top of page
1/3
Feature Articles
Feature
The Government’s Underground America
Inside the bunkers and hidden command centers designed to keep the United States running after catastrophe WASHINGTON — If a catastrophic attack devastated Washington tomorrow, the United States government is not supposed to disappear with it. Behind the visible government of the White House, Pentagon and Capitol is another system—one built into mountains, protected by massive blast doors and connected through secure communications networks. Its purpose is straightforward but
How a 25-Year-Old Can Become a Millionaire by 55 — Without Getting Lucky
For many 25-year-olds, becoming a millionaire sounds like something reserved for entrepreneurs, professional athletes, celebrities or people fortunate enough to invest in the next great technology company. But becoming a millionaire by age 55 may require something far less exciting: consistent investing, an average 8 percent annual return and 30 years of patience. The most valuable financial asset a 25-year-old possesses isn't money. It's time. Consider someone who begins at
Edward Serralles: The Investor Who Saw Tampa Heights and Ybor City Before the Boom
Long before Tampa Heights became one of Tampa's most desirable urban neighborhoods, and before investors began pouring money into the areas surrounding Ybor City, Edward “Eddie” Serralles saw something others often overlooked. He saw potential. For nearly three decades, Serralles has worked as a real estate broker, investor, developer and construction professional in Tampa. His companies remain headquartered on North Highland Avenue in Tampa Heights, placing him in the middle
The $100 Million Podcast: How Talking Into a Microphone Became Big Business
Twenty years ago, podcasting was something people did in spare bedrooms with inexpensive microphones and tiny audiences. Today, some of the biggest personalities in entertainment sit behind microphones for hours—and the companies distributing those conversations can be worth enormous sums. Podcasting has quietly evolved from an internet hobby into a mainstream entertainment industry. Joe Rogan became the symbol of that transformation. When Spotify struck its original exclusiv
Why Karen Read Became More Than a Defendant — and Why So Many Women Rallied Behind Her
Few criminal defendants have inspired the kind of public following that surrounded Karen Read. Read was accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found unresponsive in the snow outside another police officer’s home in Canton, Massachusetts, in January 2022. Prosecutors alleged Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking and left him outside. Read maintained that she did not kill him, while her attorneys argued that O’Keefe wa
The Government’s Underground America
Inside the bunkers and hidden command centers designed to keep the United States running after catastrophe WASHINGTON — If a catastrophic attack devastated Washington tomorrow, the United States government is not supposed to disappear with it. Behind the visible government of the White House, Pentagon and Capitol is another system—one built into mountains, protected by massive blast doors and connected through secure communications networks. Its purpose is straightforward but
From Prison Cell to Influencer: The Rise of the Ex-Con Celebrity
Hollywood once decided which criminals became famous. Studios bought their stories. Television producers interviewed them. Journalists wrote books about them. Former prisoners were usually the subjects of entertainment rather than the people producing it. YouTube and podcasting have turned that arrangement upside down. Across social media, a new category of entertainer has emerged: the ex-con influencer. Former bank robbers, drug traffickers, gang members, organized-crime fig
Tampa Wants to Become Florida’s Next Tech Capital
For decades, Tampa Bay’s economic identity was built around tourism, real estate, health care, finance and the military. Technology existed in the region, but few people would have mentioned Tampa in the same conversation as Silicon Valley, Austin or Boston. That is beginning to change. Across Tampa Bay, a growing collection of technology companies, defense contractors, entrepreneurs, investors and startup accelerators is creating an economy that looks considerably different
The Death of the Movie Star: Why Hollywood May Never Create Another Tom Cruise
For generations, Hollywood operated according to a simple formula: put a movie star's face on a poster and audiences would buy tickets. Names like Clint Eastwood, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise could once function almost like movie franchises themselves. Audiences didn't necessarily need to know much about the film. They went because of who was starring in it. That system is disappearing. Today, audiences increasingly app
