Ray Roa @rayroa Twitter profile

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Ray Roa

5 years

If @cl_tampabay has written about your band, bar, restaurant or event—we need you. If our stories have ever made you laugh, stand up for your neighbor, or enjoy your community a little more, please donate.

Join Us | Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

We are supported by people like you. Support us by becoming a member today.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 months

I can't look away from this @davedeckerphoto shot out of Orlando last weekend

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

A rep for @taylorswift13 just told me drop count for night two in Tampa is 68,811. Night one saw 68,517, for an average of 68,664. If Swift hits that number on Saturday, it'll be a staggering 205,992 over three nights. Well over my most generous estimate.

Taylor Swift’s Tampa shows will achieve something even U2, Paul McCartney and Bowie couldn’t

Rock and roll’s biggest stars have all played local stadium shows—none have drawn the crowds Swift will.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Tis the damn season, folks. There are 69,131 people at RayJay for night three of @taylorswift13 in Tampa. Three-day total for Swift: 206,459. — Saturday: 69,131 Friday: 68,811 Thursday: 68,517

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Two lawsuits now filed against Florida's new law aimed at crippling teacher unions

The lawsuit is filed against the state Public Employees Relations Commission, which will carry out the law.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Florida GOP takes lead in early voting in traditionally blue Miami-Dade

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 years

Glad to see @AndrewGillum lending his name to the community and @OrgFlorida — our chat with him was one of my favorite interviews of 2018

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

...and these are waiting in the guest seats 😂😂

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Pretty sure the Democratic mayor endorsed the Trump and DeSantis-loving candidate you're talking about here. FlaDems should probably address that, too, before taking a victory lap.

Florida Democrats

@FlaDems

2 years

The message of tonight is that a Trump and DeSantis-loving candidate can not win in Tampa. This was a loss for Governor DeSantis and a message that rich, radical Republicans can’t buy their way to office in Tampa or even to a runoff.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Just in case you were wondering: Folk keep marching because people still aren't scared to be openly racist. Case in point: white power signs flashed at New Port Richey BLM protesters. More 📷 and context from @davedeckerphoto via @cl_tampabay

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

If you're getting pulled over by Tampa Bay area law enforcement after protests for seemingly no reason, please contact me. We can talk on/off record or on background—just need info. rroa @cltampa .com My DMs are open, and I'm on Signal.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

6 years

Tampa Bay live music Wednesday includes Emily Kinney, The Sun Machine and more

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Neo-Nazis gather outside Turning Point USA summit at Tampa Convention Center. @JustinGarciaFL was on the ground covering a separate group of protesters, and @davedeckerphoto had his lends on the extremists.

Photos: Neo-Nazis gather outside Turning Point USA summit at Tampa Convention Center

The second day of Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit brought neo-Nazis to downtown's Tampa Convention Center.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Professors and students at New College of Florida file federal lawsuit alleging state law is censoring courses

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Hillsborough and Pinellas schools will not be using new PragerU Kids materials for upcoming academic year

Hillsborough and Pinellas schools will not be using new PragerU Kids materials for upcoming...

"Though the DOE has approved these materials, school districts retain the option of using them or not."

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Here at @UofTampa for @POTUS remarks

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 years

Pretty sure @KKiermaier39 just let me cut him in line at @publix — I hope that guy gets a World Series ring in 2020. Also, cute kid, man! My wife and I just had one on Wednesday!

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Someone spilled paint on Tampa’s illegal ‘Back the Blue’ mural

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

NEW: This morning in Tampa, three students, a worker and alumni plead not guilty to a mix of misdemeanors and felonies they face after protesting DeSantis' DEI policies and demanding a meeting about expanding Black enrollment @USouthFlorida @cl_tampabay

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

He plays for roughly 50,000 people on Saturday, but last night @kennychesney jumped onstage to join @OldDominion and sing for about 300 folks @CROWBARLIVE

So, Kenny Chesney played a surprise free show at a 300-capacity Tampa venue last night

He showed up to play with Old Dominion, and they're all doing it again Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

And it was wild to chat twice. This one happened between medical exams Croz was getting at UCLA. He always said whatever was on his mind. We didn't always agree, but I appreciated his candor. Hope he truly got to bury the hatchet with his band mates.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Here's the whole of what's waiting in guest seats at @POTUS Tampa remarks on social security @UofTampa

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Tampa’s new ‘Back the Blue’ mural was created before the permit was even approved

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Dude, Taylor Swift is doing a 10 minute ballad in the middle of a 45-song stadium show, and the audience is eating it up, singing every word. The star power and craftswomanship is undeniable.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

JFC nothing like loading the first half of the story with police reports then burying anecdotes about his generosity and struggle in the lower third. And we wonder why people think legacy media has a problem perpetuating bad narratives about drug abuse and who gets arrested.

