The Daystarter: Trump boosts DeSantis, and other Tampa highlights; looking ahead after Rays' deadline deals; USF loses a popular voice

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

• It'll be cloudy and wet today, but the real action starts after 2 p.m. That's when numerous thunderstorms will start rolling into the Tampa Bay region, according to the National Weather Service. Typical summertime weather will also come with typical summetime highs, upper 80s on the coast and 91 inland.

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

• Here are the top things to do today in Tampa Bay including Panic! At the Disco's sold-out show at the Amalie Arena, the Rays play the Angels and there's $4 and $1 movies for kids at the theaters.

• President Donald Trump brought his road show to Tampa on Tuesday and, as usual, touted the job his administration is doing. But he also boosted the political fortunes of U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis in Florida's Republican primary for governor in front of a near capacity crowd at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

ALSO READ:

Trump circus returns to unwavering enthusiasm in Tampa

Scenes from President Donald Trump's visit, rally in Tampa

Live blog: Complete coverage from our reporters and photographers

To read more from the Tampa Bay Times on everything the president did on his swing through Tampa, check out The Buzz

• Now that the Rays have traded their most recognizable player, Martin Fennelly examines Chris Archer's true Tampa Bay legacy.

• Marc Topkin tallies up what a flurry of three deadline deals netted for the Rays. Spoiler alert: This could be quite an outfield.

• Sad news from WUSF: Longtime radio personality Carson Cooper has died The honeyed voice of one of public radio's signature shows, NPR's Morning Edition, helped Tampa Bay listeners start their day since 2000.

• The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office released thousands of photographs documenting crime scenes and evidence in their case against Howell Emanuel Donaldson III, the man charged with four shooting deaths in southeast Seminole Heights. Dan Sullivan explains what the photographs reveal about the case.

• St. Petersburg City Council will meet Thursday and review a proposed utility rate increase and start discussing stormwater fee changes that could end up costing some residents even more money. It's the second rate jump in 2018, and Caitlin Johnston has a preview that explains how this could all affect residents.

• Like clockwork, the forever-resurrected scoop that Tom Cruise has finally moved to downtown for good resurfaced in national tabloids last week, with People magazine proclaiming the actor and devout Scientologist has once and for all, and truly, for real this time, settled into his multi-million dollar penthouse near his religion's mecca. The story, which has exactly zero new details from headlines printed ad-nauseam over the years that were just as thinly sourced, opened the flood gates. For anybody who cares about facts, Tracey McManus presents what we know for sure. Spoiler alert: It's not much.

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