Jay Cridlin
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Education + immigration editor. And so forth. @TB_Times / cridlin@tampabay.com
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Articles by Jay Cridlin
Do the Tampa Bay Rays have any celebrity fans?
As celebrity fan bases go, the Tampa Bay Rays aren’t exactly in the same league as the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees or Chicago Cubs. And they don’t have a pope in their corner, like the White Sox. But the Rays absolutely do have a few celebrity fans out there. And some even stretch all the way back to the Devil Rays days, when being a Tampa Bay fan was decidedly uncool.
Jonas Brothers are bringing their new tour back to Tampa
Jay Cridlin is an editor overseeing the education, immigration and culture teams. Reach him at jcridlin@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Gene Simmons from Kiss is coming to Ferg’s in St. Petersburg Original
Coming in 2027: St. Petersburg Rock City. Gene Simmons, the tongue-wagging bassist and iconic lead gargoyle of pioneering arena rockers Kiss, is bringing his eponymous solo band to Ferg’s Pavilion in St. Petersburg on Jan. 30. Yes, that’s right: Ferg’s. The sports bar and concert stage a hop and a skip from Tropicana Field.
Ye brought daughter North West, Kodak Black onstage Sunday in Tampa
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Ye brought daughter North West, Kodak Black onstage Sunday in Tampa Original
Ye’s concert at Raymond James Stadium on Friday drew tens of thousands of dedicated fans, all of whom were willing to look past his controversial behavior and enjoy a show that put him literally on top of the world. On Sunday, he brought out a couple of special guests, too.
When are college, high school graduations happening in Tampa Bay? A guide Original
This weekend, hundreds if not thousands of families will head north on Interstate 75 for commencement ceremonies at the University of Florida, where 11,000 Gators from 49 states and 105 countries will walk the stage today through Monday. At the same time, get ready for a flood of graduates’ families to hit Tampa Bay, too. Commencement ceremonies for the region’s public school systems, universities and colleges kick off Friday and stretch into mid-June.
Tampa Theatre has found its next president and CEO Original
The Tampa Theatre has found its next leader. George Levesque, executive director of the Historic Paramount Theatre in Abilene, Texas, will become the historic theater’s president and CEO in June. Levesque, a former broadcast journalist and news director in Texas, won awards for his stewardship of the Abilene venue, whose size and offerings are similar to those of one of Tampa’s most beloved landmarks. “I could not be more proud to join the Tampa Theatre family,” Levesque said in a statement.
What’s John Prine’s connection to Gulfport? Glad you asked Original
A hard-to-find documentary about John Prine is coming to the Beach Theatre this month. The rare screenings of “How Lucky Can One Man Get” are a fundraiser for the Hello in There Foundation, a nonprofit that benefits social causes that the late singer-songwriter cared about. They are also something of a homecoming for Prine. The legendary country-folk artist, who died in 2020, started visiting St. Pete Beach in the 1970s. Later, he brought his family to Don CeSar for spring break stays.
12 artists you didn’t know played Crowbar in Tampa Original
Ybor City music venue Crowbar may hold just 300 or so people, but it’s also hosted some of the biggest artists out there. Some, like Chappell Roan, worked the room years ago on their way up to festival stages and household name status. Other artists, like Doechii, have picked Crowbar as a secret retreat after making it to the top, sneaking inside to play intimate shows in between arena tour stops.
DeSantis: State could fund college buildings at Rays’ Tampa stadium site Original
The big story: Gov. Ron DeSantis is a big baseball fan, a Little League World Series veteran and former college player. But he’s never pushed spending public money on glitzy stadiums. With the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium search making its way to Hillsborough College, though, DeSantis sounds more open than ever to devoting resources to the project.
Post Malone, Jelly Roll coming to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Original
They both had big nights at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. And now they’re both coming back to Tampa. Singer Post Malone, who led an all-star tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne at the Grammys, has announced a second run of his Big Ass Stadium Tour, and it’s coming to Raymond James Stadium on May 29. Joining him for the second time is Jelly Roll, who won three Grammys, including one for Best Contemporary Country Album. Singer Carter Faith will open the show.
Tampa rapper Doechii is once again a Grammy winner Original
A year after her big national breakout at the Grammy Awards, Tampa native Doechii has taken home her second trophy. The rapper won a Grammy for Best Music Video for her clip to hit single “Anxiety” in pre-telecast awards handed out Sunday afternoon.
Bruno Mars adds second show at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium Original
Bruno Mars is leaving the door open for a few more fans to see him in Tampa. The Grammy-winning pop megastar has added a second show to his upcoming visit to Raymond James Stadium “due to incredible demand,” according to promoters Live Nation. A week after announcing the Tampa show — his first in a decade — on Sept. 12, Mars has added another one on Sept. 13. As with the first show, he’ll be joined by RAYE and his Silk Sonic collaborator Anderson .Paak, performing as DJ Pee .Wee.