Craig Pittman

@craigtimes

3 years

Rapper Shock G, aka "Humpty Hump" of Digital Underground, struggled with meth use in #Florida before his death at 57. At one point he stripped down to his boxers after throwing water at hotel guests. via @TMarreroTimes

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

So @Kriseman just said, "The money we plan to allocate to our police department to hire more officers will now go toward establishing a response team consisting of Community and Social Services professionals." Will update this post with a @cl_tampabay blog ASAP.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

The Bucs' fifth round steal, Zyon McCollum, might end up being the best pick of the 2022 NFL Draft

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Taylor Swift wrapped a sold-out, three-night stand in Tampa on Saturday. Here's my review. Catch me asleep until my three-year-old's soccer game at nine in the morning. Had a great time this weekend. #TSTheErasTour

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

Something I never thought I'd type: " @LauraJaneGrace is playing two 125-cap shows at The Bricks"

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

A third of downtown Tampa is parking lots, city planners say they are actively trying to fix that

Surface lots, garages, street parking, you name it, Tampa Bay's got it.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 years

Woman-beater and singer Chris Brown is coming to Tampa this summer

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

"I'm pissed that it makes the press look weak, and I'm pissed about the message this sends about the chilling effect this kind of intimidation from the governor's office has on solid, truthful reporting," @gangrey told @cl_tampabay

Axios Tampa Bay fires reporter Ben Montgomery over response to DeSantis DEI email

'This gives the trolls another scalp,' Montgomery told CL.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

6 months

Getting reports of a shooter near Tampa Armature Works. One of our staffers heard shots near Stones Throw and is now hiding. More on this here as it develops.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

In the '30s, I could've walked out my door, down an alley, and hopped a @CityofTampa trolley that would've taken me directly to @cl_tampabay for work (photos taken from @TampaBayHistory @ChipWeiner )

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

6 years

Just unreal. Got to talk to @HappyWoman9 about songwriting, publishing that damn @nytimes crossword and more — she and @drivebytruckers sold out @JannusLive

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

It's official today, @cl_tampabay is one of four local newspapers (incl. @Fla_Pol @TBBJnewsroom @TB_Times ) that will supply the new Spectrum News App with curated coverage of the Tampa Bay area. Expect to see CL content on @BN9 more frequently.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Yup, weeks later, sorry she got caught. Just imagine had the tip not found Justin who kept pressing even after PCSO couldn't find the video. Imagine how many other traffic stops involving cops go this way.

Mark Puente

@MarkPuente

2 years

Good get @JustinGarciaFL . Weeks later: "I'm very remorseful that this incident ever occurred, and I've personally called the PCSO offering to pay for any potential citation."

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Sometimes you're @bastionphoto and take photos @TAMPAOrpheum three nights in a row. Capped it off with @TheWarningBand2 , which recently opened @foofighters ' stadium show in Mexico City.

Photos of Mexican rock sensation The Warning playing Orpheum in Tampa

The Villereal sisters packed Orpheum in Tampa on a Monday night, but no one should be surprised. In March, the sisters—Daniela, Paulina and Alejandra, collectively known as The Warning—opened for Foo...

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Looks like someone's drinking demon rum again.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

So grateful to still have a job, and I really miss my coworkers. Please try and take care of each other even more than you already do, so much hurt and uncertainty out there.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reporter Justin Garcia named to Axios local 'Power Players' list

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Tampa protests are ongoing Thursday night, and Ashley Dieudonne is taking photos. Here are a few up to 6 p.m. look for more on @cl_tampabay in the coming hours and in early a.m. See more:

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

7 years

Even the Twitter president isn't as popular as @BarackObama / GTFO of office @realDonaldTrump

TIME

@TIME

7 years

This just became the most liked tweet in history

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

7 months

In interviews to fill @JustinGarciaFL 's position (we still haven't—someone please give us money!), candidates asked if we were looking for "another Justin." I replied, "no, we're not, but you need to be willing to dig in." This is what I meant.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Well it happened. My kid's teacher told me that he's been walking around going, "What the fuck?" It's my fault. It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

USF Tampa students will rally at state attorney's office to demand charges against protesters be dropped

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

6 years

Hip-hop pioneers Ultramagnetic MCs released Critical Beatdown on this day in 1988

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Here's Josh's review from night two in Tampa! #TSTheErasTour

Review: On night two in Tampa, Taylor Swift delivers an intense gold rush of literature and live...

Move over, 'Moulin Rouge.'

