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Top 5 at noon: Adam Putnam's agriculture-to-politics road; Cridlin: Aretha Franklin transcended cultural barriers; and more

 
Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, background on piano, perform the national anthem before the Super Bowl XL football game in Detroit in 2006.  Franklin died Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 at her home in Detroit.  She was 76. [Associated Press]
Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, background on piano, perform the national anthem before the Super Bowl XL football game in Detroit in 2006. Franklin died Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 at her home in Detroit. She was 76. [Associated Press]
Published Aug. 16, 2018

Here are the latest headlines and updates on tampabay.com.

HOW ADAM PUTNAM TURNED HIS AGRICULTURE ROOTS INTO A POLITICAL MACHINE

From the statehouse at age 22 to agriculture commissioner and now a campaign for governor, Putnam Groves has been central to Adam Putnam's story. It is also a lineage he has relied on for political connections and it has brought him considerable wealth.

CRIDLIN: ARETHA FRANKLIN, WORLD'S GREATEST SINGER, TRANSCENDED CULTURAL BARRIERS

To say Aretha Franklin is on the Mount Rushmore of pop divas does her no justice at all. Fact is, she's the only reason such a monument would ever exist in the first place (as she'd probably be first to remind you), Jay Cridlin writes. He recounts the amazing life and career of the Queen of Soul, who died Thursday at 76.

WHY DOES TAMPA'S POLICE STATION SMELL SO MUCH LIKE WEED?

For the uninitiated, the pungent odor that sometimes hangs in the lobby of the Tampa Police Department headquarters likely goes unidentified. For those with experienced noses, however, the skunky aroma at One Police Center has an unmistakable dankness. It's pot. This is not the scent of someone smoking a joint in the stairwell. It's the odor of unburned plants and the buds that bloom on them. "That explains why so many sit outside on those benches," Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn quipped through a spokeswoman.

SICKLES FOOTBALL TAKES ON CHAMBERLAIN, BUT BANDS WILL MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER

Bands from Sickles and Chamberlain will join together to perform the popular song Havana by Miami singer-songwriter Camila Cabello during halftime of the preseason football opener Friday at Sickles. It all started because the band directors at the two schools are married. Keith and Amanda Griffis have conducted joint outings for their leaders — where the name "Chickles" was born — and they schedule practices at the same time so they can get home at night to spend time together. And now, through a blip in football scheduling, their schools are playing one another even though they're in different athletic divisions. Mix in a principal at Chamberlain who used to work at Sickles, and the path was paved for collaboration.

ALI MARPET MAKING MOVE TO LEFT GUARD APPEAR EASY, AND A BIG PAY DAY AWAITS

Ali Marpet's move to left guard, his third position in as many years, has been pretty seamless. A big reason for that is his close relationship with left tackle Donovan Smith, Rick Stroud explains.

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