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- Issue #376: Tampa Union Station’s $4M Makeover | Hillsborough Refund Check Alert | Lightning Games To Air Free on TV | Toni Bryant Offered Indiana Scholarship
Issue #376: Tampa Union Station’s $4M Makeover | Hillsborough Refund Check Alert | Lightning Games To Air Free on TV | Toni Bryant Offered Indiana Scholarship
5/15/2025
Ted Grellner
15 May
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar - currently “under the weather”
Local News
— Tampa Union Station Begins $4M Revival for 2025
— Hillsborough Refund Checks Mistaken for Spam
Of Interest
— Indiana Offers Scholarship to Top-15 Recruit Toni Bryant
Sports
— Tampa Bay Lightning Games to Air Free on New Scripps Channel
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Tampa Union Station Begins $4M Revival for 2025
Tampa Union Station, a historic landmark since 1912, is receiving a $4 million renovation funded by the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency. Slated for completion by December 2025, updates include new windows, fresh paint, and interior enhancements, aiming to transform the station beyond a transportation hub into a vibrant community gathering space.
The station, which saw over 156,000 Amtrak riders in 2024—its highest in a decade—is exploring additions like a coffee shop, co-working spaces, and local events to better serve the Five Points district. Once nearly demolished in the 1980s, it was rescued by grassroots efforts led by Tampa Union Station Preservation & Redevelopment and reopened in 1998.
Now a venue for art exhibits, galas, and weddings, the station also serves as a key cultural link, designated a National Historic Railroad Landmark in 2012. Its continued revival celebrates Tampa’s past while powering its future as a hub of mobility, arts, and civic life.
Hillsborough Refund Checks Mistaken for Spam
Hillsborough County residents are receiving refund checks after Florida’s Supreme Court overturned a 1-cent transportation sales tax. But many mistake the checks for spam. The refund process, administered by Virginia-based BrownGreer, has sparked confusion, with irregular payment amounts and obscure mailing practices—envelopes from a Richmond P.O. box, often dismissed as junk mail.
Residents who lived in the county between 2019 and March 2021 and registered by Dec. 31, 2024, were eligible for up to $100 refunds, or more if they submitted receipts. But discrepancies in check amounts—some receiving as little as $58—and poor communication have left many frustrated. Only 400,000 of 1.4 million eligible residents registered.
Of the $589 million collected, $171M went to legal fees and refunds, while $256M was earmarked for road repaving, not transit. The Hillsborough transit agency, which originally was to receive nearly half of the funds, now gets nothing. The result: lost transit investment and public trust.
Indiana Offers Scholarship to Top-15 Recruit
Toni Bryant
Indiana University has extended a scholarship offer to five-star forward Toni Bryant, a rising star in the class of 2026. The 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward from North Tampa Christian Academy in Florida also competes for Tre Mann Elite in the Pro 16 League.
The Hoosiers join a crowded field of top-tier programs vying for Bryant’s commitment. His extensive offer list already includes powerhouses like Kansas, Michigan, USC, Louisville, Florida State, and Virginia.
Bryant currently ranks No. 13 nationally and No. 4 among power forwards according to the 247Sports Composite. His athleticism, size, and versatility have drawn national attention, and Indiana’s offer signals a growing interest in tapping elite talent from Florida.
The offer was first reported Wednesday afternoon by Sam Keyser. With nearly two years until signing day, Bryant’s recruitment is expected to remain a high-profile battle among blue-blood programs.
Tampa Bay Lightning Games to Air Free on New Scripps Channel
Starting July 1, Tampa Bay Lightning fans can watch all preseason, regular season, and first-round playoff games for free on a new over-the-air channel, “The Spot - Tampa Bay 66”, thanks to a new partnership with Scripps Sports. The deal ensures that Lightning broadcasts will reach more households without the need for cable or streaming subscriptions.
Scripps, which also owns ABC Action News, will co-produce original content alongside the Lightning, offering fans deeper insights into players on and off the ice. Broadcasts will feature the familiar team of Dave Randorf, Brian Engblom, and Gabby Shirley.
Scripps is currently negotiating with cable and satellite providers to expand access. In addition, a new streaming option via the Lightning app is set to launch before the 2025-26 season.
Lightning CEO Steve Griggs emphasized fan accessibility, calling it a top priority. Scripps Sports President Brian Lawlor hailed the agreement as a win for one of the NHL’s most passionate fan bases.
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