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Here's part of that Aug. 8 St. Pete Beach commissioners meeting where city leaders lamented houseless folks taking the free SunRunner to the beach. Now the popular service could start charging a fare

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Everyone’s roasting Tampa’s hilariously bad ‘Bock The Blub’ street mural

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

A close friend of mine who I hadn't seen since pre-COVID days asked to meet because he had tell me something. Thought the worst, but he actually wanted to tell me he bought an engagement ring. We talked over a beer in the Water Works lawn. Felt nice.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Downtown Tampa’s objectively—and symbolically—ugly ‘Back the Blue’ street mural is now even more illegible now that someone spilled red and black paint on it.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Holy shit this @RiverfrontTimes cover. Props to @DoyleMurphy for getting to the prison, taking the shot and telling the story

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 years

Naples punk celebrity Chris Farrens was ‘Born Hot’ and plays Tampa concert next week

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

7 years

Here's @lindsayell getting it done @AmalieArena during 🇨🇦🍁anthem though.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Facebook is down, and I hope it stays that way forever.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Back on the radio Friday morning. @AnnaForFlorida is calling in early to talk New College and more. Join @MitchPerry18 @gangrey and myself starting at 11:06 a.m. via @wmnf

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Waiting to see if The City of Tampa wants to say anything but if past response to white supremacy is any indication, I don't know how much this graf will change.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Sen. Janet Cruz—whose daughter is partner to Smith's boss, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor—struck a different tone and wrote, "Words have power and we will NOT accept this in our backyard. All of us must stand up and make clear that we reject this bigoted display"

Janet Cruz

@SenJanetCruz

2 years

Tampa was founded on diversity and inclusion and I’ll be dammed if Nazis and Proud Boys waltz through our City and spew such repulsive speech. Words have power and we will NOT accept this in our backyard. All of us must stand up and make clear that we reject this bigoted display.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

So this thread got deleted for some reason, but I wanted to address it before hopping back into some calls.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Lots of reporters been poking around TPD for the John Ring Jr./Gio Fucarino biz, and I just got a 6/16/23, $58 records request back. Not related to Fucarino, but apparently there was a situational awareness memo that went out in email re: this March protest

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Sick of watching him kick their ass, the Tampa Bay Times has wised up and made @JustinGarciaFL an offer he won’t refuse. That means @cl_tampabay is hiring again. Will drop deets on the job, but I'm proud of—and grateful for—the work JG did in this shop.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Dear Tampa Bay bands: Please reply or RT with links to all your merch/music which people can buy as gifts. I want to do a local music gift guide. Any additional insight into the best way to help your band is useful, too. Thanks for any help, and please share!

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Report: A Tampa renter has to make nearly $85,000 to avoid being rent burdened

A May 2022 report says the average wage in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area is $57,500.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

7 years

Great pic of @realDonaldTrump / @timheidecker is winning the album art game. Excited to hear this one (Nov. 8 via @jagjaguwar @RADOrecords )

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

Awesome news out of the Bay are DIY scene as Tampa rap duo @TheyHateChange has signed to @jagjaguwar

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 years

Bay Faction and Mons Vi bring slept-on indie-rock to Thursday night St. Petersburg concert

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Well, it's official. We need some serious help. We'll be sharing more links over the next few weeks, but here's an email that went out to @cl_tampabay readers today.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Ignoring protesters, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor wants to increase the Police Department's budget by $13 million

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Wifey just got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

ICYMI: @JustinGarciaFL and @davedeckerphoto have been on Silver Oaks for more than a month now. @NikkiFried announcing call to feds after she and @LynnHurtak were on site a few weeks ago

Commissioner Nikki Fried

@NikkiFriedFL

2 years

The situation at Silver Oaks Apartments in Tampa is completely unacceptable. Today, I am calling on @HUDgov Secretary @mlfudge to take federal action to ensure that safe, sanitary housing is available for all Floridians. Low-income housing should NOT mean sub-standard housing.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

7 years

Japanese metal band Babymetal — fronted by Suzuka Nakamoto as "Su-metal," Yui Mizuno as…

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

Does @TitusONeilWWE ever get tired? He's always everywhere, helping everyone. More photos here from @kimberlydefalco

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

@cl_tampabay

3 years

Titus O’Neil and Flo Rida team up to get kids vaxxed and give away 30,000 backpacks in Tampa

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Before he leaves 'The Voice' Blake Shelton stops in Tampa on Friday

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Bern’s Steak House launches a new reservation policy, no-show fees will now benefit Feeding Tampa Bay

Bern’s Steak House launches a new reservation policy, no-show fees will now benefit Feeding Tampa...

