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Bethany Barnes - Deputy Investigative Editor
Bethany Barnes

Deputy Investigative Editor

I’m on the Tampa Bay Times investigations team, where we examine big problems in Florida. I’m particularly interested in labor issues. Also, the federal government. If you’ve got insight on these matters – or any trouble that Floridians need to know about – get in touch. I started at the Times in 2019. I moved here from Portland where I covered education for The Oregonian. Before that, I wrote about courts, prisons and corruption in Las Vegas. My reporting has won awards, but more importantly it’s brought wrongdoing to light. I grew up in Arizona in a town not far from the Mexico border and have a bachelor’s in creative writing and a master’s in journalism from the University of Arizona.

  1. School district faces calls for investigation as more accuse Tampa teacher of bullying
    Yesterday• News
    Austen Peffley is speaking out about disturbing comments made by a Wharton High teacher after a Tampa Bay Times investigation into similar complaints.
  2. Records show Tampa teacher’s troubled history
    Mar. 12• Investigations
    A yearbook photo of Wharton High School teacher Todd Harvey.
  3. A Tampa teen was racially harassed by her teacher. He’s bullied students for years.
    Mar. 12• Investigations
    Melanie Copeland felt unheard as a freshman at Wharton High after she reported a racist incident involving her teacher.
  5. How storm surge kills: Hurricane Ian showed Florida why we’re told to leave
    Oct. 8, 2022• Hurricane
    Anthony Prado, with the South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Team (FL-TF2), ducks into a collapsed roof while searching for people Wednesday in Fort Myers Beach. Hurricane Ian devastated the town when it made landfall nearby on Sept. 28.
  6. Thursday updates: Tampa Bay surveys Hurricane Ian’s damage
    Sep. 29, 2022• Hurricane
    A man is evacuated by the United States Coast Guard after being found among the wreckage of homes on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday.
  7. Wednesday updates: Hurricane Ian punishes Florida with devastating winds, storm surge
    Sep. 28, 2022• Hurricane
    A pickup truck navigates a flooded section of First Street outside of the United States Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers on Wednesday, where storm surge continued to inundate Lee County long after the eye wall passed into Central Florida.
  8. Tuesday updates: Tampa Bay in final hours of prep as Hurricane Ian nears
    Sep. 27, 2022• Hurricane
    Kiwi, a parakeet, arrives with his family at one of Hillsborough County’s pet-friendly shelters in preparation for Hurricane Ian at Durant High in Plant City on Tuesday.
  9. Hillsborough schools’ handling of sexual harassment under federal scrutiny
    Apr. 21, 2022• Investigations
    Madisyn Slater poses for a portrait at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park on Monday, June 21, 2021 in Tampa.
  10. Jimmie B. Keel, groundbreaking Hillsborough leader, dies at 83
    Apr. 18, 2022• Hillsborough
    Jimmie Keel a longtime assistant county administrator with Hillsborough County, pictured around the time of his retirement in 2001. That year Hillsborough County also named the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library at 2902 W Bearss Ave. after the county's first Black social worker and assistant county administrator. Keel died on Saturday, April 16. He was 83.
  11. Dade City woman killed in Pasco hit-and-run
    Apr. 17, 2022• Pasco
    Police in Dade City are investigating a hit and run crash that severed a pedestrian in two, killing her; and another crash in which a truck hit part of the body and early hit deputies investigating the first incident.
  12. Tampa strip club shooting leaves 1 dead
    Apr. 17, 2022• Tampa
    A shooting in the parking lot of a Tampa strip club early Sunday left one person dead, police said.
  13. Blake High students spoke out about sexual harassment. Now they’re seeing action
    Feb. 26, 2022• Investigations
    “It’s just so crazy to see they are actually caring about stuff now,” Rebeca Braukman, a senior at Blake High School, said of the school’s recent efforts to address students’ concerns about sexual harassment. “I felt seen, heard.”
  14. Calls for investigation into Hillsborough schools’ handling of sexual harassment continue
    Jan. 12, 2022• The Education Gradebook
    People hold signs outside of the Hillsborough County School Board meeting in Tampa on Tuesday. They were there to demand an independent investigation in response to a Tampa Bay Times story.
  15. Protest planned to address sexual harassment complaints in Hillsborough School District
    Dec. 18, 2021• The Education Gradebook
    Rufus del Valle, a former student at Blake High School, left, hugs his father, Gregory del Valle, moments after sharing memories from his time at the school during public comment at the Hillsborough County School Board meeting on Dec. 14.
  16. At emotional Hillsborough schools meeting, calls for investigation into sexual harassment policies
    Dec. 15, 2021• The Education Gradebook
    Rufus del Valle, a former student at Blake High School, breaks down as he speaks about his experiences at the school during the public comment portion of the Hillsborough County School Board meeting Tuesday at the district offices in Tampa.
  17. Tampa teens wanted their school to protect them. Instead, they say, it got worse.
    Dec. 12, 2021• Tampa
    Rufus del Valle says that during his time at Blake High School he saw friends suffer from what he understood to be sexual abuse. When de Valle tried to speak up during his freshman year of college, he says no action was taken by the administration.
  18. Extrañas lecciones
    Jun. 28, 2021• CENTRO
    Madisyn Slater.
  19. Tampa teens reported a teacher’s sexual comments. Then a student’s life was upended.
    Jun. 27, 2021• Investigations
    Madisyn Slater on a June day at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa.
  20. Failure at Piney Point: Florida let environmental risk fester despite warnings
    Apr. 17, 2021• Environment
    A drone image shows a partially drained wastewater reservoir at Piney Point, with Tampa Bay visible in the distance.
  21. Federal agency knew Garda was “really bad” at safety. It took little action.
    Dec. 31, 2020• Investigations
    The GardaWorld armored truck where Johnathon Lue, 35, burned to death in May. The truck ignited after its driver lost control and went off a Phoenix highway.
  22. Big banks entrusted money to GardaWorld. It secretly lost track of millions.
    Oct. 18, 2020• Investigations
    A Times investigation has found that Garda lost track of millions of dollars inside its vaults, then concealed the missing money from the banks that were its clients.
  23. Fire, looting and violence reported as Tampa Bay protests escalate
    May 31, 2020• Breaking News
    Protesters and local law enforcement clash at the University Mall Saturday in Tampa.
  24. Coronavirus canceled graduation ceremonies. Here’s what Florida’s newest grads did instead.
    May 2, 2020• Health
    New University of Florida graduates Dara Unger, left, Caitlin Dodd, center, and Emily Orey, right, participated in virtual commencement ceremonies this weekend.