Tampa say they’re hurting for drivers to deliver hot food to elderly, disabled and homebound residents.   Pasco County’s top students: Valedictorians and salutatorians from public and private schools are gearing up for graduation. Get to know them.   Jury convicts handyman: Pasco County jurors have found James Davis guilty of murder in the death and dismemberment of “ThunderCats” writer Stephen Perry. Now what?   Appeals court upholds sentence: A three-judge panel affirmed the 24-year prison penalty for Cameron Herrin, the driver who struck and killed a mom and her daughter on Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard in 2018.   Summer concert series 🎤: Starting next month, these musical acts are coming to St. Petersburg's Palladium Theater.   Monkeypox in Florida? A person who was traveling internationally may have contracted the state's first known case of the rare virus. FEATURED [NED AVERILL-SNELL | Courtesy of Jobsite Theater] Jobsite Theater explores how power gets shifted in a new play "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" and its incredible eight-member cast draw audiences in — offering a satirical allegory of the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, told through the lens of 1930s Chicago gangster. Catch the production in Tampa while you can. CORONAVIRUS DEVELOPMENTS UPDATES AT TAMPABAY.COM/CORONAVIRUS Mask up, Tampa Bay: Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties have "high" COVID-19 levels. Under federal safety guidelines, that means it's time to wear masks indoors.   Strong protection: Pfizer says three doses of its vaccine protect children under 5, with plans to give the data to U.S. regulators this week. OPINION AND COMMENTARY Practical proposal: Pasco County's idea on school library books would let parents make choices for their kids without interfering with the rights of others, writes the Times Editorial Board. 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. SPORTS Lightning sweep Panthers: The Bolts got a huge third-period goal from Pat Maroon that sent them to the league's final four for the third straight season. This Bolts team will steal your heart: Because that's what this group has done, writes columnist John Romano. They are two years past the honeymoon and still surprising us every day with new thrills and forgotten sparks.   Preseason projections: Florida has a new top college football team for 2022, according to these rankings.   5 numbers to watch: The Rays have withstood injuries and found ways to win games during the first quarter of the season. But that doesn't mean there aren't reasons for concern. BRIGHT SPOT [IVY CEBALLO | Times] Son to reopen the West Tampa library started by his dad Walter Smith Sr., a former president of Florida A&M University, built a library that became a haven and community center for local children. In 2020, the facility closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith Sr. died of heart disease the next year. Now, his son, Walter Smith Jr., is on a mission.   "We need help to get my father's dream going again." Today's DayStarter was compiled by Meaghan Habuda, Carly Thompson, Anila Lijo 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.