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News at noon: Curtis Reeves to stand trial; unanimous death juries legislation headed to governor's desk; why we're seeing more pests than usual; what's next for the Bucs in free agency

 
Curtis Reeves Jr. gets emotional when he asked about  beating cancer from defense attorney Richard Escobar while on the stand during his "stand your ground" hearing at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center Tuesday in Dade City. [OCTAVIO JONES   |   Times]
Curtis Reeves Jr. gets emotional when he asked about beating cancer from defense attorney Richard Escobar while on the stand during his "stand your ground" hearing at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center Tuesday in Dade City. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
Published March 10, 2017

Here are the latest headlines and updates on tampabay.com.

REEVES TO STAND TRIAL IN SHOOTER SHOOTING

Curtis Reeves is headed to trial now that a judge has denied his request to dismiss charges against him under Florida's "stand your ground" law. Circuit Judge Susan Barthle this morning issued a written ruling denying Reeves' motion, which was the subject of a two-week court hearing where his defense attorneys argued he killed Chad Oulson at a Wesley Chapel theater in self-defense. Stay with tampabay.com for live coverage from the courtroom.

UNANIMOUS DEATH JURIES LEGISLATION HEADED TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

In one of their first decisions this year, the Florida Legislature today sent Gov. Rick Scott a bill that will require juries to vote unanimously to sentence a convicted murderer to death. Mandated by a Florida Supreme Court ruling in Hurst vs. Florida that found the state's existing 10-2 jury vote requirement unconstitutional, the Legislature's move will allow prosecutors to pursue new death row cases as soon as Scott signs it.

DYNAMIC OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH SCIENTOLOGY LEADER A RARITY

In a rare dynamic where the constituent is beckoning each City Council member to his headquarters, instead of going to theirs, Scientology leader David Miscavige will host formal one-on-one meetings at the church's Fort Harrison Hotel on Tuesday to discuss his downtown retail strategy.

WINTER DIDN'T COME TO TAMPA BAY, SO NOW TERMITES AND ANTS WILL

Floridians know bugs, but if you feel like you're fighting off more pests than usual — well, it's not your imagination. Local exterminators have noticed it, too. The culprit? The winter that never really was.

FLORIDA LGBT RIGHTS GROUPS GROW OPTIMISTIC AS MORE REPUBLICANS JOIN THEIR CAUSE

Activists who support new civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Floridians have found key allies in Republican lawmakers — but their cause still faces challenges in a deeply conservative state Capitol.

FOR SUSIE WHELDON, A NEW NORMAL, FIVE YEARS AFTER HUSBAND DAN'S DEATH

It has been more than five years since IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was killed in a Las Vegas race. Back in St. Petersburg, his widow, Susie Wheldon tries not to dwell on questions of what if or why. "There would never be a good enough reason. I don't really have a clear answer to tell my kids when they ask, 'What happens after you die?' " she says. In the fall, Oliver started kindergarten. And Susie decided she needed her young boys to see her working. Her life is finally starting to feel stable now.

DESPITE PROMISES, CHANGE COMES SLOWLY TO FOUR-TIME F SCHOOL

This was supposed to be the year things finally got better at Potter Elementary. In July, when the State Board of Education asked Hillsborough County superintendent Jeff Eakins how he planned to turn around the four-time F school, he said the district had it handled. And yet, a district administration that had promised to do everything it could to dig Potter out of trouble has fallen short once again.

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CLEARWATER NATIVE STARTS FAKE NEWS WEBSITE AS JOKE, GETS 1 MILLION VIEWS

James McDaniel, a 28-year-old Clearwater native, said he created a fake news website last month as a joke to see just how naive Internet readers could be.In a week and a half, McDaniel said, UndergroundNewsReport.com totaled more than 1 million page views.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR BUCS IN FREE AGENCY?

The Bucs had a busy first day of the 2017 league year on Thursday, with the splash signings of receiver DeSean Jackson and defensive tackle Chris Baker getting the biggest headlines. What's next? The biggest domino to fall next is likely at safety -- Bradley McDougald, who rarely came off the field last season, remains unsigned, and the Bucs are courting Cowboys safety J.J. Wilcox, who is comparable to McDougald in age, experience, career stats and versatility.

SMOOTHER TRACK FOR THIS WEEKEND'S ST. PETE GRAND PRIX

Even if you've driven in downtown since the last Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, you might not have noticed that some streets have been repaved. But when IndyCar Series drivers inspected the track Thursday, they noticed every detail of a much smoother surface that could lead to faster speeds and tighter racing in Sunday's main event.

THE SHINS COMING TO JANNUS LIVE

The Shins are coming to Jannus Live in St. Petersburg on May 13, ending a way-too-long absence from the Tampa Bay concert calendar. General tickets to the show are $34 and go on sale March 17, though you can purchase some through a pre-sale at Daddy Kool Records starting today. Click here for details.

News at noon is a weekday feature from tampabay.com. Check in Monday through Friday for updates and information on the biggest stories of the day.