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Tampa Bay Bugle
@tampabaybugle.bsky.social
An independent news site covering local news, government, politics, and events across the Tampa Bay region.

https://www.baybugle.com/
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Starter pack for news and updates in the Tampa Bay region. I will continue expanding this over time -- reply if you know an account that should be included!
#1 in our top headlines of 2025: 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭

Stephen Clay McGehee is an avowed confederate & white supremacist. He displays the confederate flag. And he offers a service for campaigns that City Council candidate Tom Scott is paying to use.
January 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM
#2 in our top headlines of 2025: 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐄𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

A leadership rift has surfaced inside ATU Local 1464. Union president Stephen Simon is accusing most of his Executive Board of undermining the union’s progress.
January 1, 2026 at 1:59 AM
#3 in our top headlines of 2025: 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲

“My mother was a fierce leader for the City of Tampa,” wrote Henderson’s daughter. “There are no words to express the pain of this loss. Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
December 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
#4 in our top headlines of 2025: 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐧, 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

A FP article suggests FL Sen Darryl Rouson is considering a run for HD 62. That seat is held by Rep Michele Rayner, who is vacating. If he runs & wins, it would mark a return to the chamber he left nearly a decade ago.
December 31, 2025 at 12:34 AM
2025 data point to mounting stress in Florida’s housing market, with foreclosure activity rising sharply and the Tampa Bay area emerging as one of the most affected regions.
Tampa Bay housing markets showed growing strain in 2025 — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — 2025 data point to mounting stress in Florida’s housing market, with foreclosure activity rising sharply and the Tampa Bay area emerging as one of the most affected regions. Recent reporting ...
www.baybugle.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
Perhaps more meaningful than words has been the $$$ prominent Republicans have poured into Buckhorn’s coffers. Of the $1 million his PC has raised so far, nearly 1/3 comes from just 3 contributors. Jay Feaster, Charles Garber & Thomas Pepin, all Republicans, gave $100,000 each to Buckhorn’s project.
Republicans Pledge Support for Buckhorn — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — Although he hasn’t officially filed for office, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says he wants to be mayor again. “We’re in,” said Buckhorn, “I’m fully in game mode.” Buckhorn, first elected...
www.baybugle.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
#5 in our top headlines of 2025: 𝐒𝐭. 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐃𝐎𝐄 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Rev. Andy Oliver issued a pointed rebuttal Monday to a statewide letter from Florida’s new Commissioner of Education, calling it an act of “state-sanctioned bullying.”
December 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
County Commissioner Joshua Wostal took a strange detour during last week’s Commission meeting to air his grievances with Tampa. “City of Tampa sucks, I’m just saying.”

“I actually received 4x more votes than any of the Tampa City Council members & 3x the votes of the Tampa Mayor,” Wostal said.
“City of Tampa Sucks,” Says Commissioner Wostal — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — County Commissioner Joshua Wostal took a strange detour during last week’s Commission meeting to air his grievances with Tampa. “City of Tampa sucks, I’m just saying,” Wostal said. “I act...
www.baybugle.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
Although its still 75 and sunny in Tampa Bay, today marks the official start of winter ☀️❄️ Do you travel to see some winter weather or prefer the Florida sun? https://www.wfla.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
County Commissioner Joshua Wostal took a strange detour during last week’s Commission meeting to air his grievances with Tampa. “City of Tampa sucks, I’m just saying.”

“I actually received 4x more votes than any of the Tampa City Council members & 3x the votes of the Tampa Mayor,” Wostal said.
“City of Tampa Sucks,” Says Commissioner Wostal — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — County Commissioner Joshua Wostal took a strange detour during last week’s Commission meeting to air his grievances with Tampa. “City of Tampa sucks, I’m just saying,” Wostal said. “I act...
www.baybugle.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
“We’re seeing in my practice that cyclists are just being ignored. If this was a motor vehicle vs. another motor vehicle causing this much damage to somebody, I think it would be a much different story.” floridaphoenix.com/2025/12/19/i...
It's not getting any safer for Florida's bicyclists • Florida Phoenix
Niki Isaak was approximately 33 miles into the Central Florida Classic bike ride near Brooksville in October when a group of motorcyclists entered the bike path and began riding dangerously close to h...
floridaphoenix.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
The Hillsborough County School Board took a bold stand against the controversial "Schools of Hope" law, voicing deep concerns over student safety and the financial impact on public education.