Florida leaders hail vote to block Ono from UF: ‘The right decision’ Original
The board that governs Florida’s higher education system delivered a stunning rebuke to the state’s flagship college on Tuesday, blocking Santa Ono from becoming the next president of the University of Florida. Citing concerns over Ono’s past statements on diversity, equity, antisemitism and other cultural issues, the board cast aside the former University of Michigan president by a 10-6 vote, with one member absent.
Polk deputies shoot, kill armed man who swam through alligators Original
Police in Polk County shot and killed a man who they say swam through a lake of alligators — and was apparently bitten — before grabbing a pair of garden shears and trying to break into a police car. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said that his department received a call early Monday about a man acting erratically at a gas station off State Road 37 in Lakeland. A couple of hours later, they received another call indicating a man was swimming in a lake known to have alligators in a nearby gated community.
4 dead after vehicle rolls into house in Ruskin Original
Four people are dead after a crash that involved a vehicle rolling off a road and into a house in Ruskin. Hillsborough sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of the crash at around 8:15 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Shell Point Road W and 32nd Street NW. Four people inside the vehicle were declared dead at the scene, while everyone inside the house was uninjured. According to an initial statement from the sheriff’s office, there is so far no indication of criminal activity.
1 woman dead, 1 injured after deputy-involved shooting in Tampa Original
A woman who police say shot her daughter is dead after an officer-involved shooting early Sunday in the Palm River-Clair Mel area of Tampa. Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies were responding to a call of a burglary in progress at a home in the 7500 block of Carolton Circle when they got word a woman in the house, who they described as a grandmother, had shot her daughter in the hand. Police went in and removed the daughter, who they say was acting erratically.
Tampa man arrested, charged with DUI in fatal overnight crash Original
A Tampa man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in a fatal crash that shut down a large intersection early Saturday. Jefry Maldonado Hernandez, 25, was driving east on W Busch Boulevard just before 3:30 a.m. when police said he accelerated to beat a yellow light at N Armenia Avenue. After the light turned red, Hernando’s truck crashed into a Lexus being driven by a man in his early 60s, police said. The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Trump quiere eliminar el Departamento de Educación. ¿Qué pasaría en Florida?
Después de meses de promesas de campaña para reformar drásticamente el Departamento de Educación de EE.UU. -y quizás eliminarlo por completo- el presidente Donald Trump dio un paso más el martes para poner en marcha un plan.
Trump wants to end the Department of Education. What would happen in Florida?
After months of campaign promises to drastically remake the U.S. Department of Education ― and perhaps kill it outright ― President Donald Trump on Tuesday inched closer to putting a plan in motion. The White House is preparing an executive order that would ask staff to look for programs and initiatives that could be ended or shifted elsewhere, and developing a proposal for Congress to back a law disbanding the department, according to the Associated Press and other outlets.
Clearwater Jazz Holiday cancelado debido al huracán Milton
Uno de los conciertos más emblemáticos de Tampa Bay ha sido cancelado debido al huracán Milton. Los organizadores del Clearwater Jazz Holiday anunciaron el domingo que el evento de este año, que estaba programado para comenzar el jueves, ya no se llevará a cabo debido a problemas de seguridad y operativos. "Al tomar esta difícil decisión, hemos explorado todas las opciones para continuar con la tradición del festival que ya lleva 45 años", se lee en un comunicado publicado en las redes sociales.
Clearwater Jazz Holiday canceled due to Hurricane Milton
One of Tampa Bay’s signature concert events has been canceled due to Hurricane Milton. Organizers of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday on Sunday announced that this year’s event, which had been scheduled to kick off Thursday, would no longer take place due to safety and operational concerns. “In making this difficult decision, we have explored every option to continue the 45-year festival tradition,” read a statement on social media.
Live updates: Biden visits Tampa as Milton recovery efforts pick up Original
We’re into Day 4 of our recovery from Hurricane Milton. For some of us, that means we still don’t have power. Or gas. We still might be trying to get home. President Joe Biden is expected to visit and address the aftermath later today, touring storm-damaged areas in Tampa, St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. Here what to look out for today.
Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre loses roof to Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton’s winds ripped down chunks of the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre’s clamshell-like roof. The Live Nation-operated concert venue at the Florida State Fairgrounds has a 135,000-square-foot roof that covers about 10,000 seats, or half the venue’s capacity. Parts of the roof appeared to have fallen on the seats. The roof is made from an architectural fabric called PVC tensile membrane, according to Birdair, the New York company that replaced it in 2017.
