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Nicolas Villamil - Regional Reporter
Nicolas Villamil

Regional Reporter

I cover Hillsborough and Pinellas counties with a specific interest in the communities and public agencies that fall outside of the purview of our city reporting beats. If you have a story idea or tip that you don’t think fits any of our newsroom beats, please reach out to me anytime. I’m a born and raised South Floridian, the son of Colombian immigrants and a graduate of Vassar College. Prior to joining the Times, I worked for Newsday in New York, as well as The Daily Catch, a local Hudson Valley-based digital newspaper.

  1. Proposal would bring stadium, sports complex to Clearwater
    • Pinellas
    An aerial view of the Landings Golf Club with the Clearwater Airpark to the east. A new proposal submitted to the city calls for the course, open since 1970, to be replaced with a stadium and a sprawling sports campus.
  2. Pinellas Commissioner Latvala returns after hospital stays
    • Pinellas
    Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala speaks in 2022. He returned for Thursday's work session after spending the past few months battling health scares.
  3. New Tampa Bay Sports Commission chief wants to ‘continue to raise the bar’
    • Sports
    The Tampa Bay Sports Commission appointed Lanness Robinson, left, as its executive director, replacing Rob Higgins, right, who departed in September to become USF’s first CEO of athletics.
  5. ‘We will win at the highest level,’ new USF coach Brian Hartline says
    • USF Bulls
    “We will win at the highest level,” new USF football coach Brian Hartline declared during his introductory news conference Monday at the Gibbons Alumni Center on USF's campus in Tampa. “We will chase championships.”
  6. Faulty 4th-down play dooms Bucs in loss to last-place Saints
    • Bucs
    Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a fourth-down pass to tight end Cade Otton (88) that is just short of the first-down marker on the Bucs' final drive, forcing a turnover on downs.
  7. Simeon Rice takes his place in the Bucs’ Ring of Honor
    • Bucs
    Simeon Rice waves to the crowd after he is inducted into the Ring of Honor and gives a speech during the halftime ceremony at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
  8. FSU, Clearwater’s Luke Loucks have return to Tampa Bay spoiled
    • Florida State Seminoles
    Florida State head coach Luke Loucks watches his team during the first half of Friday's 95-59 loss to Texas A&M at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. The 'Noles trailed by 28 at the half.
  9. Pinellas marina redevelopment withdrawn after local resistance
    • Pinellas
    A proposal to more than double the size of the Tierra Verde Hi & Dry Boat Storage was withdrawn by the developer on Friday.
  10. Clearwater gets $15.6 million from Pinellas for marina, softball complex
    • Pinellas
    A tour boat with the Little Toot Dolphin Adventure leaves the Clearwater Beach Marina on Nov 21, 2024, at Clearwater Beach. Pinellas County will contribute $7.85 million in tourist tax funds to the marina’s ongoing $43.5 million reconstruction. The project has been in the works since 2021, with the need for repairs only further exacerbated by last year’s hurricanes.
  11. Pinellas preserves UF extension program educating on environment
    • Pinellas
    UF/IFAS Master Gardener volunteers work with students to plant flowers.
  12. Tampa, Hillsborough suspend DEI business programs, citing Trump orders
    • Florida Politics
    Tampa and Hillsborough County both suspended decades-old programs intended to support women and minority-owned businesses as federal and state leaders crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
  13. Fans flock to Belleair to watch Kai Trump make LPGA debut at The Annika
    • Sports
    Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Trump, reacts after hitting a chip shot on the 11th hole during the first round of The Annika on Thursday at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair.
  14. Bucs’ 3rd-down offense stays stagnant against Patriots despite bye week
    • Bucs
    Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is pressured by Patriots linebackers Elijah Ponder (91) and Anfernee Jennings (33) during the fourth quarter. “We haven’t been nearly good enough,” Mayfield said. “We have to be better on early downs and then execute on third downs.”
  15. Why the St. Pete Beach mayor wants tourists to pay a toll
    • Pinellas
    St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila, pictured here in December 2023, has proposed imposing a toll on tourists driving into St. Pete Beach to help the city raise money for infrastructure needs.
  16. 3 takeaways from Spotlight Tampa Bay on empathy, open conversations
    • Community News
    The panel for “Can We Still Talk? Finding Empathy During Divided Times," a Spotlight Tampa Bay event on Nov. 6.
  17. Henry Lyons, who went from top church leader to inmate, dies in Tampa
    • Breaking News
    Dr. Henry Lyons, pictured here in 2007, died Monday in Tampa. [Times file]
  18. Blue Jays fever sweeps Dunedin with JayBall, watch parties and golf carts
    • Sports
    Maiya Gurrobat, 29, and Evan Posocco, 28, watch Game 1 of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers during a Friday night watch party at TD Ballpark in Dunedin.
  19. Year later, Pinellas launches hurricane recovery program for residents
    • Pinellas
    A low-lying community in Clearwater, 2690 Apartments, was inundated by more than 6 feet of flooding as rainfall from Hurricane Milton overwhelmed a nearby drainage last October. Hundreds of residents had to be rescued from the neighborhood as floodwaters nearly reached the second floor. A year later, Pinellas County is still rolling relief efforts for residents trying to recover from last year's storms.
  20. Hillsborough approves $18 million for Yankees’ Steinbrenner Field
    • Hillsborough
    Hillsborough County has approved spending $17.96 million in tourist taxes to renovate Steinbrenner Field.
  21. Tampa Bay Sports Commission chief search is on. Here’s why it matters
    • Sports
    Fans make their way into Raymond James Stadium for the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers Monday, Jan. 09, 2017 in Tampa.
  22. Tampa volleyball scion Kyle Dagostino holds tight to Olympic dream
    • HomeTeam
    The United States' Kyle Dagostino celebrates during a Volleyball Nations League match against Canada in June in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. At age 30, he continues to pursue his dream of landing a spot on the U.S. 12-man Olympic team.
  23. Jamel Dean’s pick-6 vs. Jets helps Bucs shake turnover drought
    • Bucs
    Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean is all smiles after he intercepts a pass and returns it 55 yards for a touchdown against the Jets during the second quarter Sunday.
  24. Defense, ground game lift No. 4 Miami over reeling Gators
    • Sports
    Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) is pressured by Akheem Mesidor, left, and Zechariah Poyser during the first half Saturday in Miami Gardens. The Hurricanes sack Lagway four times and hold him to 61 yards passing.