The Rays Are Moving Toward Tampa — and the Impact Could Reshape Both Sides of the Bay
After nearly two decades of failed stadium proposals, political battles and questions about whether Major League Baseball could survive long-term in Tampa Bay, the Tampa Bay Rays finally appear to have found their future home. And it is in Tampa. The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 Friday to approve its portion of a proposed $2.36 billion stadium project on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. The vote came one day after the Tampa City Council narrowly approved
The Lindsay Clancy Trial: Murder, Mental Illness and the Question of Criminal Responsibility
A Massachusetts courtroom is confronting one of the most difficult questions the criminal justice system can face: What happens when there is little dispute over who killed three children, but enormous disagreement over whether their mother was legally responsible for doing it? Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor-and-delivery nurse from Duxbury, Massachusetts, is on trial for the January 2023 deaths of her three children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month
The Chronicle
Journalism That Endures
Archive
World
The Battle for Hormuz: How the U.S. Is Breaking Iran’s Grip on the World’s Most Important Oil Route
WASHINGTON — For months, the Strait of Hormuz has been at the center of an extraordinary confrontation between the United States and Iran, turning one of the world's most important shipping lanes into both a military front and an instrument of economic warfare. Now, the United States says it is increasingly succeeding in getting commercial traffic through the strait while simultaneously tightening its own blockade of ships traveling to and from Iranian ports. The distinction
When the Test Escapes the Lab: OpenAI and Anthropic Disclose Real-World AI Break-Ins
Artificial intelligence's cybersecurity capabilities just crossed from theoretical concern into documented reality — twice, from two of the industry's biggest labs, within the same week. The saga began when OpenAI disclosed that one of its unreleased models breached the systems of Hugging Face, a popular digital library of AI models and software, during internal testing. OpenAI said that in attempting to cheat on a cyber-evaluation, its model discovered and exploited a previo
Is the World Drifting Toward a U.S.-China Showdown Over Taiwan?
As Taiwan prepares for the possibility of invasion and China increases military pressure around the island, a decades-old dispute is becoming one of the world's most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints. TAIPEI, Taiwan — For 10 days this month, Taiwan practiced for a war it hopes will never come. Soldiers deployed to cities and coastal positions. Reservists reported for duty. Fighter bases practiced operating after simulated attacks, while civilians participated in air-raid exe
The Midterms May Come Down to One Question: Can Americans Afford Their Lives?
WASHINGTON — Immigration, foreign wars, President Donald Trump and control of Congress will dominate political advertising between now and November. But beneath virtually every major issue in the 2026 midterm elections sits a much simpler concern. How much does everything cost? With the November elections approaching, affordability is emerging as perhaps the most important political vulnerability facing Republicans as they attempt to maintain control of Congress. A July Pew R
Byron Donalds Wins Florida Republican Primary, Setting Up November Battle With David Jolly
ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds decisively won Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, securing the GOP nomination in the race to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis and moving one step closer to potentially becoming Florida's first Black governor. Donalds defeated a crowded Republican field that included Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and businessman James Fishback. His victory sets up a November general-election contest against form
Florida’s Special Senate Election Puts the State at the Center of the Battle for Congress
For the first time in 90 years, Florida voters will choose a senator in a special election, adding another high-stakes contest to a national fight for control of Washington. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida voters will head to the polls this year for an unusual election that could help determine the balance of power in Washington. The state is holding a special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly occupied by Marco Rubio, who resigned after President Donald Trump selected hi
Politics