Dogs rescued from electric scooter fire inside Tampa home: Watch video
An electric scooter sparked a house fire Friday night in Tampa, forcing firefighters to rescue three dogs trapped inside. Tampa Fire Rescue officials responded to the fire in the 1200 block of E 108th Avenue to find heavy smoke coming from one of several scooters spread around the single-story home. They moved some of the scooters to the front yard, where one caught fire and was quickly extinguished.
Dogs rescued from electric scooter fire inside Tampa home: Watch video
Jay Cridlin, Tampa Bay Times July 20, 2024 at 1:39 PM·1 min read An electric scooter sparked a house fire Friday night in Tampa, forcing firefighters to rescue three dogs trapped inside. Tampa Fire Rescue officials responded to the fire in the 1200 block of E 108th Avenue to find heavy smoke coming from one of several scooters spread around the single-story home. They moved some of the scooters to the front yard, where one caught fire and was quickly extinguished.
Some of the Rays stadium agreements are ready. Here are the big takeaways Original
As St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials close in on negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays for a new stadium and surrounding redevelopment, St. Petersburg City Council members on Thursday received a cache of agreements that would enforce how a new baseball stadium would be built, funded and operated. But not all documents were ready Thursday.
Trump’s guilty verdict: How DeSantis, Florida politicians are reacting
Former President Donald Trump is guilty, a New York jury decided on Thursday, making him the first U.S. president convicted of a felony. Trump was accused of falsifying business records as he paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels after their sexual encounter, and is one of four cases where Trump has been indicted. Despite his indictments, Trump has remained incredibly popular among the Republican party and is the party’s presumed 2024 presidential nominee.
Hines halted a $4B San Diego project. Could it happen in St. Petersburg? Original
It’s a project that might sound familiar to folks in St. Petersburg: A sprawling, multi-billion-dollar mixed-use development with ample public space, more than a million square feet of office and retail, and thousands of new residences. The developer, Hines, has promised a chunk of that housing will be designated affordable, leading to a pledge of millions in public funding as construction unfolds over the next decade-plus.
Here’s what images of the Rays’ new stadium say about the Gas Plant District Original
When you view an aerial rendering of St. Petersburg’s proposed $6.5 billion Historic Gas Plant District, the new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark at the center looks a bit like a pavilion. Or a pyramid. Or a circus tent. The design, though, was actually based on the pop-up. There wasn’t much data on how baseballs were hit back when the Rays’ current stadium, Tropicana Field, was built in the 1980s, said Zach Allee, a senior architect with the club’s stadium design partners, Populous.
Rays show new renderings of proposed stadium, Gas Plant
ST. PETERSBURG — As St. Petersburg City Council members on Thursday prepared to delve into the details of a proposed agreement for the development of the Historic Gas Plant District, they got a new look at the vision the Tampa Bay Rays and the team’s development partner, Hines, have for the project.
See new renderings of proposed Rays stadium, Gas Plant District Original
ST. PETERSBURG — As St. Petersburg City Council members on Thursday prepared to delve into the details of a proposed agreement for the development of the Historic Gas Plant District, they got a new look at the vision the Tampa Bay Rays and the team’s development partner, Hines, have for the project.
St. Petersburg is counting on 7% growth to fund Rays project. Is that risky? Original
To fund its share of a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and the proposed surrounding Historic Gas Plant District, the city of St. Petersburg is betting on growth. More than half of the nearly $700 million in city money targeted for the $6.5 billion project is projected to come from tax increment financing, a tool designed to pay off a public project via future tax gains on higher property values.
Rays’ Sternberg, minority partners reach settlement in ownership lawsuit
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and a group of the team’s minority partners say they’ve reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over team control, revenues and financial records. Attorneys for both sides last week filed a motion to stay further action on the case pending completion of the settlement by mid-August. in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court Judge Amy Williams granted the motion on April 25.
Rays’ Sternberg, minority partners reach settlement in ownership lawsuit
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and a group of the team’s minority partners say they’ve reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over team control, revenues and financial records. Attorneys for both sides last week filed a motion to stay further action on the case pending completion of the settlement by mid-August. in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court Judge Amy Williams granted the motion on April 25.
How often does a sitting US president visit Tampa Bay? You’d be surprised. Original
Florida may not be quite the presidential swing state it once was. In the 2020 election, with its electorate shifting gradually to the right, Sunshine State voters went for Donald Trump — only the second time since 1960 that Florida didn’t back the eventual winner. But one thing you can count on: If it’s a presidential election year, the president will usually make at least one stop in Tampa Bay.
Florida Democrats target Taylor Swift fans with ‘Florida Dems!!!’ text
The Florida Democratic Party has entered its Taylor Swift era. Following the release of the superstar singer’s new album “The Tortured Poets Department” on Friday, the party is mobilizing her fans to “Tay-ke back Florida” through a voter registration push targeting women ages 18 to 30.
