🔮 Rise of psychics in the Tampa Bay area

Medical panel supports proposed transgender treatment restrictions; former French prime minister visits Tampa; Morean Workshop Space opens in St. Pete

View on the web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Monday, October 31, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Happy Halloween, Tampa Bay! 🎃 Today's skies will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching a high of 89 and low of 69. A medical panel on Friday signed off on a draft rule that supports proposed transgender treatment restrictions; a former French prime minister visits Tampa; and take a look inside Kforce's new hybrid-focused office in Midtown Tampa. [IVY CEBALLO | Times] Officials have tried to regulate the practice in the area. Yet, it's hard to determine how many there are. Unlike some small businesses, Pearl Prather's Mystikal Scents store was the busiest during the pandemic as people were forced to stay inside and reckon with themselves.   The world of psychics and fortune tellers is filled with misconceptions, but Prather said that has started to change over the years.   Tampa Bay's local governments have tried to monitor the rise in fortune telling and clairvoyant businesses by requiring psychics to apply for permits.   Many still operate without them, making it hard to calculate just how numerous they are in the area.   "I find that there's more people that are looking into witchcraft as a healing method for emotional, spiritual and physical needs," Prather said.   Bernadette Berdychowski and Natalie Weber have the story. 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 "Like a memorist": Artist Janice James captured St. Petersburg in watercolors that are still treasured today. She died at 96. Ballot item re-validated: The Hillsborough County transportation tax referendum is back on (for now), after an appellate court judge Friday issued a stay in the case. Visit to Tampa: Eduoard Philippe, the former prime minister of France, visited Tampa last week to reaffirm a 30-year-old Sister Cities agreement with the city. Read the Q&A.  New leaders step in: Republicans Seth Weightman and Gary Bradford will be sworn in next month as Pasco County's two newly elected county commissioners. They won their races with no campaigning and no public profile. Suspension extended: Pasco County Animal Services is continuing its halt of dog adoptions, intakes, surgeries and rescue transfers because of the highly-contagious canine pneumovirus.    Rainbow fentanyl scare: Florida Department of Law Enforcement sees little evidence that drug dealers are targeting children with candy-colored pills. So why all the warnings?   Maximum punishment: In April, a jury found a 34-year-old man guilty of manslaughter after he shot and killed another driver during a road rage incident. On Friday, a Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge gave him a 30 year prison sentence.   Quickest trial: The case of Matthew Terry will be the fastest of any death penalty case in recent memory, because he has not waived his right to a speedy trial.  BRIGHT SPOT [Courtesy of Morean Workshop Space] A philanthropist expands her arts empire in St. Pete Beth Morean envisioned the space as a destination for artists looking to concentrate on and expand their craft. It is housed in a historical building on the Pinellas Trail and has been completely remodeled. While the space will hold workshops, it differs from other local art centers. Find out how.  POLITICS Tough fight: Charlie Crist has an uphill battle against Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Democrats could thwart DeSantis' agenda with these Cabinet seats — if only they got some support. Plus: Florida Democrats fall behind in early voting.    State continues payment: Gov. DeSantis' administration has a standing contract with a construction company that's been found to have hired several workers living in the country illegally — including two men who have been charged in connection with the death of a Pinellas County deputy.    Committee backs measure: A medical panel signed off on a proposed rule pushed by the governor's administration that would restrict Florida doctors from providing treatments to transgender people under age 18. A final decision could come this week.   Controversial plan: A judge has cleared the way for depositions of some Florida lawmakers, staff members and a DeSantis aide in a lawsuit over redistricting. Sketchy claim: The Florida GOP, on behalf of Republican state Senate nominee Jay Collins, is running negative TV ads implying that his Democratic opponent Sen. Janet Cruz is a crook. Compare the candidates Nov. 8 is Florida's general election. The Times surveyed more than 80 local candidates in more than 40 races across Tampa Bay. See who they are and where they stand on key issues at tampabay.com/voterguide. OPINION AND COMMENTARY Is 👍 passive-aggressive? Columnist Stephanie Hayes unpacks the meaning behind Gen Z's canceled emojis, from the red heart to the laugh-cry. "Embarrassingly simple": Eight experts reviewed the online training for law enforcement officers in Florida and found that it failed to teach them to understand bias.  SPORTS Last-minute goal: The Lightning's victory Saturday over the Sharks was thanks to right wing Nikita Kucherov's game-winning goal scored with 56 seconds left on the clock.   Bench coach departs: Matt Quatraro has been with the Rays for four seasons, serving as manager Kevin Cash's top assistant with myriad responsibilities. Yesterday, he was hired to manage the Kansas City Royals.    Bucs lose Shaquil Barrett: The veteran outside linebacker is out for the season due to a torn Achilles he suffered at Thursday's home game. And if the Bucs are looking for someone to fill that position through a possible trade, they have until Tuesday's deadline.   Where did it all go wrong? There was a time, not so many weeks ago, when Tampa Bay was considered the class of the NFC, writes columnist John Romano. Now, the Bucs are heading into November with more losses than they had all last season. Divorce filed: Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen are ending their marriage after 13 years, the Bucs quarterback announced Friday. TODAY'S TALKER [DIRK SHADD | Times] A look inside Kforce's new headquarters in Tampa A professional staffing services company is going all-in on hybrid work at its Midtown office, which opens for business Nov. 1. At 25,000 square feet, it's a fifth the size of the Ybor site; Kforce's 600 local employees wouldn't fit there all at once. But that's by design. Take a tour of the new work space. Today's DayStarter was compiled by Anila Lijo and Alexandra Urban. 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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