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The Daystarter: Arrest made in Pasco hit-and-run; rocker Chris Cornell dies at 52; PolitiFact looks at Trump-Nixon comparisons; the threat to Egmont Key

 
Each year the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation picks 11 properties to highlight as the most threatened historic properties in the state.
This year, Egmont Key became the first property to make the list because authorities said it is threatened by climate change and rising seas. [MONICA HERNDON   |   Times]
Each year the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation picks 11 properties to highlight as the most threatened historic properties in the state. This year, Egmont Key became the first property to make the list because authorities said it is threatened by climate change and rising seas. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Published May 18, 2017

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

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Feels-like temperatures around the Tampa Bay area

• Record temperatures will remain in jeopardy today, with highs expected again to reach the mid-90s, according to 10Weather WTSP. Tropical moisture will build into the weekend, with the best chance for rain expected on Saturday.

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

• Pasco County deputies have arrested one of the two men sought for questioning in connection with a stolen SUV that was driven during a hit-and-run that injured a 14-year-old bicyclist. Christopher Michael Try, 20, faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury and misdemeanor charge of reckless driving following his arrest Wednesday night, Pasco County jail records show. Kevin Wilson, 23, the other man sought for questioning, has not been arrested.

• Sad news out of the music industry. Rocker Chris Cornell, who gained fame as the lead singer of the bands Soundgarden and later Audioslave, has died at age 52, according to his representative.

• Americans are hearing a lot of comparisons these days between Richard Nixon and Donald Trump, particularly after news reports revealed the existence of contemporaneous notes taken by soon-to-be-fired FBI director James Comey during his conversations with Trump. The news reports hinted at further notes that could be subpoenaed by either Congress or law enforcement, fueling speculation that these materials could help lay out a case that Trump committed obstruction of justice by seeking to quash probes into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia. "Asking FBI to drop an investigation is obstruction of justice," Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, the ranking member of the House Committee on Ethics, tweeted. "Obstruction of justice is an impeachable offense." PolitiFact wanted to examine three key questions surrounding Trump's legal situation. Read the analysis this morning.

• Today the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation will unveil the 11 sites it will highlight as the most threatened historic properties in the state. Craig Pittman explains this morning that one of them made the list because it is threatened by climate change: Egmont Key.

• Pastors Minnie and Sam Wright felt blessed when they met a mortgage broker named Victor Thomas who promised to help them get a $650,000 loan to build their dream church in Plant City. After they were out more than $16,000, they found out the identity of their supposed benefactor: convicted mortgage fraudster Victor Thomas Clavizzao.

• Overzealous tow truck drivers could soon find themselves answering to sheriff's deputies under a plan to fill the void left by the elimination of the Public Transportation Commission. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will take charge of investigating illegal towing practices under the proposal. Tax Collector Doug Belden's office will administer public vehicle driving permits to taxicab drivers and consumer complaints will be handled by the County Administrator's Office.

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• The "influencers" are back in St. Petersburg. Or rather, Mayor Rick Kriseman plans to revive his plan to pay social media influencers to promote St. Petersburg to their many followers. The City Council wasn't too thrilled with the idea last time. What will they decide at today's 3 p.m. meeting? Read Charlie Frago's story and follow him at @CharlieFrago for updates.

• The Tampa City Council will meet at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to get an update on the currently closed Cuscaden Park pool. Here's what council members will hear: Repairs will start early next week and cost an estimated $10,000. The historic pool on N 15th Street is expected to re-open shortly after Memorial Day.

• From the Times editorial board: The Trump administration's downward spiral is accelerating, and they can no longer avert their eyes in the false hope that the president will change. It's time for Vice President Mike Pence and congressional Republicans to move quickly to stabilize the situation, reassure allies and stop defending the indefensible actions of this unstable presidency. Read the editorial and today's letters to the editor at tampabay.com/opinion.

• As the top graduates from Pinellas County's private high schools finished their classes and prepared for exams this spring, we asked them to reflect on the last four years — to think about what they learned, how high school changed them and the people who helped them along the way.

• Belleair is selling its public golf course to a local family who officials say will continue to uphold its efforts to maintain the acres of land as a green space.

• The Buccaneers as a playoff team? Don't bet on it, Thomas Bassinger writes. The empirical thinkers at Football Outsiders have joined Las Vegas oddsmakers in casting Tampa Bay as an underdog this coming season.

• The American Athletic Conference, home of the University of South Florida Bulls, believes it can evolve into a power conference, but national scribes — and the financial numbers — dispute that. The Times' Joey Knight digs deep into the subject.

• Heading into the finale, how did Tampa lawyer Brad Culpepper do on Survivor last night? No spoilers here, but Sharon Kennedy Wynne has the details.

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

• It's time to plan your weekend! Our critics and writers have their top picks for date night ideas and family fun on our Weekend Planner page including a retrospective on Pop Art pioneer James Rosenquist, hip-hop violinst Damien Escobar and the Florida Orchestra ending its season with Beethoven.