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Zachary T. Sampson - Investigative Reporter
Zachary T. Sampson

Investigative Reporter

I work on the investigative team, reporting stories to identify and fix problems or hold powerful people to account. I came to Florida in 2014 by way of Boston. I grew up in Rhode Island, a diehard Yankees fan deep in the heart of enemy bleachers. Talking about baseball is still a quick way to my heart. In Tampa Bay, I've covered breaking news, public safety, general assignment, hurricanes and the environment. Have a story? Something you think more people should know about? Let's talk.

  1. Tampa man faces murder charge in shooting death
    Yesterday• Breaking News
    Tampa police arrested Kristopher Chandler, 22, in connection with a shooting on Hampton Lake Drive.
  2. Is more algae mucking up Tampa Bay? Scientists need to track it first.
    Jul. 12• Environment
    A cormorant swims over a thick mat of algae covering a bed of seagrass offshore from Tierra Verde in the Shell Key Preserve. Macroalgae have appeared to be more prevalent than usual around some parts of Tampa Bay this year, according to reports from captains and environmental advocates. Scientists cannot say for certain whether that’s a sign of trouble for the ecosystem.
  3. Más de 1,000 caracoles invasores terrestres africanos gigantes capturados en Pasco
    Jul. 8• CENTRO
    Un científico de Florida sostiene un caracol terrestre africano gigante vivo del sur de Florida en un laboratorio en 2014. [ Times (2014) ].
  5. More than 1,000 giant African land snails captured in Pasco invasion
    Jul. 7• Pasco
    The shell of a giant African land snail is displayed during a news conference hosted by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Thursday. More than 1,000 of the invasive snails have been captured in Pasco County, where state officials are trying to fend off the invasion.
  6. Florida springs protection rule is overdue and underwhelming, critics say
    Jul. 3• Environment
    Jeremy Miller, of Homosassa, explores one of the vents at Three Sisters Springs on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Citrus County.
  7. Supreme Court’s EPA ruling could slow Florida’s climate change fight
    Jun. 30• Environment
    Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach has burned both coal and natural gas to create electricity in Tampa Bay. Both processes release greenhouse gasses that cause global warming.
  8. Look out, Pasco: Here come giant African land snails
    Jun. 29• Pasco
    A Florida scientist holds up a live giant African land snail in a lab in 2014.
  9. Autoridades buscan limitar la propagación de una mosca invasiva en verduras y frutas
    Jun. 27• CENTRO
    Una mosca oriental de la fruta en un parque en Manila, Filipinas, en mayo de 2021.
  10. Exotic fruit fly found in Pinellas; state seeks to limit spread
    Jun. 27• Pinellas
    An oriental fruit fly rests on a leaf at a park in the Philippines in May 2021.
  11. Almost four years after Hurricane Michael, a hotel rises in Mexico Beach
    Jun. 10• Hurricane
    People arrive at Mexico Beach on Thursday, June 2, 2022, where one of its landmarks, the iconic Driftwood Inn, background, was reopened 3.5 years after it was destroyed when Hurricane Michael struck Mexico Beach on Oct. 10, 2018.
  12. Florida’s animal crossing aims to break barrier of I-4
    Jun. 8• Environment
    Construction crews elevate a portion of Interstate 4 in Polk County to create a wildlife crossing so animals can safely cross beneath the interstate. The project redesigned I-4 where it meets State Road 557 in Polk County. The highway carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day and acts as a deadly barrier that stops animals from traveling north or south.
  13. Feds agree to review ‘critical’ manatee habitat as deaths pile up
    Jun. 1• Environment
    A manatee surfaces for air while feeding near Seven Sisters Springs on the Chassahowitzka River in early May.
  14. Man found dead in Largo lake in possible alligator incident
    May 31• Pinellas
    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers are pictured by the lake in John S. Taylor Park, where a man was found dead Tuesday morning. Police believe he may have been wading into the water to retrieve lost flying discs. Investigators are still trying to determine whether he was bitten by an alligator.
  15. Huracán 2022: Tampa Bay se inundará. ¡Prepárese!
    May 26• CENTRO
    Sara Seu, al frente a la izquierda, y su esposo Jesse Seu,comienzan a limpiar después de las inundaciones de la tormenta tropical Eta que azotó con fuerza partes de Shore Acres, inel martes 17 de noviembre de 2020 en St Petersburg.
  16. Hurricane 2022: Tampa Bay will flood. Here’s how to get ready.
    May 24• Hurricane
    A motorist is seen attempting to drive on a flooded Bayshore Blvd as Tropical Storm Eta sends torrential downpours, storm surge flooding and wind across the Tampa Bay Area on November 12, 2020.
  17. Hustle and flow: USF studies how water moves in Tampa Bay
    May 19• Environment
    University of South Florida undergraduate students, from left, Peyton Lebron, Matt McNamee and Spencer Manuel helped drop ocean circulation sensors into Tampa Bay during a research cruise aboard the R/V W.T. Hogarth.
  18. Pinellas changes hurricane evacuation zones for 93,000 residents
    May 18• Hurricane
    Flooded furniture and personal belongings of Diane Carr, 59, lie in her yard the morning after Tropical Storm Eta at the Twin City Manufactured Home Community in St. Petersburg. Eta flooded thousands of properties in Pinellas County in November 2020.
  19. St. Petersburg still figuring out discolored water near Demens Landing
    May 10• Environment
    A sheen is seen on the water near Demens Landing on May 2 in St. Petersburg.
  20. Reporteros del Tampa Bay Times ganan premio Pulitzer por serie ‘Envenenados’
    May 9• CENTRO
    Los reporteros del Tampa Bay Times Corey G. Johnson, derecha, Rebecca Woolington, centro, y Eli Murray, izquierda, son anunciados como los ganadores del Premio Pulitzer por reportajes de investigación el lunes. La serie ganadora, “Envenenados”, expuso los peligros de la única fundición de plomo de Florida. Esto marcó el 14º Premio Pulitzer otorgado al Times.
  21. Tampa Bay Times reporters win Pulitzer Prize for ‘Poisoned’ series
    May 9• Investigations
    Tampa Bay Times reporters Eli Murray, left, Rebecca Woolington, center, and Corey G. Johnson, right, are announced as the winners of the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting on Monday. The winning series, "Poisoned," exposed dangers at Florida’s only lead smelter. This marked the 14th Pulitzer Prize awarded to the Times.
  22. Florida and Walgreens reach $683 million opioid settlement
    May 5• Health
    Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Thursday that the state reached a settlement with Walgreens for $683 million. She made the announcement from her Tampa office.
  23. Florida’s ‘Shark Lady’ is now on a Forever stamp
    May 5• Environment
    Eugenie Clark is seen with a shark on a new U.S. Postal Service Forever stamp.
  24. Florida sues DuPont, other companies over toxic firefighting foam
    May 3• Environment
    Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office filed suit in mid-April in Hillsborough circuit court. The complaint lists several places around Florida where firefighting foams were used, including the Hillsborough Community College Fire Academy at 5610 E Columbus Drive in Tampa. Moody, left, speaks at a news conference last year in Polk County alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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