Many plant workers had been on the job for decades and hoped for years more.Starting next week, the . The paper’s plant in St. Petersburg is being sold, and most of the approximately 150 employees are losing their jobs.Ladda Peterson, nearly 24 yearsPress Craft Operator IIA quarter-century of nights, of lunches taken after dark. Of waiting for plates in the beginning and scraping ink off the presses at the end. “I haven’t painted my nails in, oh, 20-something years,” said Ladda Peterson, 54. Ink gets under the nails and bond solution ruins the paint. “I’m going to paint my nails every other...…Many plant workers had been on the job for decades and hoped for years more.Starting next week, the . The paper’s plant in St. Petersburg is being sold, and most of the approximately 150 employees are losing their jobs.Ladda Peterson, nearly 24 yearsPress Craft Operator IIA quarter-century of nights, of lunches taken after dark. Of waiting for plates in the beginning and scraping ink off the presses at the end. “I haven’t painted my nails in, oh, 20-something years,” said Ladda Peterson, 54. Ink gets under the nails and bond solution ruins the paint. “I’m going to paint my nails every other...WW…

/He knew of the violence. He stayed. Can he help undo what he fueled? Scott Ernest sat on his aunt’s couch in Lakeland, beard overgrown, scrolling Twitter. He’d been stressed — with the pandemic, he has been out of work. A plan to buy a place in his beloved Montana fell through. He’s been forced to lean on family, muddling through until he can, he hopes, get into the University of South Florida’s Master of Public Health program.The morning of Jan. 6, he turned on MSNBC to watch the votes that would certify President Joe Biden’s victory. He smoked some medical marijuana, craving a moment of...…/He knew of the violence. He stayed. Can he help undo what he fueled? Scott Ernest sat on his aunt’s couch in Lakeland, beard overgrown, scrolling Twitter. He’d been stressed — with the pandemic, he has been out of work. A plan to buy a place in his beloved Montana fell through. He’s been forced to lean on family, muddling through until he can, he hopes, get into the University of South Florida’s Master of Public Health program.The morning of Jan. 6, he turned on MSNBC to watch the votes that would certify President Joe Biden’s victory. He smoked some medical marijuana, craving a moment of...WW…

/They were told their leader would remain in office despite losing the election. He won’t. What now?They descended on the nation’s capital hoping to disrupt a democratic election, then returned to Tampa Bay: a real estate broker, a tech adviser, a singing coach, a coffee shop owner and many more.Some were former tea party members. Others came to politics more recently. They organized in groups, calling themselves “Tampa Bay Trump Club,” “Community Patriots of Pinellas” and “deplorables.” For years, they had listened to one man’s word above all else: President Donald Trump’s.In the days...…/They were told their leader would remain in office despite losing the election. He won’t. What now?They descended on the nation’s capital hoping to disrupt a democratic election, then returned to Tampa Bay: a real estate broker, a tech adviser, a singing coach, a coffee shop owner and many more.Some were former tea party members. Others came to politics more recently. They organized in groups, calling themselves “Tampa Bay Trump Club,” “Community Patriots of Pinellas” and “deplorables.” For years, they had listened to one man’s word above all else: President Donald Trump’s.In the days...WW…

/Times journalist Boyzell Hosey developed symptoms, then watched his world shatter.ST. PETERSBURG — The family took their seats under the green cemetery tent and passed hand sanitizer row to row. Yes, Lord, my life is yours drifted from the speakers. Boyzell Hosey prayed in front, facing the bone-white casket and the empty space beside it.A man from the funeral home passed out two memorial cards.In Loving Memory: Amos Hosey.Forever in our hearts: Roy Hosey.Boyzell wiped his glasses and nodded as the bishop talked of trusting the hand of God. It was Nov. 21. His elderly father had died on...…/Times journalist Boyzell Hosey developed symptoms, then watched his world shatter.ST. PETERSBURG — The family took their seats under the green cemetery tent and passed hand sanitizer row to row. Yes, Lord, my life is yours drifted from the speakers. Boyzell Hosey prayed in front, facing the bone-white casket and the empty space beside it.A man from the funeral home passed out two memorial cards.In Loving Memory: Amos Hosey.Forever in our hearts: Roy Hosey.Boyzell wiped his glasses and nodded as the bishop talked of trusting the hand of God. It was Nov. 21. His elderly father had died on...WW…

/Can change come to a place with rock-bottom turnout and nostalgia for the status quo?LABELLE — Citrus haulers and pickup trucks kick up eddies of dust along 80 East. Past Alva, where civilization seems to drop away, Fort Myers' concrete softens into lush green and longleaf pines. Gravel lanes vanish into distant ranches. Twenty minutes later, there’s LaBelle.Charlie Harris, 33, drives this way most mornings to open up Bridge Street Coffee & Tea, though everybody calls it Charlie’s. His mom’s side goes way back here. He learned to drive on 20 acres of cow pasture, strapped into a...…/Can change come to a place with rock-bottom turnout and nostalgia for the status quo?LABELLE — Citrus haulers and pickup trucks kick up eddies of dust along 80 East. Past Alva, where civilization seems to drop away, Fort Myers' concrete softens into lush green and longleaf pines. Gravel lanes vanish into distant ranches. Twenty minutes later, there’s LaBelle.Charlie Harris, 33, drives this way most mornings to open up Bridge Street Coffee & Tea, though everybody calls it Charlie’s. His mom’s side goes way back here. He learned to drive on 20 acres of cow pasture, strapped into a...WW…

‘All of the small things that build up can make you feel like you’re drowning.’For all of St. Petersburg’s progressive bona fides, Tori and Khyre Edwards come home at least once a week with stories to unload, experiences of being profiled, pulled over, discounted, dismissed. In their liberal-leaning circles of advocacy and faith, they find solace and momentum, but also exhaustion.Now, as protesters march again for Black lives, the days feel heavy, hopeful and too familiar.Both are 28. Tori is director of engagement and children at Allendale United Methodist Church, and Khyre is a case...…‘All of the small things that build up can make you feel like you’re drowning.’For all of St. Petersburg’s progressive bona fides, Tori and Khyre Edwards come home at least once a week with stories to unload, experiences of being profiled, pulled over, discounted, dismissed. In their liberal-leaning circles of advocacy and faith, they find solace and momentum, but also exhaustion.Now, as protesters march again for Black lives, the days feel heavy, hopeful and too familiar.Both are 28. Tori is director of engagement and children at Allendale United Methodist Church, and Khyre is a case...WW…