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News at noon: Forecast: severe storms poised to pummel Tampa Bay; former Clearwater vice mayor withheld public record text messages; and more

 
Check tampabay.com for the latest breaking news and developments.
Check tampabay.com for the latest breaking news and developments.
Published Dec. 14, 2018

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

FORECAST: SEVERE STORMS POISED TO PUMMEL TAMPA BAY

A severe weather system is making a slow slog toward the Tampa Bay region and forecast to produce potentially strong thunderstorms and possible tornadoes later tonight.The area of low pressure was situated over Texas early in the morning and will move east across the Gulf of Mexico throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service. Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties are under a flood watch until 10 p.m., and most of the region is forecast to receive 2-3 inches of rain — with higher totals possible in some areas. Although the center of the cold front is still well away from Florida, areas to the north — including Citrus County — were feeling the brunt of the storms ahead of the front early in the morning, forecasters said.

FOR RAYS, STADIUM DEAL ISN'T PERSONAL, IT'S JUST RUTHLESS BASEBALL BUSINESS

The owners of the Rays have said goodbye to their most popular players. Changed the team's name, colors and spring training home. Tossed aside century-old baseball strategies while winning more games than teams with payrolls twice their size. They are logical, innovative and arguably brilliant. And about as sentimental as the IRS, Times columnist John Romano writes. And it's critical to understanding the current pursuit of a new baseball stadium in Tampa Bay. Emotions, allegiances and teary-eyed fans have nothing to do with it. The eventual stadium decision will be based on a simple calculation.

FORMER CLEARWATER VICE MAYOR WITHHELD PUBLIC RECORD TEXT MESSAGES

On Nov. 13 the Tampa Bay Times requested the five City Council members provide all text messages from their personal and city phones that discussed government affairs since Jan. 1. Two days later, without prior warning, Vice Mayor Doreen Caudell announced during the Nov. 15 council meeting she would be resigning at the end of the month to focus on her general contracting business. Before her last day Nov. 30 the only text messages Caudell turned over from her personal cell for an 11-month period were partial exchanges with five private citizens about her Nov. 15 resignation announcement. She stated Wednesday that she did not use her personal phone for city business while in office. But subsequent requests the Times made to a sample of six city officials for their messages to and from Caudell's personal cell show that wasn't the case.

A HALF-CENTURY LATER, MARSHALL FOOTBALL STILL GALVANIZED BY TRAGEDY

The Herd will come out thundering for the Gasparilla Bowl, as it does for every blessed bowl played. Oh, sure, some years Marshall may be injury-maligned or overmatched, but it's never, ever flat. Chisel that in stone. How do we know? Because of everything already chiseled in and around Huntington, W.Va., where football really is about life and death. The home to Marshall football is replete with shrines, cemetery markers, even memorial fountains. And when you sign on to play for the Herd, a few things also get chiseled in your psyche: history, tragedy, pride and those 75 souls immortalized from Huntington to Hollywood. When you're representing something that much greater than yourself, flat just doesn't come into play.

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LIFE OF THE PARTY PODCAST: SIGNS YOU'RE WATCHING A HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIE

Question. How do you know you're watching a Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas rom-com? Is it: A big city career girl goes home to small town? No one is dressed right for the snow? Almost everyone is white? All of the above? Listen to this week's Life of the Party podcast to explore the world of cable TV and Netflix Christmas movies as hosts Stephanie Hayes and Brittany Volk welcome Times editor and TV expert Caitlin E. O'Conner.

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