Subscribe to the Times

DayStarter

Thursday, Jul 23, 2026

Good Thursday morning. Today will be mostly sunny (high of 94). 

In today’s edition, read about the settlement related to last year’s Clearwater Ferry crash; Tampa International taking security screening private; how local governments could lose $12 billion under Florida's property tax plan.

[DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times]

Most of the elderly residents at Clear Bay Apartments live alone. Many want pets, but can’t afford them — or aren’t able to care for them.

A grant recently allowed dozens of people at the affordable housing complex to adopt “fake fur babies” which wag, meow and purr.

We checked in after the seniors got their pets to see how they interacted with Chucky, Priscilla and Buddy — and if progress was made in combatting loneliness.

TPA goes private: By May 2027, the airport will have a private contractor manage screenings. 

$300k approved: The Pinellas transit agency settled 37 injury claims related to last year's Clearwater Ferry crash. The money will be dispersed to passengers seeking relief.

Voluntarily dropped: A group of residents suing the city of Clearwater, with the help of the ACLU, have dropped their lawsuit. Find out why. 

“I had scheduling conflicts”: A St. Petersburg council member skipped two key Duke Energy votes. His district has concerns.

Unanimously picked: The city of Clearwater has chosen a new city attorney to lead its legal department.

New role: The state board of education chose a familiar name as its next education commissioner: Henry Mack.

Parley continues: The third round of negotiations between the Pinellas County school district and its union honed in on one thing: affordability. 

“I'll take the death penalty”: Man accused of kidnapping, torturing and dismembering Gulfport teen tells judge he wants to plead guilty.

$96k in damage: St. Pete police arrested the second suspect accused of vandalizing the city’s tallest building.

Connected crimes: Three Tampa teens attacked unhoused people out of boredom, police say. The boys, ages 13, 14 and 16, face attempted murder and other charges.

"It was not random": A St. Pete sanitation worker was fatally shot yesterday as she sat in the cab of a front-end loader. The suspect was arrested by deputies in Lee County after a standoff, police said.

FIND MORE AT TAMPABAY.COM/POLITICS

Guarding against election fraud: As Trump raises his oft-asserted claim that the 2020 election was stolen, here's what to know about how Florida election supervisors are protecting the vote.

Could slash city services: As November nears, local leaders are bracing for the projected impacts of Florida's proposed property tax amendment. In Tampa Bay, that could mean hundreds of millions in lost property tax dollars every year. 

Inevitable and need regulating: As AI backlash grows, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds' support for data centers draws fire. 

Top pick: Grady Emerson, 18, signed with the Rays on Wednesday for a $9,747,500 bonus, the highest ever for a high school player. 

New head coach: Florida, one of the SEC’s most storied football programs, hasn’t won a national championship since 2008. After going 23-27 the past four seasons under Billy Napier, can a swaggering Jon Sumrall return the Gators to glory?

For more in-depth sports coverage, sign up for Sports Today, our daily newsletter focused on your favorite Tampa Bay teams.

Chains from across the country have cult-like followings — and are migrating to Tampa Bay. Do you know where this fried chicken is from?

A. Zaxby’s
B. Bojangles
C. Jollibee

Today's DayStarter was compiled by Hannah Farrow and Kiley Petracek.

Did someone forward this to you? Get DayStarter and more free newsletters in your own inbox. Sign up here.

Download the Tampa Bay Times app for access to daily local news.