Thomas Weber

Writer & freelance reporter, [email protected]

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Every week I drive past a little town in Minnesota called Pine Island, which is (sort of) famously the setting of a James Wright poem. Lately it's better known as the site of an impending Google data center. I walked around town and wrote about it for @parisreview

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Thank you @tarpleyhitt for making this piece better every step of the way and thank you @williamfargason for introducing me to Wright's poem many years ago: https://t.co/P0UVE2GCxO

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Every week I drive past a little town in Minnesota called Pine Island, which is (sort of) famously the setting of a James Wright poem. Lately it's better known as the site of an impending Google data center. I walked around town and wrote about it for @parisreview

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Toxic chemical spills, like the one spawned by the February Norfolk Southern train derailment, are rare along Florida East Coast Railway, the freight railroad running the length of Florida's Atlantic coast.

But federal records show spills have happened.
https://t.co/KzGVuY3GpG

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Meanwhile, Breeze Airways, a low-cost airline started in 2021 by the founder of JetBlue, aims to fill the gap left by Elite.

The airline's first flight to Vero landed last night:
https://t.co/0VUPdNfVee

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Elite Airways canceled all its flights to Vero Beach last summer and now owes $30,000 in rent, court records show.

Facing other debts across the country — including a $150k lawsuit in Wisconsin — Elite's CEO says it will return. He won't say when or how.

https://t.co/HG7sUuSjky

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Nicole flooded Riverside Cafe in Vero Beach with about six inches of water. Owner David Lane and his employees spent today power washing the grime left by the tide

The fire station across the lagoon didn’t fare as well — its dock is still partly submerged #tcweather @TCPalm

[Kaila J @kailaljones]

A lifeguard tower at Jaycee Beach Park leans towards the ocean the morning after Hurricane Nicole made landfall on the Treasure Coast #TCweather

[Kaila J @kailaljones]

Portions of the Conn Beach Boardwalk have broken from the foundation of Ocean Drive in Vero Beach ahead of Nicole #TCweather

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Finally, 78% of voters approved the county referendum to borrow $50 million to purchase and preserve environmentally sensitive land, including lands west of Blue Cypress Lake, Interstate 95 and along the Indian River Lagoon:
https://t.co/kKJWX6QSIH

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

In Indian River County, a circuit court judge threw out a referendum that would've halted expansion on Vero Beach's marina and parks

She gave her ruling after polls closed. It's unclear how people voted on it, as she blocked results from being released:
https://t.co/2pRhunsFfd

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Bob McCabe, one of the incumbents, cited his vote against the city's Three Corners master plan this year as the reason for his loss.

Three Corners — a commercial project at the city's former powerplant — was approved by about 80% of voters tonight:
https://t.co/ohNsQaWqPt

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Meanwhile, @CharlieCrist supporters have arrived. DeSantis/Crist folks are facing off on opposite sides of Second Street, trading chants:

“Abortion is murder” vs “abortion is healthcare”

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Tonight I’ll be outside the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce for the 7 p.m. DeSantis-Crist debate.

Police, TV crews and a handful of DeSantis supporters — some of whom have been here as early as 9:30 a.m. — are lined up outside right now:
@TCPalm

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

DeSantis arrives in Fort Pierce.

Supporters cheer him on as he heads in through the back of the Sunrise Theater:
@TCPalm

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Dozens of DeSantis supporters are lined up outside the theater now, waving American flags and DeSantis flags

There are a few pro-life, “Top Gov” and “DeSantisland” signs mixed in.

Aside from some Crist yard signs, he doesn’t have many signs/supporters out here yet

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

And here's our story on today's tests:

"In flashes of green and yellow, the fastest Brightline trains yet roared through Martin and St. Lucie counties Friday." @TCPalmCrystal @kailaljones
https://t.co/vPMFExzglA

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Brightline’s first 110-mph train tests are happening this morning between Jensen Beach and Port St. Lucie.

Here’s the first train, which is only going about 80 mph, as it passed Walton Road.

110-mph tests to begin shortly
@TCPalm

[Thomas Weber @thomasjohnweber]

Here’s the 110-mph test. Looks similar to 90, but it has a noticeably quicker approach

Clears the crossing in a few seconds: