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Joe Henderson: Two cities, one big push for Amazon

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The news that Tampa and St. Petersburg will work together to attract the much-sought new Amazon headquarters is exactly what outsiders have been saying for decades this area needs to do. This goes back to when the squabbling sibling cities submitted separate proposals to attract a Major League Baseball team. Baseball bosses rolled their eyes and said this place needs to act as one if it wants to join the league of important cities.

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Governor appoints three new Tampa Bay judges

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Gov. Rick Scott on Monday announced the appointment of Gregory G. Groger to the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Pasco and Pinellas counties. Groger, 38, of Land O’Lakes, has served as an assistant state attorney for the circuit since 2003. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Groger fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Walter L. Schafer, Jr. Scott also announced the appointments of Darren D. Farfante and…

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Tampa Bay region marked for $33M in Florida TaxWatch ‘turkeys’

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Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog organization, served up its annual list of “Budget Turkeys,” naming almost $178 million in line-item projects part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. For the Tampa Bay region, Florida TaxWatch targeted more than $33 million in local projects as individual line items added to the spending plans—usually last minute or in committee — without a thoughtful and thorough budget process. The largest project in the region…

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Rick Scott gets $178M serving of Florida TaxWatch ‘budget turkeys’

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Thanksgiving is six months away, but Friday is “turkey” day for Gov. Rick Scott. Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog group, released its annual “Budget Turkey List,” of almost $178 million in line-item projects that are part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. Budget Turkeys are individual line items added to the spending plans—usually last minute or in committee — without a thoughtful and thorough budget process. A “Turkey” label does not…

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Joe Henderson: When NFL suddenly needed a Super host, it knew who to call

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It wasn’t luck that Tampa was selected Tuesday to host its fifth Super Bowl. When the National Football League learned the new stadium being built in Los Angeles won’t be ready in time for the game in 2021, it had to find a city not only ready to step in on short notice, but one with a proven record of excellence. Tampa checks all the boxes, and that’s because the team Rob Higgins has assembled at the Tampa Bay Sports…

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Florida’s unemployment rate drops to 4.5%, Tampa at 3.8%

in Statewide by

Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to its lowest rate in nearly a decade in April, state officials announced Friday. The state Department of Economic Opportunity announced the unemployment rate dipped to 4.5 percent in April, down from 4.8 percent one month earlier. The drop marks one of the lowest rates since September 2007, and is only slightly higher than the national unemployment rate of 4.4 percent. The Tampa Bay-area led the state when it came to job demand, with 47,412 job…

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Amazon’s presence in Tampa area means booming cargo business

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Tampa International Airport’s cargo business is growing, thanks in large part to the online retailer Amazon. Seattle-based Amazon has opened two enormous distribution centers in the greater Tampa Bay area. To supply those warehouses with merchandise, Amazon is shipping goods to Tampa International Airport daily aboard a Boeing 767 cargo freighter plane. The Tampa Bay Times reports that it’s a lucrative arrangement for Tampa’s airport, which has seen a spike of more than 20 percent in cargo activity over the last…

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