Everything to know about the Florida Strawberry Festival

DeSantis appoints Reedy Creek board; Pasco Commissioner’s residency questioned; NAACP seeks reparations

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View on the web Go to our homepage Subscribe to the Times Tuesday, February 28, 2023 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Last day of February, already. Expect some cloudiness and temps in the low 80s.   Through new legislation, Gov. Ron DeSantis is asserting control over the Reedy Creek special tax district’s board instead of Disney. Plus: A Pasco County official faces accusations about his residency, and the NAACP wants reparations for Tampa’s erased Black cemeteries. [LUIS SANTANA | Times (2022)] Plant City's Strawberry Festival is back this week. What can you expect? 🍓🍰 There's no booze at the Florida Strawberry Festival, but that doesn't seem to matter much to its visitors. The annual Tampa Bay tradition is still the most-attended fair in the state and one of the top in the nation.   The festival will return to Plant City for an 88th year starting Thursday, serving up a stellar music lineup, midway rides and strawberry-themed foods in every form.   Strawberry brisket taco, anyone?   Here's what to look for this time around. 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 "They stole our history": Archaeologists have confirmed six Tampa Bay sites are home to erased or forgotten graves tied to pioneering Black communities. Now Hillsborough County's NAACP chapter is calling for reparations.   Inaccurate tax forms: Hillsborough County must reissue W-2 statements to nearly 6,600 employees. What happened?   Route raises alarms: Pasco wants transportation planners to study another extension of Ridge Road — this one through the Cypress Creek Preserve and a wellfield. That has some county leaders concerned about the environment and the region's drinking water supply.   Remembering Pete Busto: The West Tampa plumber, who has died at 82, opened Busto Plumbing in 1969 and supported a generation of local business owners. One colleague described Busto as "one of those unsung heroes."   Let's bounce, Tampa: The Florida State Fairgrounds welcomes the "world's largest bounce house" next month. And the attraction isn't just for kids.   Vegan cooking classes: A Good Human, which makes grab-and-go plant-based meals, will bring the lessons to its new St. Petersburg production space.   CEO to depart: The Florida Orchestra's president, Mark Cantrell, is leaving to become the leader of the Colorado Symphony in Denver.   Attorney arrested: A Pinellas County personal injury lawyer is accused of stealing more than $840,000 from clients, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says.   Monthslong investigation: The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested two Latin King gang leaders in an operation that led to the seizure of almost $1 million worth of drugs. Catch up here. BRIGHT SPOT [LUIS SANTANA | Times] Ybor City tattoo shop owner celebrates 6 decades in the industry Tony "Doc Dog" Baker has operated Las Vegas Tattoo Company out of the historic Latin quarter for 20 years. Before coming to Tampa, he launched the first tattoo studios in California's San Fernando Valley and in Las Vegas. And, boy, does this tattooer have stories to tell. POLITICS Faking his residency? Questions are being raised about whether Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman lives in his district, as required by state law.   Raises up for discussion: Clearwater City Council members have been mostly white, male and retired. At $27,492, the role has been a hard sell for young people and parents. Would a pay bump change that?   Early voting begins 🗳️: It started Monday in Tampa and will last through Sunday ahead of the March 7 city election. Here's everything to know.   Tampa man gets probation: The first person to face trial for Florida voter fraud charges in the 2020 election has been sentenced to two years of probation.   DeSantis' new book: The governor takes on a familiar cast of foes: the mainstream media, academics and the deep state. But he also aimed grievances at unlikely targets: other Republicans. Check out our five takeaways from the book — which may foreshadow a run at the presidency.   Reshaping Reedy Creek: On Monday, DeSantis signed a bill eliminating Disney's control of the special taxing district. He appointed well-connected Republicans to its board, too.    Groups speak out: National organizations are condemning a proposed Florida bill that seeks to make big changes to higher education. 📹 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 MLK "Day of Service" program: Grants for this project helped communities across Tampa Bay for years. Now they're gone, eliminated by a gubernatorial veto. Guest columnist H. Roy Kaplan sounds off on the implications of the move. SPORTS Big decisions ahead: The Bucs' offseason work begins in earnest today as the NFL scouting combine gets underway in Indianapolis. See an outline of their to-do list over the next several weeks.   UF makes a hire: The Gators have named Austin Armstrong as their new defensive coordinator, replacing one up-and-comer with another.   Chasing that title: Five draft picks and a former first-rounder for Nashville's Tanner Jeannot? What was the Lightning GM thinking? He was thinking about lifting the Stanley Cup again, if you must know, writes columnist John Romano.   Read up on Rays: Months after suffering a "significant" knee injury, Manuel Margot made his spring debut Monday in Sarasota with a renewed confidence and swing. Brandon Lowe singled and came away healthy as well. Meanwhile, at the Disney World complex, Tyler Glasnow faced his latest setback.   Almost a local: IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean enjoyed his first Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg so much that he moved to Florida. But Miami offered one thing the Tampa Bay area could not. TODAY'S TALKER [Courtesy of IBA] 2 major cancer treatment specialists are bringing proton therapy to Tampa Bay Moffitt Cancer Center and Tampa General Hospital's Cancer Institute plan to offer the procedure at the new local clinics they're building. Proton therapy, a form of radiation therapy hailed as the future of cancer treatment, can target cancer cells more accurately and cause less damage to healthy cells than traditional radiation. We dive into the new technology. Today's DayStarter was compiled by Meaghan Habuda, Anila Lijo, Mari Faiello 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 © 2023 • 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. 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