Calling all Bucs and Rays fans: Local tax collector's offices across Florida begin selling redesigned team license plates today. The Tampa Bay Rays plate will have the new blue-based color scheme and trademark star instead of the old devil ray. About 1,000 Rays plates are now being used. The new Bucs plate will feature the same skull and swords flag, but will include the lettering that's painted in the team's end zone. Bucs plates are the most popular specialty plate in the state, with more than 31,000 sold. The plates cost $25 more per year than standard plates. Proceeds support the Professional Sports Development Fund and the Florida Sports Foundation. Two new plates also go on sale today: a tennis-themed tag and one celebrating the Florida Lighthouse Association. Tennis proceeds will support the Florida Sports Foundation, the U.S. Tennis Association's Florida unit and the association's foundation. Lighthouse sales will help the Florida Lighthouse Association preserve the state's 29 historic lighthouses.
Construction can continue at Pinellas Hope Catholic Charities received the required building permits Thursday to continue building wooden homes for the homeless at its Pinellas Hope shelter. The charity had hoped to move 100 residents from tents into the small shelters this month, but didn't apply for the proper building permits before it started construction. The county will inspect the shelters for proper construction today. The county said it will allow the charity to use one $75 building permit for all of the shelters, a move that will save Catholic Charities $7,425.
