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The Daystarter: Gov. Ron DeSantis' plan for wildlife cops; Pasco road rage leads to fatal shooting; Laura Reiley on the White House's buffet of champions

Catching you up on overnight happenings, and what to know today.
 
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social card for daystarter, for web onl
Published Jan. 16, 2019

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

• Here are the top things to do in Tampa Bay.

• The cool weather continues, as we wake up to the mid 40s in the morning, according to the National Weather Service. The highs will reach the mid 60s, and skies should be clear with slight winds. It'll start getting slightly warmer on Thursday.

• When he unveiled his environmental plans last week, Gov. DeSantis had some of the usual goals like keeping drinking water safe and tackling algae plaguing the state's waterways. He also proposed moving some law enforcement duties from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is not known for cracking down on polluters. The governor has not explained his intentions.

• A man was fatally shot Tuesday night in a road rage incident in Land O'Lakes. According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the incident began around 9:15 p.m. at the intersection of Collier Parkway and State Road 54, and continued to the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54. Details are still emerging; stay with tampabay.com for updates.

• President Trump served Clemson's national football championship team a winner's buffet of McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's. And while everyone in the Internet is having fun with that, Laura Reiley explains how college students don't subsist solely on fast food anymore — especially college athletes.

• Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was no friend to the country's burgeoning marijuana industry, which includes a growing presence in Florida. Steve Contorno asks: Does William Barr, the president's choice to replace Sessions, hold the same position over the federal government's handling of the marijuana industry?

• Despite the federal government shutdown, the 2.9 million Floridians who receive federal food assistance will get through February with an early allotment to stock up on groceries, but the shutdown has created a whole new group of people who aren't used to needing help getting food on the table — federal workers. For now, those federal workers can seek assistance at local food banks. But Samantha Gross explains how that can soon get worse for a lot of people.

• Will the next mayor of Tampa support a property tax increase? Most of the nine mayoral candidates have pledged to improve city services. And there is a pile of debt that is expected to grow until at least 2021 that will add about $13.6 million to the city's tab during the next fiscal year. But when the candidates were asked at a mayoral forum Tuesday whether they would support a millage rate increase, a clear answer was hard to find, Charlie Frago writes.

• Speaking of the Tampa mayoral race: Columnist Sue Carlton tells us about an interesting new entry who is taking the plunge.

• For the latest in Florida politics, make sure to check The Buzz.

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• For the latest education coverage, make sure to read The Gradebook. And check out the Gradebook podcast as education reporter Jeffrey Solochek leads a weekly discussion about Florida education.

• Check out the Times photo and video channels for the most compelling visuals.

• • •

Read the Tampa Bay Times new online Sports page with the latest news about the Lightning, Bucs, Rays, Bulls, Gators, Noles and high school sports.

• The Rays will put single-game tickets for their 17 spring training home dates in Port Charlotte on sale Friday at 10 a.m. via raysbaseball.com. To get the latest Rays' news from the Times as the season approaches, click here and follow baseball writer Marc Topkin on @Twitter at @TBTimes_Rays.

Also, check out our spring training guide for Grapefruit League team-by-team schedules, map, and a daily schedule to help you plan your road trips.

• The Lightning had already lost consecutive games once this season and wasn't going to do it again. Tampa Bay bounced back from Sunday's loss to beat Dallas 2-0http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/2019/01/15/lightning-bounce-back-shut-out-stars/ on Tuesday.

• Martin Fennelly tells us about the Purdue quarterback who was swept up in college football's story of the year.

• New Bucs coach Bruce Arians continues to build his coaching staff, adding Antwaan Randle El and former Bucs safety Cody Grimm, reports Rick Stroud.

• The Bucs have a new head coach. What other changes are coming? The Times coverage of the Bucs is just a click away at tampabay.com. For the latest team news on @Twitter, follow Rick Stroud at @NFLSTROUD and fellow beat writer Eduardo A. Encina at @EddieInTheYard.

• The Times can keep you up-to-date on the Lightning's quest for the Stanley Cup: Click here for the latest news throughout the season. For the latest updates on @Twitter, follow Nearhos at @dianacnearhos and fellow Lightning beat writer Nick Kelly at @_NickKelly.

• Check out the Times coverage of Gator football all season long and keep up with college football beat writer Matt Baker on Twitter at @MBakerTBTimes.

• All the Bulls news you can use is right here from Times beat writer Joey Knight. Follow him on Twitter for the latest at @TBTimes_Bulls.

• Check out the latest episode of the Times sports podcast Sports Day Tampa Bay led by veteran sportswriter Rick Stroud.

• • •

The Times online Arts and Entertainment page tells you everything you need to know about what to do, see, eat and experience around town.

• Last week, food editor Michelle Stark shared some of her antiresolutions, morsels of food advice she's not going to waste her time with this year. Now it's time to be positive, and look ahead to food goals she wants to accomplish in the months ahead.

• Listen to our new podcast, Life of the Party, that keeps you caught up just enough to get by in small talk. Times staffers Stephanie Hayes and Brittany Volk will discuss what's going on, from celebrity news to movies and music, plus offbeat info that will make you the most interesting person in the room.

• Don't just write the right way — write the Lane way. Keep up with Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Lane DeGregory's podcast, WriteLane, and learn about her approach to the craft of storytelling.