A Strange Message From the Postal Service
Plus, election supervisors seek stability, a minimum wage hike, weather, and the week in stocks.
This week marks about a month since we published our first edition. In retrospect, it wasn’t very wise to launch a new publication right before each of our two editors went on separate, week-long vacations. But now we’re back, and well-rested, too. We’re still figuring it all out and finding our sea legs — aquatic pun intended. With this issue, we launch a new feature called What’s Up With That. OK, let’s get to it.
This Week’s Tampa Weather
Partly cloudy and cooling, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel:
TUESDAY ☀️ Mostly sunny skies.
🌡️90° / 72° 💦 74% / 60% 🌅 7:23 a.m. / 7:13 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 🌤️ Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible, mainly clear at night.
🌡️89° / 72° 💦 80% / 66% 🌅 7:24 a.m. / 7:12 p.m.
THURSDAY 🌤️ A few clouds from time to time, with partly cloudy skies at night.
🌡️91° / 72° 💦 79% / 67% 🌅 7:24 a.m. / 7:11 p.m.
FRIDAY 🌤️ Partly cloudy all day and night.
🌡️90° / 74° 💦 79% / 69% 🌅 7:25 a.m. / 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY 🌤️ Sunshine and clouds mixed, with partly cloudy skies at night.
🌡️89° / 72° 💦 74% / 67% 🌅 7:25 a.m. / 7:09 p.m.
SUNDAY 🌦 Mostly cloudy skies with a few showers late.
🌡️84° / 67° 💦 66% / 63% 🌅 7:26 a.m. / 7:08 p.m.
MONDAY 🌤️ Partly cloudy with a few clouds.
🌡️81° / 65° 💦 67% / 58% 🌅 7:27 a.m. / 7:07 p.m.
CURRENTS
What you need to know about Florida's minimum wage increase. WUSF
Tampa’s top cop focuses on community-oriented policing during first 100 days on the job. Fox 13 Tampa Bay
Plant High tops list of local public schools, according to Niche. Tampa Bay Business Journal $ (subscription required)
Migration route for Parrotheads? Lawmaker wants to rename A1A as Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway. Florida Politics
New entrance ramp from westbound Big Bend Road to northbound I-75 opening Saturday. Tampa Free Press
The Cross Bay Ferry to Tampa will dock at the Port of St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Times $
New rules take effect on Skyway Fishing Pier. ABC Action News
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts opens new location in Ybor City. ABC Action News
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to introduce new 'Phoenix Rising' roller coaster. 10 Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Rays to host 3 focus groups to gather input on new stadium. Florida Politics
Supreme Court will review GOP-led social media laws in Texas, Florida. Politico
Rep. Matt Gaetz files to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. ABC Action News
DeSantis says he would support a 15-week abortion ban. ABC Action News
With unrealistic immigration proposals, DeSantis and Trump try to outdo each other. The New York Times
Poll: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley tied for second nationally among Republicans. Florida Politics
Ron DeSantis losing half his support in South Carolina, according to his own pollster. Florida Politics
Ron DeSantis claims GOP debate opponents didn’t ‘act like a President should act’. Florida Politics
What a potential "super El Niño" could mean for Florida this winter. Palm Beach Post via Florida Trend
Video shows bloodied Black man surrounded by officers during Florida traffic stop. The Washington Post $
In a twist, Rays will host Rangers in American League Wild Card Series. Tampa Bay Times $
Bucs stifle Saints to take control of the NFC South. Tampa Bay Times
USF sinks Navy to snap 19-game road losing streak. The Oracle
USF women’s soccer team’s 11-game win streak against ECU snapped in 2-0 loss. The Oracle
Florida football knocked out of AP top 25, future opponents stand tall. Gators Wire
Tampa is one of the best foodie cities in America, according to WalletHub. That’s So Tampa
Yelp names the 50 best places to eat in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay Business Journal $
Killer manatee movie will be made in Tampa. Tampa Bay Times $
Got news? Send it here.
COMMENTARY
Defunct Florida growth rules thwarted development that would have made Idalia worse. Tampa Bay Times $
In Florida, surgeon general ushers in a bright new day for medical quackery. Florida Phoenix
REPORTER
Florida elections supervisors ask GOP lawmakers for no major changes to election laws in 2024
By Mitch Perry
Since Florida last voted for a president in 2020, the state Legislature has passed three major election reform bills that supporters say have enhanced voter integrity, but critics argue that the reforms restrict voter access to the polls.
As the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature prepares to gather in January for the two-month 2024 session, one supervisor of elections had a simple request to a group of state lawmakers on Monday.
“Stay the course. Status quo,” said Pasco County Republican Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, as he addressed the seven-member Pasco County legislative delegation in west central Florida, north of Tampa. “We ask that there be no substantive changes be made to Florida’s election code in the upcoming legislative session.”
That’s the sentiment of the entire Florida supervisors of elections association, says Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays.
“Brian is correct,” Hays told the Phoenix in an email. “Our association is asking the legislators to not make substantive changes this coming session.”
Read more at the Florida Phoenix
TODAY’S SPONSOR
The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959.
Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.
Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.
WHAT’S UP WTH THAT?
The US Postal Team Wishesyou a Wonderful Day
By Judith M. Gallman
A text message said a package had arrived at the warehouse and could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. It instructed me to confirm the address information via https://usps.infortrck.com. There were directions on how to reply and how to copy the link “toSafari browser and open it.” The text concluded, “The US Postal team wishesyou a wonderful day!”
What’s up with that?
This wasn’t the first time I’ve received such a text. This time, however, I was expecting a package — half of an equine pharmaceutical order.
So I called the Postal Service. It took several attempts to get the tracking number entered correctly into the USPS tracking system. After all, it was 32 digits long. That tracking number indicated my package had been delivered to Larkspur, California — way back in May. But why had only half my order made it to Lutz? In a recorded message, the automated USPS attendant said my inquiry had been noted and would be investigated.
Skeptical that the post office would ever respond, I checked in with the veterinary clinic where I’d placed my order. Then I reached out to the service that shipped the order. Half my order shipped on Sept. 14 and had been received. The remainder had been mailed from Nebraska on Sept. 18 and was still en route. The representative said it would arrive in Lutz within three to five days. She had no information regarding the California delivery.
Michael with the Lutz post office did call me — on the very same day I made my inquiry. When I returned the call the next morning, he provided this assurance: “We will never text you about a package. Ever.”
Scammers get tracking numbers and phone numbers and text unsuspecting recipients, Michael said. Those who respond to the text message may be unwittingly allowing malware to infect their computers or phones. Often they are told when they reply that they must pay a fee to get their package, he said.
That’s how the scammers obtain your credit card information and money.
Michael told me that my parcel had been received at the Lutz facility. A driver had left with it on his route about 9:30 a.m., and that the package should be delivered that morning. It was.
As for the Larkspur delivery, he did not have an answer, other than to say the scammers are very clever.
The bottom line is, don’t fall for this, even if you have a package missing.
Intrigued or perplexed by something you’d like me to investigate? Email Judy.
TAKING STOCK
A weekly look at the performance of 25 locally important stocks.
Source: Marketwatch.com.