Tampa International Airport has unveiled an online booking tool for parking. The system offers discounted rates, contactless convenience and future perks, the airport said in a news release. Guests can book parking up to one year in advance by clicking on the parking banner at TampaAirport.com. They then will receive a confirmation email with a QR code to scan when entering and exiting the garages. The airport officially launched the program on the same day it is raising rates by $2 at all parking facilities. Customers who book online will keep paying current rates and save $2 a day with the new system, the airport said. Guests also will be able to upgrade their parking and sign up for future deals.
BayCare Health System, the largest nonprofit healthcare provider in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, reported a dip in operating revenue and operating income in 2020. The Clearwater-based organization had $4.409 billion in operating revenue last year, down less than 1 percent from $4.418 billion in 2019, according to newly released audited financial statements. Operating income for 2020 was $320.4 million, about 15 percent lower than operating income of $379.2 million in 2019. BayCare’s total surplus, including non-operating income from investments, was $945.3 million in 2020, compared to $1.14 billion in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting cancellations and postponements of elective surgeries and non-urgent ambulatory visits led to a significant reduction in patient volumes, while the cost of supplies went up due to shortages, delays and price increases, the financial report said. BayCare includes 15 area hospitals, including St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, and hundreds of other health care sites.
CodeBoxx, a company that trains people how to be web, app and software developers in as little as 16 weeks, has moved its headquarters from San Francisco to St. Petersburg and will be located at the Thrive DTSP building at 136 4th St. N. Applications for CodeBoxx’s summer cohort can be submitted via the company’s website.
A trip to the World Series failed to elevate the value of the Tampa Bay Rays, at least according to Forbes. The Rays are valued at $1.055 billion, No. 29 among 30 Major League Baseball teams, in Forbes’ 2021 ranking of baseball’s most valuable teams. Forbes estimated the Rays 2020 revenue (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $112 million with an operating loss of $23 million. In 2019, the Rays had $68 million in operating income on $264 million in revenue, Forbes said. An absence of fans at ballparks and the pandemic-shortened 60-game season impacted the MLB overall, with the 30 teams posted a combined loss of $1.8 billion in 2020, versus a profit of $1.5 billion in 2019. Revenue in 2020 fell 65 percent to $3.66 billion.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be playing in front of a sold-out Tropicana Field for their home opener vs. the New York Yankees on Friday. Granted, the 2021 season is a bit different, with capacity restrictions in place at the stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic, but 9,000 fans are expected to attend. The game begins at 3:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM and Bally Sports Sun. Excluding the 2020 campaign, which was played without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic, the sellout marks the 15th consecutive year the Rays will play their home opener in front of a full-capacity crowd.
Pinellas County government is closely monitoring wastewater discharges at the Piney Point facility in Manatee County but has not issued any warnings or advisories, as yet, for local beaches and inland waters. The wastewater seeping from the former phosphate plant is a mixture of saltwater from the Port Manatee dredge project, legacy process water and stormwater runoff and rainfall. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency order for Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties because of the threat of an environmental catastrophe at the neglected property. The water being pumped from the site into Tampa Bay could lead to harmful algae blooms, fish kills and other environmental damage.
American Stage, the bay area's longest-lived professional theater company, will debut its first live, in-person production in more than 15 months in May. Uncaged ... A Night of Song and Laughter ... Together, described as a "pop-up" performance of "songs, scenes and sketch comedy" has been announced for May 14-16 at The Factory St. Pete, followed by a Williams Park production of Romeo & Juliet (The One With the Happy Ending), a Shakespeare adaptation July 22-Aug. 1. Details are here.
Starting today, Pinellas County residents who are at least 16 years of age can schedule an appointment to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. According to the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County, appointments for this week are fully booked but slots are open for the week of April 12. To schedule an appointment, visit the state’s Covid-19 patient portal. For residents under 18, a parent or caretaker must create an account with their own information and then select their minor child when prompted to start a vaccine appointment booking on the child’s behalf.
Julio Lugo and Rosenide Venant of Polk County have been charged with conspiracy and making false statements to a financial institution in connection to a $5.8 million fraud scheme perpetuated against the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Lugo, 44, and Venant, 37, submitted at least 70 false and fraudulent loan applications that sought funds from the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Once the emergency loans were secured, the release states, the couple allegedly misused the funds by paying off a luxury vehicle, spending more than $62,000 at casinos and for other personal purposes. Additionally, they withdrew at least $320,000 in cash. Lugo publicized the misuse of the SBA funds in a Facebook video featuring a hotel room littered with $100 bills and at least $5,000 in merchandise from Louis Vuitton. If convicted, Lugo faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison; Venant faces up to 35 years’ imprisonment.
Eckerd Connects, a St. Petersburg-based nonprofit that supports workforce development, juvenile justice and child welfare services in 20 states and the District of Columbia, has named Oliver Bell, Amelia Wright Brewer and Holly Kortright to its board of directors. Bell, a resident of Cleveland, Texas, is the founder and CEO of Oliver Bell Inc., a boutique labor relations consulting firm. Brewer, who lives in New York and San Francisco, is an executive director at JPMorgan Chase. Kortright, hailing from Chantilly, Va., is an executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Navy Federal Credit Union.
Applications are now being accepted for three appointments to the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Citizen Advisory Committee. The nine-member committee advises the Community Redevelopment Agency for the South St. Petersburg CRA about the approved community redevelopment plan and any needed amendments. It also advises the Community Redevelopment Agency about issues and policies within the South St. Petersburg CRA. The appointment term is 36 months. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at St. Petersburg City Hall. Applications can be found at www.pinellascounty.org/boards and must be received no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 15. The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners will review all applications and select board members at a future county commission meeting.
With Tyler Glasnow on the mound, the Tampa Bay Rays stifled the Miami Marlins, 1-0, on Opening Day at LoanDepot park in Miami. Glasnow was nearly perfect, allowing just one hit in six innings of work. An eighth-inning solo homer by Austin Meadows was all the offense the Rays needed. Reliever Ryan Thompson picked up the win, while Diego Castillo struck out two batters en route to securing a save. The Rays take on the Marlins again tonight, with Ryan Yarbrough expected to start.
