* “Once again, some potentate sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalistic interest, is provoking and fomenting conflicts.”–Pope Francis.
* “There needs to be accountability. … We can’t normalize this. This is the reality of what’s going on every single day as long as Russia’s brutality against Ukraine continues.”–U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
* “Brutality against civilians we haven’t seen in Europe for decades.”–NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
* “Clear evidence of war crimes.”–French President Emmanuel Macron.
* “From the Kremlin to Mar-a-Lago to the Academy Awards, there are few things more unpredictable—or dangerous—than a man who feels pressed to vindicate his manhood.”–Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald.
* “Let reverence of the law become the political religion of the nation.”–Abraham Lincoln.
* “‘Don’t say gay’ sends a hateful message to our most vulnerable youth who simply need our support.”–State Rep. Carlos Smith, Florida’s first openly gay Latino legislator.
* “One of the most important ways to cut costs for American families is through reining in the high cost of prescription drugs, especially the high cost of insulin.”–Congresswoman Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, who voted for the passage of the Affordable Insulin Now Act that guarantees that those Americans with diabetes don’t pay more than $35 per month for their insulin.
* “I think our strength and unity is because we are a metropolitan university, and we have greater opportunities than many of our brother and sister universities across the state.”–USF President Rhea Law.
* “Everybody has their day to be vindicated. I’m waiting for that day to happen.”–Tampa City Council member Orlando Gudes, who stepped down as council chairman—but remains a council board member. Gudes left his chairman’s role after a city finding that he had created a hostile work environment for a former aide.
* “Libraries build community, and our library staff builds unique connections with the people we serve. … Even as many of us were isolating at home, residents continued to turn to other community’s library resources in record numbers for education, entertainment and important information.”–Andrew Breidenbaugh, library services director of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative.
* “We’re thrilled NuMedTechs has chosen to establish its U.S. operations in Tampa and conduct life-saving research and development here.”—Tampa Bay Economic Development Council chairman James Nozar. NuMedTechs, with roots in Canada, is basing its first research office in downtown Tampa.
* “It’s been a whirlwind of emotion.”–Buccaneers’ co-owner Joel Glazer, reflecting on the Bucs’ chaotic off season.