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DayStarter: The heat wave continues; the Legislature wraps up today, Trump snags another endorsement and the Grand Prix fires up in downtown St. Petersburg

 
They'll be racing in the streets of downtown St. Petersburg this weekend. [Luis Santana | Times files]
They'll be racing in the streets of downtown St. Petersburg this weekend. [Luis Santana | Times files]
Published March 11, 2016

It will be another balmy March day today, according to 10Weather WTSP, with temps in the upper 80s, before the clouds roll in for Saturday, bringing a chance of rain that will increase into Sunday.

• Waking up and wondering about the Republican presidential debate? Or maybe you skipped this one because you were expecting banter you'd expect to hear from fourth-graders at recess than presidential candidates? Then you missed out — this one was a pleasantly civil , substantive discussion on the issues. But who told the truth? Who didn't? PolitiFact has a full report this morning.

• Several reports say Ben Carson, who suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination last week, plans to endorse Donald Trump this morning at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, the luxury Palm Beach club owned by the Republican front-runner. We'll be watching the wires for the latest announcements.

A 3-year-old girl and her neighbor were shot yesterday, police said, by someone who pulled up in front of their home on 10th Avenue S in St. Petersburg, fired and then sped away. Mayor Rick Kriseman angrily addressed the shooter, who was still being hunted last night. "To the person who did this, who is a coward and would shoot a child, we're going to find you. … We're going to prosecute you, and we're going to put you away."

• Remember that controversial plan Tampa General Hospital board members had to pay themselves $15,000 to $30,000 a year? Never mind.

• As the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg returns to town, you might be thinking about how IndyCar drivers cope with the possibility of a horrific, life-threatening wreck. Driver James Hinchcliffe nearly bled to death — he lost 14 pints of blood — in an accident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Matt Baker asked how you can get back in a race car after an experience like that. But as it turns out, for these drivers speed is the fastest cure. Meanwhile, follow our Grand Prix live blog all weekend for a window on the action on and around the track. And while you're downtown, you'll need to refuel Here's our guide to the new restaurants in downtown St. Petersburg since last year's Grand Prix.

• Former first lady Nancy Reagan will be laid to rest next to former President Ronald Reagan after a private funeral that begins at 1 p.m. today (Florida time). Here are details about the service, including a list of notable guests.

• The 60-day legislative session is expected to come to a close this afternoon with lawmakers approving a record $82.3 billion budget and sending it to Gov. Rick Scott's desk. Follow the latest — and some last-minute wrangling over undecided bills — on The Buzz, our state politics blog.

• The Rays' spring training season continues today with another game in Lakeland against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yesterday's game was a 5-1 win for Tampa Bay in a power display that included Desmond Jennings' first spring home run.

This 32,000-square-foot home is hard to miss if you're driving on N Dale Mabry near Busch Boulevard. It's the biggest in Hillsborough County and will be home to cardiologist and philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel. Join real estate reporter Susan Taylor Martin for a video walk-through of the under-construction home with Patel.

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• See what business columnist Robert Trigaux has to say about a new rule that took effect this month aimed at ending the anonymity of people who buy real estate via anonymous shell companies.

• Tonight's free show by glam-rockers the Struts at Jannus Live is one of this week's five best things to do under $5.

Plan your weekend with the help of our critics and entertainment writers — and what a big weekend it is, between the Grand Prix and the Gasparilla Music Festival, not to mention the boat show at the Trop, water parks opening for the season and some new stage shows. It's all there.