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Tampa Bay TimesSunday, 24 May 2026
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Feds slash protections for the Gulf’s rarest whale
A key official recently cast doubt on whether the Rice’s whale is its own species, a talking point used by the oil and gas industry.
The report highlights a shift in federal regulatory policy regarding the Rice's whale, specifically focusing on how scientific definitions of species are being contested by industry interests and government officials.
Federal authorities have reduced environmental protections for the Rice's whale in the Gulf of Mexico, citing uncertainty about its status as a distinct species, a move that facilitates offshore drilling expansion.
“a talking point used by the oil and gas industry”
“Sceptical of federal environmental deregulation”
Rechargeable batteries torch dozens of Tampa Bay garbage trucks
The state has mulled making it harder for local governments to mandate recycling.
A report on the operational and safety hazards posed to municipal services by improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.
At one Tampa restaurant, a Michelin star followed by chaos
Ebbe Vollmer’s high-end downtown Tampa restaurant netted a star within one year. Then employees walked out.
An investigation into the internal management and labor issues at a high-end local restaurant following its critical success.
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