Politics
Ron DeSantis says MLB commish wants Rays to stay in Tampa area
Doubt looms over the franchise’s future.
Florida’s Governor says MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wants to keep baseball in the Tampa Bay market amid uncertainty about the franchise’s future.
The Rays’ status is in some doubt. A stadium deal with St. Petersburg has fallen through, and the team will play at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field this season as repairs continue on Tropicana Field’s roof.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said he had spoken to Manfred, who has given him “assurances” that “there is no way they want to leave Florida.”
“They’re committed to it working here because we have the fastest growing state. We have all the stuff going,” DeSantis said, adding that potential relocation of the Tampa Bay Rays “would not be a good look for Major League Baseball.”
Meanwhile, investors want to purchase the Rays. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch seemingly is receptive to new ownership, saying he wants a “collaborative and community focused baseball partner” this week.
DeSantis said Friday he is “just hoping that it works out for the folks here in the Tampa Bay area,” noting that the franchise has necessary ingredients for success.
“This is one of the most fastest growing markets in the country. It’s already a massive market. There is no way that it can’t be successful. And they’ve made really good baseball decisions over the years compared to some of these other teams that have had more bloated payrolls,” he said.
That said, DeSantis acknowledges that while “with really significant financial challenges, they’ve still been able to produce a good product and compete in a very difficult division … the fan (interest) and the attendance really hasn’t been there.”
___
Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics contributed to this report.
Post Views: 0
Politics
Ryan Chamberlin bill to crack down on suspects fleeing law enforcement ready for House floor
A bill that would increase penalties for those who flee or attempt to elude law enforcement is heading to the House floor.
The House Judiciary Committee advanced the measure (HB 113) by a 19-1 vote. Ocala Republican Rep. Ryan Chamberlin introduced the bill, aiming to address the dangers that law enforcement officers and Floridians face on roadways from high-speed pursuits.
“Members, we have a problem. Many of you remember that last year we bowed our heads in a moment of silence for State Trooper Zachary Fink, who was killed in a high-speed pursuit,” Chamberlin said. “The suspect, who initially got away, was driving at twice the speed limit. Trooper Fink then picked up the pursuit, after the suspect made a U-turn into the opposite direction of highway traffic.”
Chamberlin noted that the pursuit ended in tragedy when Fink was hit by an oncoming vehicle.
“Trooper Fink followed, turning directly into the path of a tractor-trailer,” Chamberlin said. “The truck driver passed away at the scene, while Trooper Fink was air-lifted to the hospital where he died. Trooper Fink was 26 years old. Currently under Florida law, criminals are continuously pushing the limits of our laws, putting civilians and law enforcement officers in danger in regard to high-speed chasing.”
Chamberlin argued that current penalties are not sufficient to deter high-speed pursuits.
“The bill was brought to me by my local Sheriff and Lieutenant Paul Bloom, Sheriff Billy Woods. We’ve had several conversations about this problem,” Chamberlin said. “The penalties just haven’t been enough. Since 2020 in Marion County Sheriff’s Office alone, they’ve documented over 1,100 high-speed chases. That’s almost one every day and a half. … The numbers really increase across the whole state.”
Orlando Democratic Rep. Bruce Antone asked how the bill would address law enforcement pursuits when the officer is in an unmarked vehicle.
In response, Chamberlin said the bill does require that law enforcement vehicles have some sort of insignia on their vehicles so people can identify that it belongs to law enforcement.
Homestead Democratic Rep. Kevin Chambliss also raised concerns over incidents where vehicles pretending to be law enforcement had been pulling over other drivers.
“In Miami-Dade County, we have high-speed chases all the time. It’s a very, very serious issue,” Chambliss said. “So, I definitely understand and accept the purpose of the bill. However, interestingly enough, in Miami-Dade County, we have also had fake police officers pulling people over. You can Google it. … It’s a concern.”
William Smith from the Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Florida Highway Patrol, was a proponent of the bill and addressed the questions concerning unmarked vehicles.
“I’ll give a little more insight to some of what my agency does. If it’s an unmarked vehicle that started a pursuit, and other vehicles join in or other marked units, they would take over the pursuit and the unmarked vehicle would fall to the rear,” Smith said.
Post Views: 0
DeSantis selected them from a list of 11 candidates.
Two Southwest Florida lawyers are now donning robes, courtesy of appointments by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis has named Amanda Levy-Reis of Bonita Springs and James Stewart of Naples to the 20th Judicial Circuit Bench.
They’ll succeed Judges Joseph Fuller and James Sloan, respectively.
Levy-Reis, who holds a Juris Doctor from Stetson University, has worked as a staff attorney for the nonprofit Florida Rural Legal Services since 2023. She previously was a law clerk for the U.S. District Court.
Stewart comes to his judgeship after working since 2022 as the Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney in the 20th Circuit. He’s been with the State Attorney’s Office since 2007, having earned his Juris Doctor from Northeastern University.
Fuller informed DeSantis of his intention to resign in an April 5, 2024, letter. His resignation was effective Dec. 31.
“It has been my honor and privilege to have served the citizens of the great state of Florida into my eighteenth and final year as a Circuit Judge,” he wrote.
Sloan did the same in a letter on Sept. 13, 2024.
“I have done my utmost to uphold the high standards of the court, maintain integrity and rule justly and fairly,” he wrote. “I have appreciated the opportunity to serve and look forward to a new chapter in my life.”
Sloan stepped down from the bench Nov. 30. He had been a Judge since 1992.
DeSantis selected Levy-Reis and Stewart from a list of 11 candidates the 20th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission recommended.
Post Views: 0
Ryan Chamberlin bill to crack down on suspects fleeing law enforcement ready for House floor
Match Group CEO admits dating apps feel too much like ‘a numbers game’ so he’s asking employees for ‘unvarnished feedback’ on how to improve Hinge and Tinder
Gisele Bündchen Seen With Newborn for First Time Out on Miami Stroll
-
Entertainment8 years agoThe final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Politics8 years ago
Congress rolls out ‘Better Deal,’ new economic agenda
-
Entertainment8 years ago
Mod turns ‘Counter-Strike’ into a ‘Tekken’ clone with fighting chickens
-
Entertainment8 years ago
New Season 8 Walking Dead trailer flashes forward in time
-
Tech8 years ago
Microsoft Paint is finally dead, and the world Is a better place
-
Tech8 years ago
Hulu hires Google marketing veteran Kelly Campbell as CMO
-
Tech8 years ago
Ford’s 2018 Mustang GT can do 0-to-60 mph in under 4 seconds
-
Politics8 years ago
Illinois’ financial crisis could bring the state to a halt