Tampa City Council

The county commission also received the requested outside legal opinion on whether it could use the Community Investment Tax to help fund the stadium.

The proposal comes after weeks of negotiations with local officials but has not been vetted by public boards. It lays out ambitious economic projections to recoup the upfront investment.

County commissioners want to have a financing package for the estimated $2.3 billion project ready beforehand. Meantime, the Rays have scheduled two more community meetings in Tampa.

The team is revising the proposed ballpark roof after an independent analysis suggested the design could cost at least $300 million more than expected. Public funding and construction timelines remain uncertain.

Hillsborough schools are rolling out smart sensors that detect vape clouds, the Legislature's last week, meeting a Tampa City Council member and taking a dive at an aquarium in Lecanto.

Officials hope measures, like narrowing roadways and lowering the Seventh Avenue speed limit, will increase safety to protect pedestrians in the district.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and others will be present at Monday's town hall, which will address several issues — including whether streets should be closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends.

Silas Sampson, 22, appeared in Hillsborough County court, where a judge ruled he will be held without bond until his trial. Another court date has not been set yet.

There will be a newcomer on the Tampa City Council. Naya Young bested veteran officeholder Tom Scott in Tuesday's runoff for the seat held by the late Gwen Henderson.

The runoff is to fill the council term of Gwen Henderson, who passed away in June.

Tampa WOW! is expected to open to the public in late 2026. It represents a $20 million private investment requiring no taxpayer funding, according to a release.

Without backing from the city, panel members have the option to continue meeting independently. They are now released from Florida’s Sunshine Law.