Advertisement
Eli Murray - Former Times Reporter
Eli Murray

Former Times Reporter

  1. Storm surge is deadly. We built a computer model to show how
    Dec. 18, 2022• Hurricane
    The Tampa Bay Times built a model in partnership with researchers at the University of South Florida to help explain the power – and danger – of storm surge.
  2. Dozens of workers file suit against Tampa lead factory
    Nov. 4, 2022• Investigations
    Looking east at the Gopher Resource lead smelter, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Tampa.
  3. Holiday brings flight delays, but Tampa International in clear so far
    May 28, 2022• Transportation
    An airliner lands at Tampa International Airport Friday, March 19, 2021 in Tampa.
  5. ‘Horrific scene’: Hillsborough deputies charge man in Lithia murder
    May 28, 2022• Breaking News
    Check tampabay.com for the latest breaking news and updates.
  6. Tampa clinic where lead workers received flawed care to close
    April 29, 2022• Investigations
    Anil Eglais, who was a veteran worker at the Tampa lead factory, had lab tests that indicated signs of possible kidney damage for two years straight. Federal rules required that he receive additional medical care. But Dr. Bruce Bohnker, the medical director at COMBI, did not provide the follow up. After leaving Gopher, Eglais worried about his declining health. He died in an automobile crash in July 2021.
  7. Hillsborough County ends pollution alert around Tampa lead factory
    March 11, 2022• Investigations
    Smoke from the Gopher Resource factory can been seen from the playground at Kenly Elementary School in Tampa.
  8. Hillsborough County cautions public about high lead around Tampa factory
    Feb. 19, 2022• Investigations
    The Gopher Resource lead smelter is pictured at the end of the street where a single house sits, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Tampa.
  9. Tampa lead factory faces $518,000 in more fines for environmental violations
    Jan. 22, 2022• Breaking News
    The County Environmental Protection Commission began its probe of Gopher Resource after a Tampa Bay Times investigation. The commission is proposing a $518,000 fine, after confirming many of the Times' findings.
  10. A Tampa lead factory hurt workers. Here’s how to avoid a repeat.
    Dec. 24, 2021• Investigations
    Experts say regulators could take steps to protect workers from the kinds of issues they faced at Gopher Resource.
  11. Regulators to step up monitoring of Tampa lead factory
    Dec. 11, 2021• Investigations
    The county announced this week that it would run the air-quality monitors around Gopher Resource's Tampa plant on a randomized schedule.
  12. Envenenados. Parte 3: Efectos colaterales
    Dec. 9, 2021• CENTRO
    A Josefina Zepeda y su hijo Gustavo Araujo, quienes viven cerca de la planta de plomo de Gopher Resource, les preocupa que la contaminación haya afectado negativamente su salud. [MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times]
  13. How a lead factory polluted a Tampa neighborhood
    Dec. 2, 2021• Investigations
    Poisoned, Part 3: The Fallout
  14. OSHA fines Tampa lead factory $319,000
    Sept. 30, 2021• Investigations
    Federal regulators on Thursday gave Gopher Resource a "willful violation" for exposing workers to inhalation hazards.
  15. Public health officials urge lower lead limits
    Sept. 29, 2021• Investigations
    A Tampa Bay Times investigation found that workers at Gopher Resource in Tampa were exposed to extreme amounts of lead.
  16. Cadmium spiked inside a Tampa lead factory. Workers didn’t get help.
    Sept. 23, 2021• Investigations
    Anil Eglais, 62, watched his health decline after working more than 25 years at Gopher's Tampa lead factory, where he was exposed to poisonous metals including cadmium.
  17. Federal lawmakers call for penalties for Tampa lead factory
    July 10, 2021• Investigations
    Federal lawmakers say Gopher Resource should face penalties in the wake of a report that found toxic gasses reached life-threatening levels and contaminated dust covered the plant’s floor.
  18. Tampa lead factory ran afoul of environmental standards, report finds
    July 1, 2021• Investigations
    County regulators identified a host of problems at Gopher Resource in Tampa, including hazardous-liquid leaks and life-threatening levels of carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
  19. Tampa lead factory gets credit downgrade
    June 29, 2021• Investigations
    Lead dust fills a section of Gopher Resource's Tampa plant. Late this month, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the company's credit rating.
  20. Former worker sues Tampa lead smelter over son’s exposure
    June 2, 2021• Investigations
    Civil rights and personal injury attorney Benjamin Crump (center) and co-counselors announce the filing of a lawsuit against Gopher Resource on behalf of Colin Brown (in headphones). Colin's parents Ko Brown (third from right) and Tomika Brown (second from right) are suing the lead factory, alleging that dust from the plant poisoned their son. Colin's blood-lead levels only subsided after his father, a former factory worker, left the plant. The Wednesday press conference in Tampa was held outside of the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse.
  21. Tampa lead factory incurs more problems
    May 28, 2021• News
    Consultants and workers have documented problems with fumes spilling out from the furnace into the workspace at Gopher Resource for years.
  22. County will provide testing for neighbors of Florida’s lead smelter
    April 22, 2021• Investigations
    Neighbors who live near Gopher Resource, Florida's only lead smelter, showed up for a community meeting at Kenly Park on Wednesday to hear from local leaders. Health officials say they will offer lead testing for local residents. Wednesday, April 21, 2021 in Tampa.
  23. Hillsborough County commissioner to hold town hall for community around lead smelter
    April 20, 2021• Investigations
    An aerial view of the Gopher Resource on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Tampa.
  24. A look inside Florida’s only lead smelter
    April 12, 2021• Investigations
    A collage of videos and images from inside Gopher Resource.