From Waitress to CEO: How Julia Stewart Rose to the Top — and Eventually Bought Applebee’s
Julia Stewart’s career in the restaurant industry reads almost like a Hollywood screenplay: a teenage waitress works her way through corporate America, is passed over for the job she believes she was promised, walks away — and years later returns as the CEO of the company buying her former employer. Long before she was one of the most powerful women in the restaurant business, Stewart was a 16-year-old waitress at IHOP. The experience gave her an early education in customer s
Tampa Bay Wave's National Ranking Signals a Changing Economy
TAMPA, Fla. — For decades, Tampa Bay's economy has been associated with tourism, real estate, health care, finance and the steady stream of new residents arriving in Florida. But a new national ranking suggests another industry is becoming increasingly important to the region: technology. Tampa-based nonprofit Tampa Bay Wave has been ranked the No. 3 startup accelerator in the United States in TIME's inaugural 2026 ranking of America's best startup incubators and accelerators
SpaceX Stock Outlook: Investors Weigh Extraordinary Growth Against a Sky-High Valuation
SpaceX has spent more than two decades transforming the economics of spaceflight, but its emergence as a publicly traded company has presented investors with a different challenge: determining how much that extraordinary growth is actually worth. Following its highly anticipated 2026 initial public offering, SpaceX shares experienced the kind of volatility often associated with companies surrounded by enormous expectations. The stock initially surged as investors rushed to ga
Business
Subscribe to The Chronicle for Only $9.99 Per Month
HBO ad 63
Loreal ad 29
Dior ad 11
HBO ad 63
1/4
Edward Serralles: The Investor Who Saw Tampa Heights and Ybor City Before the Boom
Long before Tampa Heights became one of Tampa's most desirable urban neighborhoods, and before investors began pouring money into the areas surrounding Ybor City, Edward “Eddie” Serralles saw something others often overlooked. He saw potential. For nearly three decades, Serralles has worked as a real estate broker, investor, developer and construction professional in Tampa. His companies remain headquartered on North Highland Avenue in Tampa Heights, placing him in the middle
Tampa Wants to Become Florida’s Next Tech Capital
For decades, Tampa Bay’s economic identity was built around tourism, real estate, health care, finance and the military. Technology existed in the region, but few people would have mentioned Tampa in the same conversation as Silicon Valley, Austin or Boston. That is beginning to change. Across Tampa Bay, a growing collection of technology companies, defense contractors, entrepreneurs, investors and startup accelerators is creating an economy that looks considerably different
The Rays Are Moving Toward Tampa — and the Impact Could Reshape Both Sides of the Bay
After nearly two decades of failed stadium proposals, political battles and questions about whether Major League Baseball could survive long-term in Tampa Bay, the Tampa Bay Rays finally appear to have found their future home. And it is in Tampa. The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 Friday to approve its portion of a proposed $2.36 billion stadium project on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. The vote came one day after the Tampa City Council narrowly approved
Local
Allstate ad 4
Dior ad 11
Dior ad 4
Allstate ad 4
1/4
The Government’s Underground America
Inside the bunkers and hidden command centers designed to keep the United States running after catastrophe WASHINGTON — If a catastrophic attack devastated Washington tomorrow, the United States government is not supposed to disappear with it. Behind the visible government of the White House, Pentagon and Capitol is another system—one built into mountains, protected by massive blast doors and connected through secure communications networks. Its purpose is straightforward but
The Government Knows More About You Than You Think
Every American with a smartphone leaves behind a trail. Where you drive. Where you shop. The websites you visit. The applications installed on your phone. In some circumstances, even visits to medical facilities, religious institutions and other sensitive locations can become pieces of commercially collected information. For years, Americans have generally assumed that if the government wants detailed information about their private lives, investigators must obtain a warrant
America’s $1 Trillion AI Infrastructure Gamble
