Issue #142: Shark Sighting Tips, Drug Ring Crackdown, Insurance Rate Increase, Olympian Qualifies

06/21/2024

Author

Ted Grellner
21 Jun

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It is truly shocking that some of our college-aged youth are stupid enough to take a pill, from a total stranger, that by itself could kill them, especially when there is no shortage of stories that have publicized this risk of fentanyl. What more needs to be done to impress this risk on them?

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

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In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

 Local News

— Bull Sharks Circle Tampa Bay: Spectacular Sighting and Safety Tips

— Tampa Drug Ring Busted After USF Student's Tragic Overdose

Of Interest

— Florida's Home Insurance Crisis: Citizens to Raise Rates 14%

Sports

⚾ MLB All Star Ballot

— Clearwater's Bobby Finke Qualifies for 2024 Paris Olympics with Record-Breaking Teammate

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Bull Sharks Circle Tampa Bay: Spectacular Sighting and Safety Tips

A large group of bull sharks was seen circling in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Monday. Jay Jiranek, a WFLA viewer, observed the sharks while walking along the Cypress Point Park Trail in Tampa.

Bull sharks are among the most frequently encountered shark species in Tampa Bay. Other species include blacknose, spinner, blacktip, lemon, bonnethead, nurse, hammerhead, and tiger sharks, according to TampaFishing.com. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notes that bull sharks are more aggressive than most species, responsible for numerous unprovoked attacks on humans globally. Some experts consider them more dangerous than great white or tiger sharks.

Swimming is permitted in Tampa Bay, but the Florida Museum advises precautions to minimize shark encounters. Beachgoers should avoid entering the water if sharks are present, not swim alone, and stay close to shore. Sharks are more active at dawn, dusk, and night, so it’s best to avoid these times. Other tips include avoiding shiny jewelry, bright-colored clothing, excessive splashing, and areas with bait fish or feeding activity. Swimmers should also steer clear of waters used by anglers and be cautious in murky conditions.

Tampa Drug Ring Busted After USF Student's Tragic Overdose

Four Tampa men face federal charges for fentanyl distribution linked to the death of a University of South Florida student. Miguel Cintron, Marquise Trant, David Chudhabuddhi, and Darrius Gustafson are charged with distributing over 40 grams of fentanyl. Cintron also faces charges for intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine and gun possession as a felon.

Following the student’s death in February, undercover detectives and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies purchased fentanyl from the men. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Authorities seized 482 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, stolen guns, and over $216,000 from Cintron's residence. Sheriff’s Office Col. Chris Rule stated the fentanyl could have killed 1,500 people.

The fentanyl was in the form of 1,200 pressed pills, which can be disguised as other medications. Cintron, identified as a Nine Trey Gang member, and Gustafson pleaded not guilty. Trant and Chudhabuddhi have yet to enter pleas. If convicted, they face 20 years to life in prison

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Florida's Home Insurance Crisis: Citizens to Raise Rates 14%

Florida’s state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has voted to raise home insurance rates by 14% next year, affecting over a million residents already dealing with some of the highest premiums in the nation. This decision, pending state regulatory approval, comes even as nine private insurers in Florida have filed to reduce their rates and ten others plan to keep theirs stable for 2025.

The hike is largely attributed to the increasing frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes, coupled with soaring inflation. These factors have significantly driven up insurance costs, leaving many homeowners grappling with hefty premiums.

Tampa resident Sofia Bereza shared her frustration, telling WFTS-TV, "Paying because you’re paying for the paradise…of course. I agree. We have to pay a little more…but how much more? Too much. It’s too much." Bereza considered a Citizens policy but found all options to be excessively costly.

The rate increase highlights the ongoing challenges Florida faces in balancing affordable home insurance with the rising risks associated with extreme weather and economic conditions.

One particularly striking and little-known fact about hurricanes hitting the Tampa Bay area is that despite its location in a hurricane-prone region, Tampa Bay has not experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century.

The last major hurricane to make landfall in the area was the 1921 Tampa Bay hurricane. This long period of relative calm has led some to refer to it as the "hurricane amnesia" effect, where the lack of recent major hurricanes might lead residents to underestimate the risk.

MLB All Star Ballot

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Clearwater's Bobby Finke Qualifies for 2024 Paris Olympics with Record-Breaking Teammate

 Clearwater native and two-time Olympic gold medalist Bobby Finke has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, teaming up with Luke Whitlock, the youngest swimmer to make the U.S. team since Michael Phelps.

Finke, 24, will represent the United States alongside 18-year-old Whitlock, a Florida freshman who finished second to him in the men's 800-meter freestyle at the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.

The duo shared an emotional embrace after their close finish, celebrating their joint success. Finke, who won gold in both the 800-meter freestyle and the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2020 Olympics, has deep roots in Florida. His father, Joe Finke, is a swim coach with St. Petersburg Aquatics, and Bobby himself is a University of Florida alumnus.

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