Gasparilla Music Festival; Rays’ stadium public input; tire shop diner

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Monday, Apr 13, 2026

 
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Good Monday morning. The week is kicking off with cloudy skies (high of 88).

In today’s edition, read about our thoughts on Gasparilla Music Festival; how to have a say on Rays’ stadium plans; and the Bucs’ mission to find a new linebacker.

[DIRK SHADD | Times (2024)]

Student-teacher ratios in Hillsborough schools are the highest in Tampa Bay

Hillsborough County’s teachers have been managing more and more students for years.

Why? Districtwide, the number of students per teacher has grown more than 18% in the last six school years, a Times analysis shows. 

Statewide, the district came second in schools with average class sizes over the maximum legal limits: 56 last school year and according to preliminary numbers for this school year, 42. And the fix is far from easy. 

 
 

AROUND THE BAY

Chance to chime in: Following Hillsborough County's lead, the Tampa City Council will hold a public workshop to discuss the Rays’ stadium plans at the Tampa Convention Center early next month.

Outlining key elements: Money set aside for the Benchmark International Arena and George M. Steinbrenner Field will be needed to cover the public share the Rays are seeking for a stadium, a Hillsborough County administrator said. 

“Our presence is a community asset”: Hillsborough County’s tax collector Nancy Millan expressed concerns that the new Rays stadium plans could displace the county’s busiest tax collector office. 

1925 estate listed: A five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom home in the Snell Isle neighborhood hit the market for $12.5 million.

Death row: On Friday, a judge decided that Shelby Nealy will be executed by the state for bludgeoning his wife’s family to death. 

Bun intended