Issue #514: Rushing to Ready Tropicana • Tech Tackles Health Insurance • Shocking DUI Case • USF Sets Player Record

12/4/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
04 Dec

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GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

 
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

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Local News

— Crews Race to Finish Tropicana Field Cleanup by 2026 Season


Of Interest

— AI vs. AI: Patients Deploy Tech to Fight Insurance Denials

OMG!

— Driver Blows .269, Leaves Deadly Crash, Takes Injured Passenger Home

Sports

— USF Lands Record 11 Players on All-Conference Team

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Crews Race to Finish Tropicana Field Cleanup by 2026 Season

Cleanup and repairs at Tropicana Field are nearing completion, with officials confident the stadium will reopen in time for Opening Day 2026. The venue, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, suffered major damage during Hurricane Milton in October 2024, including torn-off roof panels and internal flooding.

The roof was fully replaced in November, and the building is now “dried-in,” meaning protected from the elements, according to Beth Herendeen, the city's managing director of development. Inside, crews are painting seats, installing drywall, and confirming that A/C and lighting systems are operational.

Other updates include a new sound system, flooring on the Viva deck, and backstop netting.

Mold and mildew remediation is ongoing, with environmental consultants ensuring damaged areas are either cleaned or replaced. An extra 30 buffer days in the project timeline and a quiet hurricane season have helped keep the project ahead of schedule.

Here's a lesser-known but astonishing fact:

The Astrodome Was Once Used to House Livestock After a Storm — and It Damaged the Playing Field

After Hurricane Alicia in 1983, Houston's iconic Astrodome — the world’s first domed stadium — was used temporarily to shelter livestock from surrounding flood-prone farms and rural areas. While it might sound like a creative solution, the unexpected use caused long-term damage to the artificial turf, which had already been suffering from age and sun-fade due to the stadium's semi-transparent roof panels.

As a result, the Houston Oilers and Astros had to deal with an uneven and partially degraded playing surface for months afterward. This contributed to discussions about replacing the turf and eventually upgrading the entire stadium, foreshadowing its eventual obsolescence.

It’s a bizarre and rarely mentioned consequence of weather disaster recovery — a multi-million-dollar sports venue briefly turned into a barn, leaving behind more than just hoof prints.

AI vs. AI: Patients Deploy Tech to Fight
Insurance Denials

As health insurers increasingly use AI to process claims and deny coverage, patients and providers are pushing back with AI tools of their own. Companies like Sheer Health and nonprofits like Counterforce Health offer free or low-cost AI platforms that help consumers appeal denied claims, identify billing errors, and navigate complex medical jargon.

Despite AI's promise, experts warn against over-reliance. AI-generated appeals may contain inaccuracies that can backfire without human oversight. Meanwhile, states are racing to regulate AI, with over a dozen passing laws in 2025, requiring human decision-makers in care denials and greater transparency.

Doctors and lawmakers stress that while AI can streamline care, it must be used ethically and under human supervision to avoid bias and uphold individualized treatment. As AI becomes more embedded in healthcare, its role in decision-making raises urgent questions about fairness, accountability, and access.

Driver Blows .269, Leaves Deadly Crash, Takes Injured Passenger Home

A driver in Wesley Chapel, FL is in custody after a crash that killed his passenger and a breath test showed he was over three times the legal limit.

According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), 37‑year-old Robert Christopher Freeman lost control of his vehicle Monday night on Bay Pines Drive, crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck a tree.

The 38‑year‑old woman riding with him was seriously injured. Instead of calling for help, Freeman allegedly drove her to his home — where troopers later found them. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and died days later.

Freeman recorded a blood‑alcohol reading of 0.269, more than three times Florida’s DUI limit. He is now charged with DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

USF Lands Record 11 Players on All-Conference Team

USF Football celebrated a record-setting day as 11 Bulls earned All-Conference honors, the most in program history. This comes on the heels of a 9-3 season, USF’s best since 2017, and an undefeated home slate capped with a 52-3 win over Rice.

Linebacker Mac Harris and cornerback De’Shawn Rucker earned First Team honors, while QB Byrum Brown—one of just 12 FBS players ever with 3,000 passing and 1,000 rushing yards in a season—was named to the Second Team. Brown leads the nation in total offense (347.2 ypg) and points responsible for (21.3 ppg).

The Bulls also landed five players on the Second Team and three on the Third, with two players becoming two-time honorees. USF now awaits its third straight bowl game announcement on Dec. 7.

The Bulls' offense ranks No. 2 nationally in total yards and No. 4 in scoring, having posted five 50+ point games in 2025.

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