SUMMARY: Rep. Susan Valdés, a Tampa lawmaker, switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, prompting mixed reactions. Valdés expressed frustration with the Democratic leadership’s approach, stating she wouldn’t ignore her constituents’ needs in her remaining term. Republicans celebrated her move, with Florida’s governor congratulating the GOP, while Democrats accused Valdés of political opportunism, highlighting that she was re-elected as a Democrat. Critics pointed to significant shifts in her district’s voting patterns and expressed disappointment in her departure from the Democratic caucus, labeling the change as deceptive and detrimental to public trust in politics.

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SUMMARY: Florida State Senator Randy Fine has re-filed a bill to eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students, including many DACA recipients, despite opposition from some Republicans and Democrats. The proposal, which could save the state $45 million annually, aims to remove benefits granted in 2014 to students who have attended at least three years of high school in the state. Critics argue the bill is unfair to students like Maria Tinoco, a recent FIU graduate, while supporters claim it discourages illegal immigration. The bill’s future depends on legislative leaders, with Governor Ron DeSantis listing it as a goal in 2023.

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SUMMARY: The Tampa Bay Rays’ $1.3 billion stadium project is facing uncertainty as it evolves through multiple proposals. The new stadium is part of a $6.5 billion development in St. Petersburg’s Gas Plant District, with the Pinellas County Commission set to vote on bond financing on Dec. 17, while the St. Petersburg City Council has approved $287.5 million. The Rays blame delays on the commission, despite a previous letter stating such delays jeopardized the stadium’s expected completion by 2028. The team’s lease at Tropicana Field, built in 1990, expires in 2027, and they may have to play elsewhere in the interim.

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