Enterprise culture reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. What should I write about today? cspata@tampabay.com
Joined January 2011
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938 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
30 May 2024
After almost a year of work with @TimesDan, we've published the story of a Tampa man, locked away at 18 for murder. Freed at age 56 by DNA that matched someone else. tampabay.com/markedman
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Man accused planting bomb at MacDill Air Force Base withdrew from USF the day after the bomb was left at the base, the university said.
tampabay.com/news/tampa/2026…
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21 Nov 2025
A married same-sex couple had a kid using a friend’s sperm. Both moms were on the birth cert. Ayear later, the man filed for custody rights.
Can he do that? The question, at the heart of a FL Supreme Court case, hinges on a CVS home insemination kit tampabay.com/news/florida/20…
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21 Nov 2025
Florida’s “No. 1” freelance sperm donor cuts out the middleman and leaves his samples in the mailbox. Welcome to the world of DIY fertility, highlighted by a FL Supreme Court case.
tampabay.com/news/florida/20…
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26 Aug 2025
Officers monitor the weekly hippie drum circle on Treasure Island beach in Florida. The police chief recently described it as a hotbed of crime.
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Christopher Spata retweeted
26 Aug 2025
Some drama surrounding the drum circle on TI. Via @SpataTimes @LuisSantana
tampabay.com/life-culture/20…
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Christopher Spata retweeted
20 Aug 2025
USF has played a role in shaping the Cuban sandwich's legacy — from researching its history and refining Cuban bread baking methods to the creation of National Cuban Sandwich Day, now celebrated worldwide every August 23.
@USouthFlorida @CityofTampa
usf.edu/news/2025/the-cuban-…
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19 Aug 2025
The horror of being perceived while doing a voice to text.
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6 Aug 2025
Vince McMahon spoke at the Hulk Hogan funeral. He asked mourners to give Hogan one final standing ovation before people stood and cheered. tampabay.com/life-culture/20…
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31 Jul 2025
Hulk Hogan was recovering from surgery, sick with leukemia and starting kidney dialysis when he died. His official cause of death was a heart attack.
Many issues for a man who had a busy summer promoting his beer, a wrestling league and other businesses.
tampabay.com/news/clearwater…
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Christopher Spata retweeted
13 May 2025
(12) And here is more from Times Editor @markkatches about our fundraising efforts this week. Thank you for reading our work and for your support.
tampabay.com/news/2025/05/11…
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5 May 2025
Who is the bad neighbor in this feud involving:
- Pavarotti on an outdoor speaker
- Alleged battery via a sprinkler
- "Drunk screaming"
- Trespassing on 4 inches of yard
- A stink bomb
- A billboard truck cruising Tampa
- A post on @WORLDSTAR
tampabay.com/news/tampa/2025…
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29 Mar 2025
A preview for what it would be like in St. Pete if the Rays ever move to Tampa permanently. tampabay.com/news/tampa/2025…
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27 Feb 2025
These six sisters are looking for their long-lost brother, Giovanni, in Tampa. tampabay.com/news/tampa/2025…
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26 Feb 2025
DOJ says Trump's Jan. 6 pardon applies to ex-green beret Jeremy Brown, who was caught with stolen grenades and classified info in Tampa. tampabay.com/news/crime/2025…
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Christopher Spata retweeted
25 Feb 2025
There are lots of rumors. If anyone has bonafide info or tips, please contact me.
Email: cwright[at]tampabay[dot]com
Call or text: 727-900-6396
Signal: 305-343-0110
25 Feb 2025
Is there any truth to the story that there is a possible sale of the team to a local group that is being negotiated @Colleen_Wright ?
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28 Jan 2025
Tampa's Jeremy Brown is among a handful of J6ers still in jail after Pres. Trump's pardon, due to varying circumstances. His lawyer says the White House may intervene. tampabay.com/news/crime/2025…
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24 Jan 2025
Polk County's Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson are free, a few days later, after Trump's newly appointed top prosecutor for DC stepped in. Tampa's Jeremy Brown (@FreeJeremyBrown), however, remains one of the few in custody due to his unique J6 case. tampabay.com/news/florida-po…
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Christopher Spata retweeted
22 Dec 2024
The duo of @MaxChesnes and @mahoneysthename has owned this story from the start. …
22 Dec 2024
In newspapers across Florida today: a nearly 3,000-word behind-the-scenes story about how the state wanted to build hotels, golf courses and more on protected state park land
With @mahoneysthename. Read it here: tampabay.com/news/environmen…
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