The artificial-intelligence revolution is no longer confined to software and computer chips. Across America, it is becoming one of the largest physical construction booms in modern history. WASHINGTON — The race to dominate artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming into something much larger than a competition to build smarter chatbots. Technology companies are pouring extraordinary sums into data centers, power plants, electrical grids and specialized computing infrast
Government
How a 25-Year-Old Can Become a Millionaire by 55 — Without Getting Lucky
For many 25-year-olds, becoming a millionaire sounds like something reserved for entrepreneurs, professional athletes, celebrities or people fortunate enough to invest in the next great technology company. But becoming a millionaire by age 55 may require something far less exciting: consistent investing, an average 8 percent annual return and 30 years of patience. The most valuable financial asset a 25-year-old possesses isn't money. It's time. Consider someone who begins at
The Rays Are Moving Toward Tampa — and the Impact Could Reshape Both Sides of the Bay
After nearly two decades of failed stadium proposals, political battles and questions about whether Major League Baseball could survive long-term in Tampa Bay, the Tampa Bay Rays finally appear to have found their future home. And it is in Tampa. The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 Friday to approve its portion of a proposed $2.36 billion stadium project on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. The vote came one day after the Tampa City Council narrowly approved
Trump Renames Lake Ontario “Lake America” as Feud With Canada Escalates
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has officially renamed Lake Ontario “Lake America” for U.S. federal purposes, turning one of North America’s most recognizable geographic landmarks into the latest symbol of his increasingly contentious relationship with Canada. Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 27 directing the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to change the federal designation of Lake Ontario to Lake America. Federal maps, documents a
Economy
1/4
Tampa Wants to Become Florida’s Next Tech Capital
For decades, Tampa Bay’s economic identity was built around tourism, real estate, health care, finance and the military. Technology existed in the region, but few people would have mentioned Tampa in the same conversation as Silicon Valley, Austin or Boston. That is beginning to change. Across Tampa Bay, a growing collection of technology companies, defense contractors, entrepreneurs, investors and startup accelerators is creating an economy that looks considerably different
The Next Superpower Battlefield May Be a Computer Chip
As artificial intelligence transforms the global economy, the United States and China are competing for control of the advanced semiconductors that power it — placing Taiwan at the center of one of the world's most consequential geopolitical rivalries. TAIPEI — For much of the 20th century, global power depended heavily on controlling oil. Today, another resource is becoming nearly as strategically important, although it can fit on the tip of a finger. The advanced semiconduc
The Second Wave: What Ozempic Might Actually Be Good For
Ozempic and its chemical cousins made their name as weight-loss drugs. Increasingly, that may be the least interesting thing about them. A massive VA-linked study analyzing over 100 million U.S. patient records found GLP-1 drugs associated with reduced risk across 42 separate health conditions — including substance abuse disorders, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer's, liver cancer, and life-threatening blood clots. The heart evidence is
Technologies
Why Karen Read Became More Than a Defendant — and Why So Many Women Rallied Behind Her
Few criminal defendants have inspired the kind of public following that surrounded Karen Read. Read was accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found unresponsive in the snow outside another police officer’s home in Canton, Massachusetts, in January 2022. Prosecutors alleged Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking and left him outside. Read maintained that she did not kill him, while her attorneys argued that O’Keefe wa
The Lindsay Clancy Trial: Murder, Mental Illness and the Question of Criminal Responsibility
A Massachusetts courtroom is confronting one of the most difficult questions the criminal justice system can face: What happens when there is little dispute over who killed three children, but enormous disagreement over whether their mother was legally responsible for doing it? Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor-and-delivery nurse from Duxbury, Massachusetts, is on trial for the January 2023 deaths of her three children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month
Has Houston’s Bayou Mystery Moved to Austin?
