OUR LENS, VIDEO
Red, White and Views: Ron Paul nation
1
February
Times video by Chris Zuppa, Melissa Lyttle and Willie J. Allen Jr.
Florida, with its diverse population and sheer size, has always played an important role in presidential elections. And this year the Tampa Bay area will play an even more dynamic part as the Republican National Convention comes to Tampa in August to nominate its 2012 candidate to challenge President Barack Obama. Our Tampa Bay Times journalists have been covering candidates such as Mitt Romney, Newt Gringrich and Ron Paul for months. But in this special series of video reports, we're turning to Florida voters to find untold stories that can perhaps spark better insight into the 2012 presidential race and the state's role in it.
Know a local political junkie who should be featured in this series? Have a behind-the-scenes look at someone who gives their time and money to a political cause? Let us know whom we should interview. Email us your ideas.
OUR LENS, VIDEO
Red, White and Views: One Question
26
January
Times video by Chris Zuppa, Melissa Lyttle and Willie J. Allen Jr.
Florida, with its diverse population and sheer size, has always played an important role in presidential elections. And this year the Tampa Bay area will play an even more dynamic part as the Republican National Convention comes to Tampa in August to nominate its 2012 candidate to challenge President Barack Obama. Our Tampa Bay Times journalists have been covering candidates such as Mitt Romney, Newt Gringrich and Ron Paul for months. But in this special series of video reports, we're turning to Florida voters to find untold stories that can perhaps spark better insight into the 2012 presidential race and the state's role in it.
Know a local political junkie who should be featured in this series? Have a behind-the-scenes look at someone who gives their time and money to a political cause? Let us know whom we should interview. Email us your ideas.
OUR LENS, VIDEO
Red, White and Views: Primary Voices
26
January
Times video by Chris Zuppa, Melissa Lyttle and Willie J. Allen Jr.
Florida, with its diverse population and sheer size, has always played an important role in presidential elections. And this year the Tampa Bay area will play an even more dynamic part as the Republican National Convention comes to Tampa in August to nominate its 2012 candidate to challenge President Barack Obama. Our Tampa Bay Times journalists have been covering candidates such as Mitt Romney, Newt Gringrich and Ron Paul for months. But in this special series of video reports, we're turning to Florida voters to find untold stories that can perhaps spark better insight into the 2012 presidential race and the state's role in it.
Know a local political junkie who should be featured in this series? Have a behind-the-scenes look at someone who gives their time and money to a political cause? Let us know whom we should interview. Email us your ideas.
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Willie J. Allen Jr. | Portfolio
15
September
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Crawfish festival, USF basketball, talent show auditions
17
March
USF Bulls Alex Rivas battles for a rebound against North Carolina State Wolfpack Julius Mays (on left) and C.J. Williams in NIT tournament first half action at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa Tuesday evening, March 16. N.C. State won 58 - 57. [DIRK SHADD, Times] ... Read more
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Bald eagle release, half marathon celebration, Dr. Seuss face painting
3
March
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey released their 380th rehabilitated Bald Eagle back into the Florida skies Wednesday afternoon at the Ahhochee Hill Audubon Sanctuary near Brooksville, FL. David Bruzek, Lead Environmental Specialist for Progress Energy Florida, had the honor to release the bird. This is the same eagle that was booted out of her nest in the East Lake area and was beaten up by another female. Her ex-mate has since produced chicks with the usurper. READ THE STORY [JIM DAMASKE, Times] ... Read more
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Soccer defeat, adoption, Rays spring training
23
February
For most of his life, 17-year-old Lorenzo longed to be adopted. The Boca Ciega High School senior, a foster child for nearly 13 years, held on to one wish: to have a parent in the audience cheering for him when he graduated from high school. Though Lorenzo's portrait was of the first featured on the Heart Gallery when it launched in 2006, Lorenzo could not find a family to adopt him. That is until last April when Carolyn Newson, a St. Petersburg mother of four, on her way to a restaurant, happened upon Lorenzo taping a TV promotion for adoption in a barber shop next door. With one look, the grieving Newson was sure it was a sign. A couple of months before, Newson's niece, Malayshia Gamble, 15, was murdered, left for dead in a vacant lot not far from her home. "In Lorenzo, God has given us inspiration to go on," said Newson. "One child has been taken from us, why not give this child a chance?" Lorenzo’s adoption was finalized Wednesday, four days before his 18th birthday. Above, Lorenzo’s case manager Sheryl Allen-Golden applauds while mother and son embrace as the adoption is sealed by Judge Raymond Gross in the Pinellas County Criminal Court Complex. "It shouldn't take this long for dreams to come true," Gross said to Lorenzo during the hearing. About 100 teens age out of foster care in Pinellas and Pasco Counties each year without finding families. Eckerd Community Alternatives, the lead agency for community based child welfare services in Pinellas and Pasco counties, finalized 321 foster kids last year, a record-breaking number. Approximately 120 foster kids in Pinellas & Pasco counties are currently available for adoption. For more information on adoption call Eckerd’s Foster & Adoption Recruitment Line at 1-866-233-0790. To see local foster kids available for adoption visit www.heartgallerykids.org [CHERIE DIEZ, Times] ... Read more
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Winter freeze, car wash soaking, Tampa Museum of Art
9
February
Winter has been cold this year, especially from a Florida plant's point of view. Photographer Jim Damaske sought out the effects of the freeze, and discovered a sculptural beauty among the damage that we Floridians rarely see here. [JIM DAMASKE, Times] SEE MORE PHOTOS OF WINTER FREEZE PLANT DAMAGE ... Read more
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Fountain rainbow, Gasparilla beads, stable chores (10 images)
27
January
Juliana Hornsby, 2, runs through the Children's Mist Fountain during the grand opening of the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa on Sunday afternoon. It's also the newest segment of the Tampa Riverwalk. The multi-colored building in the background is the Children's Museum. [WILLIE J. ALLEN JR., Times] ... Read more
OUR LENS | Exceptional work by the St. Petersburg Times staff
Cold weather, circus acrobatics, athletic silhouettes
12
January
A flower lays on a frosted leaf Thursday in Palm Harbor during the record-breaking cold morning which began with icy windshields, grounded planes at Tampa International Airport and worried farmers. The National Weather Service said records were broken overnight in Tampa, Lakeland and Sarasota. Tampa's low was 27 degrees, with the previous coldest low for the date at 30 degrees in 1999. At 27 degrees Thursday, Lakeland broke a 1980 low record temperature of 34 degrees. Sarasota's low Thursday was 30 degrees, which broke a 1999 record of 35 degrees. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD, Times] ... Read more
