Latest news with #ThomasScott
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here's who's running in Tampa's upcoming election for District 5
Tampa City Council member Gwen Henderson had more than 15 months in her term when she died last month of natural causes. So the city is holding a special election Sept. 9 to fill her District 5 seat, which represents Ybor City, East Tampa, downtown and part of West Tampa. The the candidates to replace her are already piling up. As of July 8, here's who's running. Henderson's daughter, Ariel Amirah Danley, is among the early candidates for her late mother's seat. Danley, a Tampa native, is an entrepreneur and celebrity makeup artist. She and her mother opened Black English Bookstore in Tampa Heights in late 2023. Among her policy priorities are support for woman- and minority-owned small businesses, funding for youth programs and improvements to neighborhood infrastructure, according to her website. Former City Council member Orlando Gudes is making another bid for District 5, after losing a reelection campaign against Henderson in 2023. While on the City Council, Gudes, a former Tampa police officer, was investigated for crude and sexual comments he made to a former aide, who was Henderson's sister. He stepped down as council chairperson, but not from the council. Despite the investigation finding the majority of the allegations made against him to be credible, a lawsuit from the former aide was dismissed. Former Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa City Council member Thomas Scott is making another bid for the city's dais. Scott represented District 5 from 2007-2011 and also spent 10 years on the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners. Scott, a senior pastor of more than 40 years at the 34th Street Church of God in East Tampa, said his experience in local government will help him 'hit the ground running' during a shorter term. Fran Tate is the president of the Jackson Heights Neighborhood Association and coordinator of the public safety Crime Watch. She is also a former chair of the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency's Community Advisory Committee, which she remains a member. Tate said her connections within the city, and her familiarity with the redevelopment agency's budget, would help her transition onto the council. Juawana Colbert is member of Tampa's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and is also developing affordable townhomes in the Central Park Community Redevelopment Agency area. She was born in Los Angeles and moved to Tampa in 2017. She works at Allure Realty, which was featured in Netflix's 'Selling Tampa.' Colbert wants to focus on equitable investment, affordable housing, support for small businesses and more walkable neighborhoods, she said in a statement. Business owner Darrell Ashley Dudney, who goes by Ash, is making his first foray into politics to represent the district where he grew up. He said he's interested in supporting small businesses — ones that make under $1 million annually — addressing homelessness and boosting public transportation. Elvis Piggott said he wants to ensure the important issues effecting all residents in District 5 — not just those living in certain areas — aren't overlooked, while also carrying on the work that Henderson started. Piggott has been a pastor in the district for nearly 20 years. He's the pastor at at Triumph Church in Tampa, and said he wants to prioritize community voice and economic opportunity, particularly for young people. He said he also wants to encourage development that's beneficial to residents. Naya Almaz Young has worked in public service for years. She said she would spend summers at her grandmother's house canvassing around the neighborhood, encouraging people to vote and attending neighborhood civic association meetings. Throughout her career, Young said she has carried on the lessons she learned growing up and applied them to community work across the country — and eventually in Tampa, where she is involved with the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association. Audette Bruce, a former policy analyst and speech writer for the United Nations, moved to Florida more than a decade ago. She's worked for former state Rep. Jackie Toledo and Rep. Berny Jacques. Taking her international, national and state-level experience to Tampa, Bruce said she wants to focus on affordable housing and improving the development around it through increased police presence and support for small businesses. She said she also wants to work toward transit solutions. In Ybor City, Thomas DeGeorge is the co-owner and president of the Crow Bar, a live music and events venue. He's chaired the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce and helped raise money in a national campaign to support independent venues during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeGeorge said the city needs rent protection amid rapid development and a rising cost of living. He also said the city needs to address homelessness and mental health issues. Melony Letitia Williams is a retired lieutenant colonel and Tampa native. She ran an unsuccessful campaign last year for Hillsborough clerk of court and comptroller. Williams did not respond to emails or a text seeking comment from the Tampa Bay Times.