All reservations will be secured with a credit card, too.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Ah, yes, lumping Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg into "Tampa Bay"—another tenet of the liberal agenda

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 months

Review: In Tampa, Justin Timberlake gets sexy for the 40-somethings, and showcases timeless hits

There are gonna be a lot of sore backs on Saturday morning.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Winn-Dixie, where I signed up for a waste protocol list, just called to say it had a canceled appt. I was there in less than 10 minutes and now am waiting to get my first Moderna vaccine shot. 🤞🤞

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Several speakers at the walk out expressed outrage over DeSantis’s reshaping of New College of Florida, a small progressive public liberal arts school in Sarasota, into a model “anti-woke” conservative institution. via @davedeckerphoto

PHOTOS: Hundreds of USF students stage walkout in statewide protest against Florida Gov. DeSantis'...

Students from at least nine universities across Florida walked out of class on Thursday in protest of Ron DeSantis’s relentless barrage of attacks on the state’s higher education system.

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Flyers said they were distributed by the Goyim Defense League, which @ADL describes as an extremist terrorist organization that was responsible for at least 74 anti-semitic propaganda incidents in 2021.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Gotta hand it to @SenJanetCruz who just stopped me in the parking lot, introduced herself, and asked, "Are you every gonna write a nice thing about me? I'm a person!" We did in past races (), but this one's different. Looking forward to that coffee though.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Reps for Taylor Swift told @cl_tampabay that there are 68,517 fans at Raymond James tonight. Sounds about right. Literally sounds that loud in between songs. There's a mom and daughter here next to us, and they're so sweet that it's making me almost tear up.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Today I'm talking to @gangrey about his firing from Axios. We'll also welcome @NatGeo photographer @CarltonWard to talk about his new film "Path Of The Panther" which is in theaters now (he'll be at @PolkTheatre this weekend for Q&As). 11:06 a.m. on @wmnf

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

‘It's unconscionable’: Former mayor, police chief decry dark money and attack ads in Tampa city council races

‘It's unconscionable’: Former mayor, police chief decry dark money and attack ads in Tampa city...

“Never before, ever—and I am an old woman—has there been this nastiness in a local non-partisan race."

www.cltampa.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Pretty sure this is Hillsborough Bay.

The New York Times

@nytimes

2 years

This is what Florida's Tampa Bay looks like as Hurricane Ian’s counterclockwise winds blow the water out to sea. The bay is now less than a foot deep in some areas, but the water will eventually return and could rise dangerously quickly in minutes.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

"So far, there is no evidence that any of these Tampa incidents are related." But hey let's run a headline putting them all together anyway.

In Tampa: FBI search, alleged ‘public corruption,’ cyber breach, evictions

The high-profile investigations may not be related, but they’ve got Tampa talking.

www.tampabay.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

1 year

Epic morning for the Patchman thanks to @CityofTampa 's Mr. Flynn who made time for the little man. Making friends 🤗🤗

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Tampa Bay Rays celebrate opening day by reminding everyone the cops that shot Breonna Taylor still haven’t been arrested

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

Hey Tom, @CROWBARLIVE are you able to share the communications you've had with @GovRonDeSantis about the situation you outline here? Would like to know how receptive his office has been and how it's reacted.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

So what are all the influencers doing right now? Living life unfiltered?

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

5 months

Interview: Before sold-out Tampa concert, Allison Russell talks oppression, forgiveness and more

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Tampa Bay musicians perform tribute to Elijah McClain, who was killed by police last year

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

Big scoop from @JustinGarciaFL , who's been chasing this video ever since getting a tip that Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor was caught asking a Pinellas sheriff who pulled her and her husband over, "I'm hoping that you'll just let us go tonight."

Body cam shows Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor using position to get...

In video first obtained by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor is shown being pulled over and using her position to get out of a tra...

www.youtube.com

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

@cl_tampabay

2 years

Body cam footage shows Tampa police chief using position to get out of traffic violation

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Good on the @ClevelandScene . If you need more proof as to why every city needs an alt-weekly, here's something to consider.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

2 years

"VICE News found that all 12 citations Florida presents against the use of gender-affirming care are either distorted or from a source with clear anti-trans bias."

How Florida Twisted Science to Deny Healthcare to Trans Kids

VICE News spoke to 10 researchers who weren’t aware their work was being used for Florida's anti-trans agenda—and said it’s being misrepresented.

www.vice.com

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

4 years

Yo, so @TampaFireRescue had its computers taken off trucks with the promise of new technology. It's been five years, and firefighters have had to use literal paper maps to get to a call. WTF. It's against city policy for a city employee to use a cell phone in city vehicle.

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Ray Roa

@rayroa

3 years

Hey Tampa, ignoring a white supremacist is the same as enabling one

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Ray Roa

@rayroa