Data centers; lunar eclipse; reimagined Dale Mabry campus

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Thursday, Aug 27, 2026

 
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Good Thursday morning. Expect scattered afternoon storms (high of 91).

In today’s edition, read about the Rays’ unveiled community benefits commitments; the proposed Live Nation Ybor City music venue; and Thai food spots around Tampa Bay. 

[LUIS SANTANA | Times]

How a donkey became a symbol in the fight against Florida data centers

A Citrus County donkey, who goes by Eloise, has become a local celebrity as the face of the anti-data center movement. 

The Times tracked down Eloise to her pasture to understand how she accidentally became an icon.

The answer lies with a very compassionate 11-year-old girl.

 
 

AROUND THE BAY (AND FLORIDA)

  • Tampa presses developers on Live Nation’s Ybor City music venue

  • See renderings of Hillsborough College’s ‘reimagined’ Dale Mabry campus and the firm picked to redevelop it

  • Rays unveil community benefits commitments as stadium votes near

  • Tampa City Council member releases video ‘busting myths’ on Rays stadium proposal

  • Florida is set to issue up to 215 black bear hunting permits this year

  • Duke Energy Florida was approached about huge data centers, among the largest in the world

  • 5 places for Thai food around Tampa Bay

  • Acquitted of double murder, Tampa rapper now on trial in death of pregnant woman

  • St. Petersburg police officer fired after domestic battery arrest

  • Judge dismisses murder charge against man who shot Tampa DJ

  • St. Pete woman charged in infant’s death dies in jail, deputies say

Care about sports or education? Join Times journalists at these pop-up events.

 

BRIGHT SPOT

[Times (2018)]

The “blood moon” lunar eclipse is tonight

Get your telescopes ready! The August lunar eclipse is happening tonight (or, really early tomorrow morning). When will it take place? How can you snap photos? Here's what to know.

 

POLITICS

FIND MORE AT TAMPABAY.COM/POLITICS

"Surveillance state" potential: Gov. Ron DeSantis became the latest politician in a swelling bipartisan movement to demand an overhaul of how and where AI-powered Flock cameras can be used, calling on Floridians to pressure lawmakers to regulate the tools.

Hope Florida: A Tallahassee grand jury said DeSantis' administration “misappropriated” $10 million in taxpayer money for political purposes.

First week of the general election: The GOP nominee in Florida's governor's race, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, joked about roads and hairdos. It got laughs, and groans.

Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democrat running for attorney general, is mounting his first campaign since an illicit spoiler campaign pushed him out of office.

41 days and counting: Florida Democrats are demanding the state's emergency managers explain how they've spent nearly a billion dollars in disaster money — and why they're 41 days late on a new report detailing those tabs.

Bryan Ávila is a state lawmaker from Hileah and is Byron Donalds’ newly announced running mate. Here’s what to know about him.

 
 

SPORTS

Bucs top pick Rueben Bain Jr. suffered an AC sprain in his right shoulder during a joint workout with the Jaguars on Tuesday, but is still expected to be ready to play in the regular season opener. 

Lightning TV schedule: Fourteen Lightning games will be nationally broadcast by rightsholders TNT, or the ESPN/ABC family of networks. 

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

 

VIEWPOINTS

Play 

Make charter schools make sense

Across Florida, charter school attendance has grown by more than 50% over the past decade. But can the average parent confidently explain what charter schools are? Are they public or private? Are they for profit? And who is keeping tabs on quality? Columnist Stephanie Hayes gets the scoop on this misunderstood category of Florida education.

Vote yes on this improved Rays deal, writes our CEO and chairman Conan Gallaty.

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

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