Advertisement

The Daystarter: Game 7 for Lightning, Capitals; shoppers begin Publix boycott; pair pitch bipartisan ticket for governor; meet TV's Black Lightning;

 
Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals players tangle during the second period in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday, May 21, 2018 in Washington D.C. DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals players tangle during the second period in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday, May 21, 2018 in Washington D.C. DIRK SHADD | Times
Published May 23, 2018

Catching you up on overnight happenings, and what to know today.

• Today's forecast? If you guessed more rain, congratulations. The forecast calls for scattered showers in the morning and then numerous showers in the afternoon with isolated thunderstorms throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service. So, in between all the little rain, watch out for the big rain.

• As you head out for your morning commute, check out our live blog for the latest traffic updates and road conditions across Tampa Bay.

• And so it's come to this: Game 7, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Amalie Arena. The Lightning's 3-0 loss Monday night in Washington has Tampa Bay leaning hard on the home-ice advantage it worked all season to build. Here's columnist Tom Jones' takeaways from Game 6 and Martin Fennelly's Game 6 report card.

• Meanwhile Josh Solomon hung out with hundreds of soaking wet Lightning fans who rooted their team on despite the pouring rain. Stay with tampabay.com for the latest on the Lightning's postseason run.

• Here are the top things to do today including hip-hop powerhouse Kendrick Lamar, the Helios Jazz Orchestra and the ACC baseball championships.

• Publix has been Florida's favorite grocery chain for decades — but some shoppers are turning their backs on the store after learning it donated more than half a million dollars to gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam. A handful of state advocacy groups have gone to social media — Twitter in particular — urging shoppers to "#BoycottPublix" this Memorial Day weekend. Sara DiNatale has the details.

• Before he takes the stage tonight at Tampa's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, pop music critic Jay Cridlin explains why the words "Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar" makes total sense. Find out why he's the greatest songwriter alive.

• In March, President Donald Trump said he would be pulling U.S. troops out of Syria "very soon." But they're still there, and will stay there, to defeat what's left of the so-called Islamic State, says the leader of U.S. Central Command in Tampa's MacDill Air Force Base. Read what else Army Gen. Joseph Votel had to say about Syria in an interview

• In a quick four-minute appearance on MSNBC Monday afternoon, former Congressmen Patrick Murphy and David Jolly gave what seemed to be an elevator pitch for their potential run for governor and lieutenant governor. Under the proposed plan, Murphy, a Democrat, would run for governor and would nominate Jolly, a Republican, as his running mate after making it through the primary. Read what they had to say.

• From our food editor, lavender is almost as pretty to smell as it is to look at, but as far as taste goes, the results aren't always as appealing. It can be a tricky plant to use properly. But, when used the right way, it can add a wonderfully herbal flavor. Find 5 ideas for cooking with lavender here

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

• We talked to Cress Williams, the first to play the DC Comics here Black Lightning. Before his appearance this weekend at MegaCon Orlando, he talked about the reaction he gets from fans as the new face of a DC comics franchise, and what's next in Season 2 for the critically acclaimed show.

• The two bronze sidewalk placards located just outside downtown Tampa's former F.W. Woolworth building's main entrance on the corner of Franklin and Polk streets were said to be a lasting remnant of Woolworth's Jim Crow-era racist policies. But there's an aspect about those placards — handed down for decades — that isn't quite true, as Paul Guzzo explains.

• Who knew a simple tool like a half-sized baking sheet could transform weeknight cooking? But it does. Read here why here

• We talked with the reggae-pop-rock fusion band the Dirty Heads before they play the 97X Barbecue Music and Arts Festival on Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg. You can find out about free passes available at ticket drop locations through Friday at our Soundcheck music blog.