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Top 5 at noon: Rick Baker casts vote, gets in final digs at Rick Kriseman; Rick Scott urges prayer, not action, to combat mass shootings; and more

 
Rick Baker, candidate for St. Petersburg mayor, head to the polls along with his family Tuesday at the American Baptist Church of the Beatitudes, 2812 8th St. N, in St. Petersburg. From left is his son Jacob, wife Joyce, and daughter Julann. [SARA DiNATALE | Times]
Rick Baker, candidate for St. Petersburg mayor, head to the polls along with his family Tuesday at the American Baptist Church of the Beatitudes, 2812 8th St. N, in St. Petersburg. From left is his son Jacob, wife Joyce, and daughter Julann. [SARA DiNATALE | Times]
Published Nov. 7, 2017

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

RICK BAKER CASTS VOTE, GETS IN FINAL DIGS AT RICK KRISEMAN

Rick Baker and his family walked through the parking lot clad in campaign T-shirts, readying to cast their votes at the Church of the Beatitudes this morning. Nearly six months ago, the former mayor announced his campaign in front of City Hall, where his opponent Rick Kriseman holds office. Now the hard-fought campaign is coming to a close. After emerging through the church doors sporting his "I voted" sticker, Baker told reporters he regretted nothing about his campaign, but also took the time with the media to take jabs at his opponent.

Follow the social media accounts of Tampa Bay Times reporters and photographers as they cover the Pinellas County elections, including the St. Petersburg mayoral election between Baker and Kriseman,on our live blog.

RICK SCOTT URGES PRAYER, NOT ACTION, TO COMBAT MASS SHOOTINGS

Asked during a news conference in Jacksonville about the backlash he faced on Twitter because his reaction after a mass shooting is to offer prayers, but no action, Florida Gov. Rick Scott defended that approach. Still, for one of the most powerful public officials in America, that's a lot of praying and wishing to take care of an issue that, according to the New York Times' The Interpreter, could be handled effectively by any number of government policies, Michael Van Sickler writes.

TAMPA BAY GAS PRICES SPIKE IN A DAY WITH HIGHER DEMAND

Your eyes aren't deceiving you — gas prices really did shoot up in a single day. Tampa Bay pump prices averaged $2.35 per gallon Tuesday, up almost 10 cents from $2.26 per gallon Monday, according to AAA, The Auto Club Group. According to AAA, the spike some Floridians are seeing is because of higher demand for gas and lower gas supply in certain areas.

NO DEATH THREATS IN JIM MCELWAIN'S E-MAILS

After then-Florida Gators coach Jim McElwain mentioned death threats at his Oct. 23 news conference, Matt Baker went looking for proof. He called the local and federal authorities, who didn't have any reports to corroborate his claim. He also asked to see McElwain's emails, through a public-records request to UF. He was surprised by what UF provided late last week, after the Gators and McElwain mutually parted ways. There were no death threats – or any angry notes at all. In fact, there were four e-mails of support.

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM AND CHRISTINE MCVIE TALK FLEETWOOD MAC'S 'DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY'

Forty years after their all-time breakup album, Rumours, the mythology and romance — literal and otherwise — of Fleetwood Mac still towers over the band's imposing legacy. You cannot discuss Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie's new album, and the tour that brings them to Ruth Eckerd Hall Thursday, without breaking it down through the lens of Fleetwood Mac. And, it turns out, neither can they.

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