South China Morning Post
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Study Buddy (Challenger): ‘Walking with Dinosaurs' returns with more science, fossils and stories
Content provided by British Council Read the following text, and answer questions 1–9 below: [1] In 1999, the BBC unleashed what it called 'one of [its] most beloved factual shows', Walking with Dinosaurs. Now, after a surprisingly long interlude, comes a six-part continuation and celebration of animals that were always much more than their typical film portrayals. The 2025 series with the same name is not afraid to show the cuddly side of the 'terrible lizards' – with a touch of unashamed anthropomorphism (giving an animal or object human characteristics) by naming the beasts and imagining their families' lives. [2] 'We wanted to tell stories of well-rounded creatures that didn't just bite things all day. They were parents, they faced challenges and weren't always the apex (top) kings of their environments,' said Thomas Scott, head of development at BBC Studios Science Unit. 'So we wanted stories where you rooted for them, feared them or loved them; where you felt a complete set of emotions. Just like when you watch documentaries about big cats in Africa, once you've seen their struggles, you want them to make that kill.' [3] Dr Nizar Ibrahim, senior lecturer in palaeontology at the University of Portsmouth, in England, said: 'One hopes the series will encourage a broader interest in fossils because they're an amazing window into 'deep time'. Many of the problems we are facing – [such as] change in climate and sea level, biodiversity loss, extinction and overfishing – you can only really understand if you have a deep-time perspective.' [4] 'In Walking with Dinosaurs,' he added, 'we see reconstructions of our planet tens of millions of years ago. And the only reason we know there was a mass extinction, for example, is because of palaeontology. We might be in the middle of one now, so the series is a gateway to this important deep-time view.' [5] The series uncovers the lives of six mighty dinosaurs. One is Sobek, a Spinosaurus that lived 100 million years ago, in the late Cretaceous period. At the time, Africa and South America had recently divorced, and the future Sahara desert was a forested river region. We find Sobek deeply, loudly asleep in a shady grove. [6] Sobek – 'dad looking after the kids', as Scott called him – is the supervisor of a nursery of 'babies'. He is responsible, like some modern bird species, for all parental duties. Size matters, and the intimidating Sobek shepherds his juvenile flock towards a watery hunting ground. But for the flock and Sobek – even at 11 metres long with a permanently upright, spiny 'sail' along his back – the journey is still perilous. [7] Contemporary natural history shows usually have an admirable conservationist (protecting the environment and wildlife) agenda. But what is the aim of a series dealing in long-departed flying reptiles, antique fish and terrestrial terrors brought back to life by special effects? 'We want people to watch the show as a piece of storytelling, but it's also an opportunity to understand [palaeontology's] scientific process,' Scott said. Source: South China Morning Post, May 25 Questions 1. Based on your understanding of paragraph 1, what might be different and unexpected about the Walking with Dinosaurs (2025) series compared to other nature shows? 2. In paragraph 1, an unusual choice the creators made was to … A. have dinosaurs interact with other prehistoric mammals. B. invent entirely new dinosaur species. C. give names and fictitious family lives to the dinosaurs. D. promote a specific theory about dinosaur evolution. 3. The phrase 'didn't just bite things all day' in paragraph 2 suggests that most depictions of dinosaurs often … A. show them as docile herbivores. B. focus predominantly on their predatory behaviour. C. present them as intelligent problem-solvers. D. highlight their complex social structures. 4. Based on your understanding of paragraph 2, what does the phrase 'you want them to make that kill' about big cats imply about how the creators want viewers to feel about the dinosaurs' struggles? 5. What is the value of studying fossils and deep time, according to Dr Nizar Ibrahim in paragraph 3? 6. Which of the following best describes the geological state of Africa and South America during Sobek's time, according to paragraph 5? A. They were a single supercontinent. B. They were beginning to merge. C. They had recently separated. D. none of the above 7. What parallel does paragraph 6 draw between Sobek and some modern bird species? 8. Find a word in paragraph 6 that indicates Sobek's large physical stature. 9. What is the goal of Walking with Dinosaurs (2025) according to paragraph 7? Dr Nizar Ibrahim, a senior lecturer in palaeontology, in the Sahara desert in Morocco. Photo: BBC Answers 1. The new show is not afraid to show the cuddly side of dinosaurs, which is different to their typical portrayal as ferocious creatures. It gives them names and imagines their families' lives. (accept all similar answers) 2. C 3. B 4. The show's creators want viewers to become invested in the dinosaurs and root for them through their struggles, even if those struggles are seen as struggles, even if those struggles are seen as disturbing, such as hunting. (accept all reasonable answers) 5. Studying fossils and understanding deep time is crucial for understanding and addressing current global issues, such as climate change, rising sea levels and biodiversity loss. 6. C 7. Some modern bird species also have a male responsible for all parental duties. 8. intimidating 9. to help viewers understand palaeontology's scientific process
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bond denied for Florida man accused of shooting at Brevard County deputies
The Brief A man is behind bars for allegedly shooting around 50 rounds at Brevard County deputies. Thomas Scott was not granted bond on Wednesday due to a judge's concern he was a threat to public safety if released. Back at his home, on U.S. 1, in Port St. John is a ton of graffiti he's put up himself, going after Sheriff Wayne Ivey. ORLANDO, Fla. - A Brevard County man accused of firing roughly 50 rounds at deputies from inside his graffiti-covered home was denied bond Wednesday, with a judge citing public safety concerns. What we know The sheriff says his deputies were first called out on Tuesday morning because he called 911 saying he was going to be shot. However, when deputies arrived, they said Thomas Scott was already shooting from inside his home. Negotiations lasted for hours, and part of U.S. Highway 1 was shut down due to concerns drivers could be impacted by gunfire. Scott surrendered peacefully when SWAT arrived. The sheriff posted an update on the case on Facebook where he explained what happened and his frustration with how his deputies were put in danger. Back at the suspect's home, it's covered in spray paint with most of it targeting Sheriff Wayne Ivey and telling voters to get involved. The sheriff said he has no idea what his beef with his agency is but said he has a problem with the suspect because he shot at deputies. He is facing multiple charges, including seven counts of aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, discharging a firearm in public, shooting/throwing a deadly missile into a structure and resisting without violence. He was denied bond during his first appearance on Wednesday. What we don't know It's unclear why Scott called 911 in the first place or shot at deputies. The sheriff said it's unclear why he doesn't like the sheriff's office. What they're saying Thomas Scott is facing multiple felony charges, including seven counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. "If you shoot at your deputies, you're lucky you go to jail," said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. During his first court appearance, a public defender did not contest the prosecution's recommendation to keep Scott in jail without bond. "Based on the facts, your Honor, I would have no argument," said the public defender representing Scott when the judge asked about keeping the suspect held without bond. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source FOX 35's Reporter Esther Bower watched the sheriff's Facebook video on May 20, 2025, discussing the details of the incident. She read the charging documents on May 21, 2025, and watched the suspect's first appearance at the county jail. She was also sent video from the sheriff's office of the moments the suspect surrendered.