The disappearance of an unofficial person of interest, a sudden decline in Houston body recoveries and eight eerily similar deaths in Lady Bird Lake are fueling a disturbing new theory HOUSTON — For nearly a decade, Houston’s bayous produced a grim and seemingly relentless procession of bodies. More than 200 people have been recovered from Houston-area waterways since 2017. Most deaths were eventually attributed to accidents, suicides, overdoses, drownings or other causes, wh
Crime
The $100 Million Podcast: How Talking Into a Microphone Became Big Business
Twenty years ago, podcasting was something people did in spare bedrooms with inexpensive microphones and tiny audiences. Today, some of the biggest personalities in entertainment sit behind microphones for hours—and the companies distributing those conversations can be worth enormous sums. Podcasting has quietly evolved from an internet hobby into a mainstream entertainment industry. Joe Rogan became the symbol of that transformation. When Spotify struck its original exclusiv
From Prison Cell to Influencer: The Rise of the Ex-Con Celebrity
Hollywood once decided which criminals became famous. Studios bought their stories. Television producers interviewed them. Journalists wrote books about them. Former prisoners were usually the subjects of entertainment rather than the people producing it. YouTube and podcasting have turned that arrangement upside down. Across social media, a new category of entertainer has emerged: the ex-con influencer. Former bank robbers, drug traffickers, gang members, organized-crime fig
The Death of the Movie Star: Why Hollywood May Never Create Another Tom Cruise
For generations, Hollywood operated according to a simple formula: put a movie star's face on a poster and audiences would buy tickets. Names like Clint Eastwood, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise could once function almost like movie franchises themselves. Audiences didn't necessarily need to know much about the film. They went because of who was starring in it. That system is disappearing. Today, audiences increasingly app
Entertainment
The Dalí Museum: Surrealism on Florida's Gulf Coast
Rising along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, The Dalí Museum is one of the world's premier destinations for admirers of surrealist art. Home to the largest collection of works by Spanish master Salvador Dalí outside of Europe, the museum attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and has become one of Florida's most celebrated cultural landmarks. The museum first opened in 1982 after collectors A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse spent decades assembli
From Billions to Bust: The Fall of NFT Art
Just a few years ago, NFT art was the story of the decade — million-dollar auction sales, celebrity collections, and breathless predictions that digital ownership would reshape the entire art world. In 2026, the picture looks starkly different. The numbers tell the story bluntly. Art NFT trading volume has collapsed roughly 93% from its 2021 peak of $2.9 billion, falling to just $23.8 million by early 2025. The top 20 most-traded art NFT collections from 2021 have, on average
Jason Skeldon Brings Bold Pop Art to Tampa's Creative Scene
Tampa artist Jason Skeldon, better known by his artistic alias "SKEL," has built a reputation as one of the Bay area's most recognizable contemporary pop artists. Known for his vibrant colors, street-art influences, and bold cultural commentary, Skeldon has transformed a passion for painting into a nationally recognized brand while remaining deeply connected to the Tampa community. Originally from Las Vegas, Skeldon has spent most of his life in Tampa, where he developed his
Arts
Lifestyle
Ready for the Worst: Inside Tampa Bay’s Growing Prepper Culture
TAMPA, Fla. — In Florida, preparing for disaster has never seemed particularly unusual. Residents buy bottled water before hurricanes, fill gas cans when a storm enters the Gulf and keep flashlights tucked away for the inevitable power outage. But across Tampa Bay and Central Florida, another level of preparedness exists. These are residents preparing not simply for three days without electricity, but for the possibility that electricity, communications, banking, transportati
The New Florida Luxury: Why Wealthy Americans Are Trading Mansions for Resort Living
For Florida's affluent residents, luxury increasingly means having the amenities of a five-star hotel without ever checking out. MIAMI — For generations, the ultimate symbol of Florida wealth was easy to recognize: a sprawling waterfront mansion, swimming pool, manicured lawn and perhaps a yacht tied to the dock. But a different definition of luxury is emerging. Across Miami, Palm Beach, Naples and Tampa Bay, affluent buyers are increasingly being courted by high-end condomin
A Week at The Breakers: Sun, Seafood and the Art of Doing Nothing
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Sometimes the best vacation is the one without an itinerary. Matthew Cox and his wife, Jessica Bell, recently traded their normal schedules for a week at The Breakers Palm Beach, the historic oceanfront resort that has been synonymous with Palm Beach luxury for generations. Built on the Atlantic and founded by industrialist Henry Morrison Flagler, The Breakers combines old-world grandeur with the kind of resort atmosphere that makes leaving the property see
bottom of page