Learn more here

#FL #EducationReform #HillsboroughCountySchools #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal
Hillsborough school board adopts proclamation opposing 'Schools of Hope' co-location after hours of public comment
Following hours of public comment, the Hillsborough County School Board on Dec. 9 approved a proclamation expressing concern about the 2025 Schools of Hope co-location law, citing student safety, funding and local control. The vote followed repeated testimony from parents, students and community groups asking the board to resist the statutory changes.
citizenportal.ai
December 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Perhaps more meaningful than words has been the $$$ prominent Republicans have poured into Buckhorn’s coffers. Of the $1 million his PC has raised so far, nearly 1/3 comes from just 3 contributors. Jay Feaster, Charles Garber & Thomas Pepin, all Republicans, gave $100,000 each to Buckhorn’s project.
Republicans Pledge Support for Buckhorn — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — Although he hasn’t officially filed for office, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says he wants to be mayor again. “We’re in,” said Buckhorn, “I’m fully in game mode.” Buckhorn, first elected...
www.baybugle.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Tampa City Council's final meeting of the year is live right now. Check out this agenda preview from @tampamonitor.com
Tampa City Council Faces Packed Agenda to Close out 2025 — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — The final Tampa City Council meeting of 2025 has no shortage of consequential votes that will resonate for years to come. From voting to approve the mayor’s nomination to replace the retiring ...
www.baybugle.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Capt. Lora Rivera, who oversaw the sheriff’s professional standards bureau, resigned Thursday amid allegations she’d paid Robert Roush to complete a work-related paper for her, Sheriff Chad Chronister told the Times.
Hillsborough sheriff leaders under scrutiny amid growing cheating scandal
Two colonels face an internal probe and a captain resigned over ties to a man involved in an academic cheating claim that felled an ex-chief deputy.
www.tampabay.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
I don't want to be melodramatic here, but this could well be the last stand for home rule in Florida.

Land-use is arguably the one major policy area where cities and counties have lots of autonomy and power.

If Tallahassee can strip local governments of even that...
September 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
The City of Tampa will be holding their 1st workshop next week in an attempt to raise their impact fees in the same manner as Manatee County.
This is a crazy threat for the DeSantis administration to make.

You have a DeSantis appointee and former chief of staff not-even-subtly hinting that the administration will withhold state funding from a county unless that county bows down to developers.
"If the board chooses to continue down the path, the consequences are inevitable," Kelly wrote

He went so far as to threaten state funding for roads, parks and economic development projects in Manatee County...
September 19, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
If Tate throws her support behind Naya Young, Young could start the runoff with a coalition of voters larger than Scott’s total. If Tate supports Scott, she would solidify his lead and turn Young into more of a dark horse candidate than an equal contender with Scott.
All Eyes on Fran Tate in Tampa District 5 Runoff — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — Thirteen candidates qualified for the special election to fill the District 5 seat on the Tampa City Council — fourteen if you count write-in candidate Jose Vazquez. But just three of those ca...
www.baybugle.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
If Tate throws her support behind Naya Young, Young could start the runoff with a coalition of voters larger than Scott’s total. If Tate supports Scott, she would solidify his lead and turn Young into more of a dark horse candidate than an equal contender with Scott.
All Eyes on Fran Tate in Tampa District 5 Runoff — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — Thirteen candidates qualified for the special election to fill the District 5 seat on the Tampa City Council — fourteen if you count write-in candidate Jose Vazquez. But just three of those ca...
www.baybugle.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Results are in for Tampa’s special election to replace late Councilmember Gwen Henderson in City Council District 5. A total of 5,411 ballots were cast in this election, slightly more than the 5,199 votes cast when Gwen Myers won the seat in a close race against Orlando Gudes in 2023.
Tom Scott Delivers, Naya Young Surprises in Tampa Special Election Yesterday — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — Results are in for Tampa’s special election to replace late Councilmember Gwen Henderson in City Council District 5. A total of 5,411 ballots were cast in this election, slightly more than...
www.baybugle.com
September 10, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
Contractors are being furloughed and DHS is “moving detainees to other facilities.”
Alligator Alcatraz’s last days? DHS says it’s following judge’s shutdown order
Contractors are being furloughed and DHS is “moving detainees to other facilities.”
bit.ly
August 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
Gov. DeSantis calls crosswalk outside of a mass shooting memorial 'political'
Gov. DeSantis calls crosswalk outside of a mass shooting memorial 'political'
The crosswalk is located outside the site of the Pulse nightclub shooting, which has long stood as the city's interim — and only — memorial
www.orlandoweekly.com
August 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Mayor Ken Welch praised the program as a step forward in community safety, noting that the drones allow officers to respond faster while reducing risks. “There’s no one else in Pinellas County doing it like St. Petersburg Police Department,” Welch said.
Mayor Welch Praises Drone Program at St. Petersburg Police Department — Tampa Bay Bugle
ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch got a firsthand look this week at how new drone technology is reshaping policing in the city. Welch joined Police Chief Anthony Holloway and Sgt. DeLuc...
www.baybugle.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
“Ballard Partners soars to #1 in the nation,” wrote Ana Cruz, who is a managing partner at the lobbying firm. “That’s right—Número Uno. Florida roots. D.C. results. To every client who put their trust in us—thank you. This milestone is yours, too.”
Mayor’s Partner Ana Cruz Celebrates #1 Lobbyist Spot — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — “Ballard Partners soars to #1 in the nation,” wrote Ana Cruz , who is a managing partner at the lobbying firm. “That’s right—Número Uno. Florida roots. D.C. results. To every client who put t...
www.baybugle.com
August 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Tampa Bay Bugle
Stephen Clay McGehee once wrote: “White Western European culture is all about building and maintaining a clean society. Blacks destroy things.”

He also hates Jewish people. “Efforts to destroy our people and our culture are consistently traced back to Jews,” wrote McGehee.
Vendor for City Council Candidate is an Avowed White Supremacist — Tampa Bay Bugle
TAMPA — Stephen Clay McGehee is an avowed confederate and white supremacist. He believes in “Southern Agrarianism,” which he calls “a Blood and Soil” movement. He displays the confederate flag in hi...
www.baybugle.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM