Year In Review: Top Tampa Bay Stories In 2019

TAMPA BAY, FL — Tampa Bay was foisted into the national spotlight several times in 2019, and it wasn't only bad news.

Here are some other notable events that took place in 2019:

Among this year's top stories, The Florida Aquarium made headlines when it successfully spawned endangered Atlantic coral in a laboratory setting for the first time. It's a breakthrough that marine scientists say could help save the ocean's endangered coral reefs.

Florida Aquarium Makes Historic Breakthrough To Save Coral Reefs

Pinellas County celebrated the opening of the nation's first-of-its-kind underwater dive memorial honoring veterans. The underwater memorial will be used as a therapeutic dive site for disabled veterans suffering from PTSD, depression and trauma.

1st Underwater Veterans Memorial Officially Opens

In a phenomenon that's still under investigation, 75 depressions opened up in a Hudson neighborhood over a period of several months starting in August. The largest is 15 feet long and 25 feet deep.

76 Depressions Have Opened In Hudson Neighborhood Since August

In February, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office arrested Port Richey Mayor Dale "Doc" Massad after they said he fired shots at a SWAT Team that was raiding his home on orders from the Department of Law Enforcement. The FDLE was investigating him for practicing medicine without a license.

Port Richey Mayor Arrested After Shooting At SWAT Team: Sheriff

Following the shakeup involving the arrest of the Port Richey mayor, Florida Rep. Amber Mariano filed a bill asking the Legislature to consider dissolving the City of Port Richey. Mariano later put the measure on hold when residents of Port Richey protested.

Legislators Want To Dissolve Port Richey; City Officials Balk

On the heels of a ban by St. Petersburg, Largo became the second Florida West Coast city to ban single-use plastics on city property on all city properties in an effort to keep the harmful plastics out of the environment.

Largo Commissioners Ban Single-Use Plastics On City Property

Tampa Bay residents were shocked when a missing 2-year-old boy was found dead in a wooded area in Largo in September 2018 and his mother was accused of killing him. Outrage over the boy's death prompted Pinellas County state Rep. Chris Latvala to sponsor House Bill 315, "Jordan's Law," during the 2019 legislative session. Jordan's mother, Charisse Stinson, is set to be tried on March 2, 2020.

Trial Date Set For Largo Mother Accused In Death Of Toddler

After approving a charter referendum in November 2018 for a 1-cent transportation surtax to improve Hillsborough County's congested roads, residents are still waiting for the tax funds to be spent. All projects were put on hold after County Commissioner Stacy White filed a lawsuit in which he maintains that the tax contradicted state law and the wording of the referendum misled voters. In June, Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Rex Barbas upheld the legality of the surtax and now White has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in.

Supreme Court Appeal, Legislative Challenge: Road Tax In Jeopardy

In the hopes of reducing the staggering number of veteran suicides, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came to Tampa to celebrate the opening of a mental health facility that's a first of its kind in Florida. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Aspire Health Partners will offer services to all of Florida's 230,000 post-9/11 veterans and military families.

1st In Florida Facility Offers Mental Health Help For Veterans

Readers got a look at the critical work of the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard when members of Air Station Clearwater were sent to the Bahamas to lead search-and-rescue efforts following Hurricane Dorian.

Watch: Clearwater Coast Guard Leads Way In Bahamas Rescue Efforts