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News at noon: Tucker Carlson responds to Bubba the Love Sponge audio; Tiger Woods noncommittal on whether he'll play Valspar Championship; and more

Check tampabay.com for the latest breaking news and developments.
Check tampabay.com for the latest breaking news and developments.
Published March 12, 2019

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

Tucker Carlson responds to Bubba the Love Sponge audio

Fox News host Tucker Carlson opened Monday night's edition of Tucker Carlson Tonight railing against liberals, conservatives and the media after being accused of making "misogynistic and perverted comments" by Media Matters for America when he called into the Bubba the Love Sponge show more than 10 years ago. The non-profit website released a now-viral video Sunday in which Carlson refers to women as "extremely primitive" and is accused of downplaying an accused sexual abusers crimes against underage girls.

Jeb Bush Super PAC fined for taking $1.3 million in illegal money

A Super PAC that spent more than $100 million in support of Jeb Bush's failed 2016 presidential campaign has been hit with a massive fine by the Federal Elections Commission for soliciting more than $1 million in political contributions from Chinese nationals. Right to Rise USA, created to propel the former Florida governor into the Oval Office, was slapped with a $390,000 penalty on March 4 following a lengthy investigation into money donated by a California company called American Pacific International Capital and solicited by Bush's younger brother, Neil.

'No-name storm' wrought havoc on Florida 26 years ago

No one expected this one, and so there was no name. It was well before hurricane season when the storm swept in around midnight on March 12, 1993. Dubbed the "no-name storm," it slammed into Florida from the Gulf of Mexico packing winds of more than 90 mph, strong rain, lightning and tornadoes. Fifteen people died, including four children. Hundreds had to abandon their homes due to substantial flooding and 2 million lost power just as they dealt with the cold temperatures left in the wake. Gov. Lawton Chiles declared a state of emergency in five counties and President Bill Clinton declared them disaster areas to facilitate federal aid.

We'll have to wait to find out if Tiger Woods will play the Valspar Championship

Tiger Woods waited until the last day to commit to last year's Valspar Championship. It looks like it's going down to the deadline again. Asked Tuesday at The Players Championship whether he would play next week's PGA Tour event at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Woods said, "I'll let you guys know later in the week." Woods showed up at Innisbrook last March for the first time since 1996 and put on a show. He finished one shot behind champion Paul Casey in a performance that produced overflow galleries all weekend and the largest TV audience for any non-Masters golf event since the 2015 PGA Championship.

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New Hagrid coaster at Universal Orlando will take Harry Potter fans into Forbidden Forest

Universal has released more details on the new Hagrid-themed coaster coming to Islands of Adventure in June, revealing the coaster will move both forward and backward at speeds up to 50 miles per hour into the dark forest of Harry Potter's world among more than 1,200 specially planted trees. The ride, called Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, will open at Hogsmeade in the park's Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 13. The park released more details on Tuesday, including that riders will encounter some of the wizarding world's magical creatures such as Fluffy, the three-headed dog from the first Harry Potter book and film.

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