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Thursday, May 14, 2026

Good Thursday morning. Ah, yes, cloudy again (high of 87, low of 69).

In today’s edition, read about how a student developed an SAT prep app; a vinyl lounge coming to Tampa; and Florida’s surrogacy laws. 

Brehinams Cuenca snacks on a banana at the Ernesto Motel in Coral Gables, where he lives with his mother and seven siblings. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times]

A mother and her eight children, including a 4-year-old daughter with severe health complications, moved to a Miami motel room after immigration authorities arrested her husband in Pasco County and placed him in deportation proceedings. He was the family’s main provider.

A daughter is fighting to free her father from Alligator Alcatraz while dealing with uncertainty, depression and a miscarriage. In Georgia, a wife from Clearwater is desperate for legal help after immigration authorities detained her husband, a Central American immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for more than two decades.

Across Florida, families of immigrants without a permanent legal status are facing the consequences of the arrests of their loved ones, a collateral damage from zero-tolerance immigration policies.

Read more.

Stolen from major retailers: More than a dozen people have been arrested in a Tampa-based organized retail theft ring responsible for at least $5 million in home improvement products and construction materials over the last year, authorities said.

“Normal teen behavior"? Dozens of teens descended on Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Friday. Police say the gathering, consisting of a mosh pit and brawls, was part of a nationwide trend known as “teen takeovers." How is Tampa Bay responding to the large crowds?

Ending international export: After a viral video last summer, Florida’s wildlife commission voted to end a controversial policy that allowed the capture of wild manta rays for overseas aquariums.

Another vinyl bar for Tampa Bay: The Peppermint Lounge, a new vinyl-focused bar and lounge from veteran restaurateur Ty Rodriguez, will open later this year in Tampa Heights. Here’s what to know.

Where involuntary patients stayed: A certified nursing assistant at HCA Florida West Largo was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexually battering two patients, authorities said.

Tampa teen Eric MacDonald released an app, Aceit, that helps prepare for the SAT tests that he created with code and help from AI. The rising Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School junior released it last fall, and it now has over 10,000 downloads.

Over at Polk State: Anastasios Kamoutsas is poised to be the latest Florida college president with political ties.

Do you know a high school grad? We have an awesome gift for every single high school grad in Tampa Bay — from all of us here at the Times: A free, one-year digital subscription to tampabay.com. You have until July 4 to take advantage of this exceptional offer!

FIND MORE AT TAMPABAY.COM/POLITICS

Closer look: As Florida’s attorney general James Uthmeier fights against surrogacy, Gov. Ron DeSantis has also tried to change the law.

Break out of a superminority: Can Florida Democrats finally get back some power at the state level this year? They say 2026 is different.

Roll back regulations? For years, a sterilizer plant in Temple Terrace relied on a toxic gas to clean medical tools, where at least 20 people who lived or worked nearby say they have cancer. Federal rules mandating strict pollution controls could go away.

Costs over $1M to operate daily: As Alligator Alcatraz officials told vendors the detention center is closing, Republicans debate whether it should be remembered as a successful proof of concept or an expensive political stunt from DeSantis.

Leaving on Election Day: Florida Sen. Ed Hooper, who oversees the Senate’s budget committee, announced his retirement, paving the way for Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco to replace him.

Stop enforcing the “Rooney Rule": Uthmeier intensified his scrutiny of the NFL’s diversity and inclusion policies by issuing an investigative subpoena.

"It’s a mistake": Insurance magnate John Morgan said if the Rays fail to get approval to build a new stadium in Tampa, they'll relocate to Orlando.

If you can stomach it: Baker Mayfield may not want to relive the Bucs’ 2025 season, but thanks to Netflix, you can. He's featured in the third season of “Quarterback."

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

Our weeklong annual fundraiser got a colossal boost Wednesday.

The Yerrid Foundation made a $50,000 contribution, matching every dollar that came in. 

The impact of this means that virtually all donations for the day were doubled. With this matching gift, and so many other contributions from our generous supporters, here’s where we stand so far:

That’s terrific progress. But we have a ways to go. If you haven’t contributed yet, I hope you will consider supporting us. 

This marks our sixth annual “It’s Your Times” fundraising campaign. It’s the one time a year that we make direct appeals for support from our community. The goal we’ve set for this year’s campaign is the most ambitious yet. Money raised benefits the Tampa Bay Times Journalism Fund. If we hit our target it will be enough to fund five journalists in our 80-person newsroom. 

Your support will help ensure that independent, local journalism can endure.

To participate, please go to tampabay.com/itsyourtimes

Thank you!

Mark Katches
Editor and Vice President