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REPUBLICANS STRUGGLE TO MARSHAL VOTES FOR HEALTH-CARE BILL
Republican leaders scrambled for support Tuesday before a vote to take up legislation repealing the health care law, negotiating, pressuring and cajoling Republican senators but preparing for another embarrassing setback for President Donald Trump.
POLITIFACT: DOES GOP BILL CUT MEDICAID?
In an interview Sunday, ABC news host George Stephanopoulos brought up the Senate Republican health care bill’s projected $800 billion in Medicaid savings and asked counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway if that undermined the president’s campaign promise to spare Medicaid from cuts. “These are not cuts to Medicaid, George,” Conway said on This Week on June 25. “This slows the rate for the future.” On one level, she has a point, PolitiFact found. But in the case of the GOP health care bill, there are indeed cuts that go beyond dollars spent.
PROVOCATEUR TARGETS CNN WITH HIDDEN TARGET VIDEO WHILE TRUMP TAKES SWIPE
A conservative provocateur posted a video Tuesday of a man identified as a CNN producer commenting on his network’s coverage of President Donald Trump and connections to Russia. The producer, identified as John Bonifield, said it appeared CNN had no “smoking gun” evidence of wrongdoing by the president and was giving the story extensive coverage because it was good for the ratings.
GOV. SCOTT IN WASHINGTON AS HEALTH CARE DEBATE INTENSIFIES
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday began a daylong series of meetings in Washington on health care, saying he wants to ensure Florida gets its share of Medicaid funding while praising parts of the Senate GOP’s Obamacare replacement.
CHARLIE CRIST AND ESTRANGED WIFE PUT BEACH DRIVE CONDO ON THE MARKET
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and his estranged wife, Carole, have put their Beach Drive condo on the market for $1.5 million. The Crists’ seventh-floor Beach Drive condo has “sprawling views of the water front and downtown St. Petersburg,” the listing says. It features an open floor plan with doors opening from the kitchen onto a large private balcony.
KRISEMAN FACES BAKER FOR FIRST TIME TONIGHT IN CANDIDATE FORUM
Tonight, about two months before the Aug. 29 primary, St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman and former mayor Rick Baker face off for the first time in a candidate forum at Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. That church is the pulpit of the Rev. Louis Murphy Sr., one of the city’s most influential African-American pastors.
TAMPA MOVES TO PAUSE PERMITS FOR 5G WIRELESS EQUIPMENT
To business groups, the bill that Gov. Rick Scott signed Friday will clear the way for superfast 5G wireless communications and give Florida an edge in attracting high-tech companies. But city and county officials worry that House Bill 687 could lead to clutter along roads as charming as Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard. With the regulatory landscape changing fast, the city of Tampa is moving to put a six-month pause on issuing permits for putting the new technology on its rights of way.
HIGHER SOCIAL SECURITY PAYOUTS HELP FLORIDA POST BIG JUMP IN PERSONAL INCOME
Personal income grew 1.3 percent in Florida in the first quarter of this year, a four-way tie among all states for second-fastest growth behind Idaho. Florida’s rise, however, was tied not to bigger paychecks but bigger government payouts.
CLEARWATER WOMAN DIES AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF SUV, FLIPPING IN PALM HARBOR
A Clearwater woman died early Tuesday morning when she lost control of her SUV and crashed in Palm Harbor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
BICYCLIST DIES FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN BAYSIDE BRIDGE CRASH
A Palm Harbor bicyclist died from injuries sustained last week when he was struck on the Bayside Bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
HOW BUCS’ INDOOR FACILITY COMPARES TO GATORS, ‘NOLES
The Bucs are finally getting their indoor practice facility. Which means Tampa Bay’s NFL team is catching up to the state’s major college programs. Florida State built its indoor practice facility in 2013. The Gators opened theirs two years later. Miami broke ground on its facility in May. Here, Matt Baker compares some of the specifics.
COUNTRYSIDE ALUM LANDS IN ESPN’S ANNUAL BODY ISSUE
A.J. Andrews has taken over the spotlight in softball. Last year, the former Countryside High and LSU standout became the first female to win a Rawlings Gold Glove in the award’s 59-year existence. Now Andrews will be among 23 athletes to be featured in ESPN The Magazine’s body issue. Photos, interviews and videos of the athletes will debut on ESPN.com on July 5. The issue will hit newsstands two days later.
RAYS SERIES PREVIEW: WHO ARE THE PIRATES?
After an off day Monday, the Rays head on the road to PNC Park for a three-game interleague series against the Pirates. Here’s the information you need to know about Pittsburgh before the action kicks off.
WHERE TO SEE FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS ACROSS TAMPA BAY
Looking for Independence Day fireworks shows in the Tampa Bay area? There are plenty of options, including the massive shows in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and New Port Richey, as well as smaller shows across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Sarasota counties. Here’s where to see fireworks around Tampa Bay.
SOFIA COPPOLA’S ‘THE BEGUILED’ COMPARES TO THE 1971 VERSION
It was a man’s world in 1971 when Clint Eastwood starred in The Beguiled, a Southern gothic thriller that’s as misogynistic in hindsight as old movies can be. A half-century later, director Sofia Coppola presents the feminist morality tale at the core of The Beguiled that Eastwood’s macho image and society in general wouldn’t allow at the time. In 1971, he played a charmer-turned-victim; now the character is a manipulator who’ll get what he deserves.
FIVE IDEAS FOR PARTY FOODS TO BRING TO YOUR POTLUCK
Generally a go-to for potlucks, casseroles are quick and easy to transfer, and they can feed a lot of people. But take a look at your next potluck table and count how many casseroles there are. You can change the game this year by bringing something different. Here are five ideas.
SHAKIRA COMING TO AMWAY CENTER IN ORLANDO
Shakira was supposed to perform in Tampa in 2002, but canceled that date, and hasn’t been back since. In the meantime, she’s performed in Orlando and Miami, sure, but nothing in Tampa. That streak will continue with Shakira’s just-announced concert at Orlando’s Amway Center. The singer’s El Dorado will hit Orlando on Jan. 9. Tickets will go on sale June 30. Click here for details.
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