What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Obamacare Medicaid Expansion: Florida House Panel Says No Thanks

It’s looking like Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to go along this major plank in the Obamacare plan is getting a frigid reception from State lawmakers. What do you think about it Tampa Bay?

Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s recent flip-flop on Obamacare might be a moot point. It looks like the plan to expand the state’s Medicaid coverage to another 1 million or so people is falling flat with other Florida lawmakers. A state House committee recently decided that expanding Medicaid to provide care for the uninsured wasn’t the way to go, according to a report on TBO.com. Committee members, TBO reported, said they were concerned about the quality of care and the costs associated with the proposal. Scott recently said he’d go along with the notion of expanding Medicaid since the federal government would be paying for it for the first three years as part of the Obamacare package, which is more formally known as the Affordable Care Act. The…

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Magnus Thunderson

2:47 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2013

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VIDEO: Singer Botches 2 Anthems at Blue Jays Game in Dunedin

Jeff Fuller's lyrical mix-ups during "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a spring training game have gone viral.

A singer's mixups during performances of the American and Canadian national anthems at a Dunedin spring training game have gone viral. Jeff Fuller flubbed the words to "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Wednesday's Toronto Blue Jays game against the Houston Astros at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, The Associated Press reports. The story has since been picked up by multiple media outlets around the U.S. and in Canada. The tail end of one performance was caught on video and placed on YouTube. "Poor guy, nowhere to hide," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was quoted as saying by the AP. "I admire him for sticking out there and doing it." Were you at the game? Want to send Jeff Fuller some words of encouragement? Post them in the …

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Verizon IndyCar Comes to Dunedin Classic Car Show

Classic car enthusiasts will get a treat at the Dunedin Classic Car and Truck Show on Broadway this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Attention race fans: The Verizon IndyCar is a special guest at this weekend's annual Dunedin Classic Car and Truck Show. The actual Verizon IndyCar makes its 2013 season debut with driver Will Power on March 24 at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Dunedin's bi-annual classic car and truck show on downtown Broadway is held in conjunction with the Dunedin antique fair, which is on Main Street. Admission for spectators is free. Oldies music will accompany the show. The show is Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone still interested in entering a vehicle into the show should contact Bill Coleman at wjcoleman@aol.com or 727-433-2300. Winners in categories will receive trophies. Get more local news delivered right to your inbox or …

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Is High School Football Too Risky for Kids?

We want to know what you think, Tampa Bay!

With Super Bowl championships occupying the top three slots in most-watched telecasts in U.S. history, it seems football is as popular as ever. Yet the sport is at the epicenter of a national debate on the long-term effects of concussions and whether tackling is safe for youngsters. President Barack Obama recently threw his two cents in, saying if he had a son he would think twice before letting him get on the gridiron. And Boston University researchers last year released a comprehensive study showing there is a link between permanent brain injury and repeated blows to the head, according to the Boston Globe. Of concern to some is the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in some older athletes. Often referred to as simply CTE, …

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How Much Exercise Do Kids Need?

You may be surprised by the answer!

Want to help your child stay fit or trim down? One of the more popular options, of course, is to join the local YMCA. Patch recently spoke with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA to get some tips on how kids can stay healthy. The association consists of nearly 20 locations throughout the Bay Area. Patch: How much exercise should youngsters get? YMCA: Getting 45 to 60 minutes of activity on as many days as possible, even if it is broken up into 15-minute segments, is an important goal. Patch: At what age is it considered safe for children to begin lifting weights? YMCA: The American Academy of Pediatrics position on strength training supports the implementation of strength and resistance training programs, even for prepubescent children, that…

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Tips to Get Started Paddleboarding

Want to try paddleboarding? Here are tips to get you started off on the right foot!

Paddleboarding is one of the more popular watersports today. It's fun and a great way to get fit, too. If you're looking to hit the waves on a paddleboard, Prescott Metcalf, a paddleboard instructor with the Suncoast Surf Shop in Treasure Island, offers these tips: Want to give paddleboarding a try? Check out one of these Pinellas County shops: Suncoast Surf Shop 9841 Gulf Blvd. Treasure Island (727) 367-2483 Fin’s Jet-ski Tours and Stand-Up Paddleboard Rentals 333 South Hamden Drive Clearwater Beach (727) 480-6200 Dick's Sporting Goods 26583 U.S. 19 Clearwater (727) 791-8580

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As Rays Explore Stadium Options, Councilors Seek Compromise

St. Pete council members hope to get the ball rolling on the Tampa Bay Rays' stadium search by proposing that the team pay an annual "exploration" fee in exchange for looking at potential sites in Pinellas and Hillsborough.

For the past two weeks, Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and the organization have made public presentations to the Hillsborough and Pinellas county commissions pleading their case to look for stadium options beyond Tropicana Field.  Following the team's PR presentation calling for a new stadium in Pinellas County, St. Pete City Council Chair Karl Nurse stood in front of the Rays asking them to seek compromise and look at the Carillon/Gateway location first. In September, Darryl LeClair and CityScape made a presentation for the Rays Park at Carillon to be located in the Gateway area of St. Petersburg, which is just west of the Howard Frankland Bridge.  Nurse told Patch that he wants to allow the Rays to look for stadium options …

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Swedish Visitor Introduces Snow Golf to Dunedin Club

Per-Olof Kellquist, a retired businessman vacationing from Sweden, explained what it's like to golf in the snow. On Jan. 24, his group got to play in the palm trees at Dunedin Golf Club.

This time of year, golf courses in Sweden are snowed over, explains Per-Olof Kellquist. Kellquist, of Stockholm, helped forge the Swedish aviation industry. His company, Si ATM, produces software for operating systems, training systems and air traffic control simulators used around the world. On Jan. 24, he grabbed a post-game beer at Dunedin Golf Club as part of a 13-day couples golf vacation booked through South Florida Golf Tours.  It was the their first time in Florida. His foursome included his wife, Irene Kellquist, and their longtime friends Lennart Ericson, a bigtime builder for 40 years in Sweden, and Margareta Edholm.  "We normally go abroad to find good weather," Kellquist said. Sign up for the Dunedin Patch email newsletter …

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