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The Daystarter: Where are the Scientologists in downtown Clearwater; Adam Putnam's potential roadblocks to governor; Lightning players at World Hockey Championships; where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

 
Published May 5, 2017

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

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The latest Tampa Bay-area radar

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The latest Tampa Bay-area radar

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The latest 7-day forecast

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The latest 7-day forecast

• Last night's rain should clear in time for the morning commute, according to 10Weather WTSP. Once that happens, expect cooler, breezy condition to settle in.

• As you head out for your morning drive, check out our live blog for the latest traffic updates and road conditions across Tampa Bay.

• Here are the top things to do today in Tampa Bay including Christopher Cross, the Naked and Famous and the Jah Movement Reggae Band.

• Something strange is happening in Clearwater. The uniformed Scientologists who usually bustle all day between church buildings are nowhere in sight. What's going on? Hint: It has something to do with a vacant lot. Check out reporter Tracey McManus's report at tampabay.com.

• Last month, the Florida Department of Transportation sent supporters and opponents of the controversial Tampa Bay Express project to St. Louis to learn how to get long. The two sides are communicating better, transportation writer Caitlin Johnston explains. But community opposition to the toll project isn't going away. Read the story at tampabay.com.

• St. Petersburg talks the talk when it comes to renewable energy. But do Mayor Rick Kriseman and members of the City Council walk the walk? Find out what happened when one council member asked about solar panels in this report from writer Charlie Frago

• Adam Putnam, who seems most likely to become Florida's next governor, will stand on the steps of the old Polk County Courthouse in Bartow on Wednesday to kick off his campaign and lay out his vision. Putnam, 42, can give a rip-roaring speech, Times Political Editor Adam C. Smith writes. He is funny, smart, down to earth. The two-term Republican agriculture commissioner, five-term U.S. House member and two-term state House member may be the best qualified candidate for governor in Florida history. Trouble is, that's also what they said about Hillary Clinton, who struggled to generate energy and passion as a presidential candidate.

• State lawmakers are running out of time to reach consensus on medical marijuana. They came to Tallahassee with a mandate from more than 71 percent of voters to expand the existing state law. But they's so far failed to do so. Tallahassee reporter Michael Auslen explains why the stakes are so high this year.

• Seven Tampa Bay Lightning players and head coach Jon Cooper are participating in the World Hockey Championships, which begin today in Paris and Cologne, Germany. Other than a gold medal and dethroning two-time defending champion Canada, which Lightning rep has the most to gain from this tournament? Joe Smith explains.

• Succulents have become the "it" plant, sought-after decor for coffee shops, homes and boutique display windows. They're beloved by many — often women — across generations. And in the last few years, they've blown up. But why? Sara DiNatale explains.

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• St. Petersburg is already home to the largest gay pride event in the state, and this week the city is hosting the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association's Annual Global Convention for the first time. More on the convention from Justine Griffin.

• The timeline for completing the city's 10-year plan to revitalize the Clearwater waterfront and Coachman Park is being fast-tracked, with staff now proposing the majority could be realized within four years. Tracey McManus explains why.

• Like the judge who had harsh words for USF football player LaDarrius Jackson during a court appearance following charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment, columnist and USF graduate Sue Carlton shares a love for the Bulls. But your honor, here is where we part ways, she writes.

• County Commissioner Ken Hagan says he'll show $100,000 or more for his first month of fundraising in his race for the commission's District 2 seat when he files a campaign finance report due next week. Meanwhile, Commissioner Stacy White, running for re-election to his District 4 seat, said his report will also show more than $100,000 in the bank after he brought in $52,076 in March and about $40,000 in April. White has had a campaign account since 2015 but only started fundraising in earnest in March.

• There have been encouraging signs since Monday night, when Orioles outfielder Adam Jones was pelted with racial slurs at Fenway Park, columnist Martin Fennelly writes. There were the apologies to Jones and condemnations of the incident, from the Red Sox to the mayor of Boston to the governor of Massachusetts to the commissioner of baseball. And there was the loud ovation that Jones received from Red Sox fans as he stepped to the plate for the first time Tuesday night. Now, let's keep it up, Fennelly says.

• Today is Cinco de Mayo and food critic Laura Reiley explains here why mezcal, tequila's smoky cousin, is on the rise at top drinking spots. She also has her top picks on where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style today in the Tampa Bay area.

• Nine microphones. That was the setup Eric Church gave himself at Tampa's Amalie Arena Thursday night, each stand pierced with a spine of custom guitar picks, and one toting a big black glass labeled CHIEF. Why does one singer need nine mics? Well, that's not the point, Jay Cridlin writes. The point is that when Chief hits the road, he's dead-set on going wherever he wants, whenever he wants, and singing wherever he dang well pleases. Check out his review here.

• While Hernando County residents have been begging for rain, organizers of two recent outdoor extravaganzas pleaded for the showers to hold off until the gates closed on their events. Sponsors of the 66th annual Hernando County Fair and Youth Livestock Show and the sixth annual Florida Blueberry Festival got their wishes. Still, both suffered attendance declines of about 10 percent from last year.

• Who is this week's pop culture winner and loser of the week? Emma Stone sends a fan a boutonniere for prom, while Fyre Festival is hit with a third lawsuit.