Florida Democrats target Taylor Swift fans with ‘Florida Dems!!!’ text
The Florida Democratic Party has entered its Taylor Swift era. Following the release of the superstar singer’s new album “The Tortured Poets Department” on Friday, the party is mobilizing her fans to “Tay-ke back Florida” through a voter registration push targeting women ages 18 to 30.
Bob Graham’s legacy in Tampa Bay, from the Skyway to ‘work days’ Original
After a cargo ship crash brought down the Sunshine Skyway bridge in 1980, some Florida legislators and transportation officials wanted the state to repair or rebuild it more or less as it was, with a design that prioritized cost efficiency. Not Bob Graham. Graham had been governor of Florida less than a year and a half when the Skyway went down, killing 35.
Marion Poynter, widow of former Times owner Nelson Poynter, dies at 97 Original
Marion Poynter, the widow of longtime St. Petersburg Times owner Nelson Poynter and champion of his legacy in St. Petersburg, died April 3 in her longtime home of Warrenton, Virginia. Poynter, a former Times director who helped the newspaper remain independent by voting to stave off a hostile takeover attempt in the late 1980s, was two weeks shy of her 98th birthday. Her family said she died of natural causes.
Lessons from Skyway disaster failed to help protect Baltimore bridge
After the Sunshine Skyway bridge was hit by a freighter and collapsed in 1980, new protection measures were installed around the supports that hold the bridge up. Engineers put in place island-like mounds of rocks that shore up the tallest support columns and huge, disc-like structures called dolphins that act as bumpers blocking wayward ships. Engineers around the country followed suit to help strengthen bridge protections.
Lessons from Skyway disaster failed to help protect Baltimore bridge Original
After the Sunshine Skyway bridge was hit by a freighter and collapsed in 1980, new protection measures were installed around the supports that hold the bridge up. Engineers put in place island-like mounds of rocks that shore up the tallest support columns and huge, disc-like structures called dolphins that act as bumpers blocking wayward ships. Many bridge engineers around the country followed suit to help strengthen bridge protections.
How the Baltimore bridge collapse compares to the fall of Tampa Bay’s Sunshine Skyway
Americans awoke Tuesday to images from a devastating scene in Baltimore, where a cargo ship rammed overnight into a major bridge, crumpling the road and sending cars into the water. For some in the Tampa Bay region, the scene conjured memories of the biggest bridge disaster in local history: The collapse of the Sunshine Skyway bridge after it was hit by a freighter in 1980. Though they occurred 44 years apart, it’s hard to shake the similarities between both tragedies. Here’s how they compare.
Cómo se compara el colapso del puente de Baltimore con la caída del Sunshine Skyway de Tampa
Los estadounidenses despertaron el martes con imágenes de una escena devastadora en Baltimore, donde un barco de carga chocó, durante la noche, contra un importante puente produciendo aplastamiento en la carretera y haciendo que cayeran automóviles al agua. Para algunos en la región de la Bahía de Tampa, la escena evocó recuerdos del mayor desastre de puentes en la historia local: el colapso del puente Sunshine Skyway después de ser golpeado por un barco de carga en 1980.
How the Baltimore bridge collapse compares to the fall of the Sunshine Skyway Original
Americans awoke Tuesday to images from a devastating scene in Baltimore, where a cargo ship rammed overnight into a major bridge, crumpling the road and sending cars into the water. For some in the Tampa Bay region, the scene conjured memories of the biggest bridge disaster in local history: The collapse of the Sunshine Skyway bridge after it was hit by a freighter in 1980. Though they occurred 44 years apart, it’s hard to shake the similarities between both tragedies.
1 in 5 Florida Republicans just voted against Trump. Should he be worried? Original
Paul Nelson is no Donald Trump Republican. At his polling place for Tuesday’s Florida’s presidential preference primary, the 64-year-old from St. Petersburg called the former president “narcissistic” and “dangerous to our democracy.” So the registered Republican cast a protest vote for a candidate who had already exited the race: Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Nelson was part of a small minority.
What turnout, mail voting showed us
Former President Donald Trump rolled to a long-expected victory in Florida's presidential preference primary on Tuesday, earning him another huge tranche of delegate votes en route to a November rematch with President Joe Biden. The Associated Press called the race for Trump as polls closed in the Panhandle at 8 p.m. Eastern. Trump got 81% of approximately 1.1 million votes counted, according to the Florida Division of Elections' tracker, followed by former South Carolina Gov.
Trump wins Florida primary: What turnout, mail voting showed us
Former President Donald Trump rolled to a long-expected victory in Florida's presidential preference primary on Tuesday, earning him another huge tranche of delegate votes en route to a November rematch with President Joe Biden. The Associated Press called the race for Trump as polls closed in the Panhandle at 8 p.m. Eastern. Trump got 81% of approximately 1.1 million votes counted, according to the Florida Division of Elections' tracker, followed by former South Carolina Gov.
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