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Five Big Stories of the Week
By Times Staff
Published December 2, 2007
1. Rays unveil vision for downtown makeover The Tampa Bay Rays show plans to build an open-air ballpark with views of the bay and turn their old home, Tropicana Field, into a mix of retail, affordable housing and parking. What it means: To pay for the $450-million ballpark, the Rays hope to capture $60-million in state tax money and property tax revenue from the redeveloped Tropicana Field site, plus proceeds from the sale of that land. 2. Florida is drying up at alarming rate The drought already plaguing much of Florida is expected to worsen as the dry season kicks in. What it means: For property owners: Look for tighter watering restrictions. For the agriculture industry: The threat of wildfire and parched crops exacerbates several challenging years caused by hurricanes and disease. 3. Lightning deal fizzles The planned $200-million sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning falls apart amid a squabble between the buyers. What it means: Hollywood producer Oren Koules, who was providing the bulk of funding for the buyout, may still buy the team in a restructured deal, minus onetime partners Jeff Sherrin and Doug MacLean. 4. Tampa port unveils master plan The port's 20-year game plan calls for deepening its shipping channel to 45 feet and building facilities for a growing cargo business. What it means: Big dreams will cost big bucks. Buying additional land, building facilities and modernizing old ones will cost the Tampa Port Authority at least $850-million. 5. Ex-Certegy employee pleads guilty in stolen records case William G. Sullivan admits stealing personal records on more than 8.4-million people from St. Petersburg-based Certegy Check Services and selling the information to a broker. What it means: Sullivan promises to cooperate in prosecuting any co-conspirators. Certegy says the information apparently was used only for marketing purposes, not ID theft.
[Last modified November 30, 2007, 22:16:10]
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