Tampa’s Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade are back!  Tampa is kicking off the holiday season with the City of Tampa’s Official Tree Lighting Ceremony, 40th Annual Santa Fest and Christmas Parade all on Saturday, December 4! Festivities begin at 1:30 p.m. as the Christmas Parade rolls through Downtown Tampa.  Colorful floats, three marching bandsContinue Reading

With the disturbing chaos going on at the US Capitol today, many attribute to outgoing President Trump, several Tampa Bay area politicians responded. Representative Kathy Castor, serving her seventh term representing Florida’s 14th Congressional district, which includes Tampa and parts of Hillsborough County, said via social media: “It’s entirely outrageousContinue Reading

Tampa police detailed the arrest of seven protesters who blocked Dale Mabry yesterday as two vehicles were damaged. Police also issued Notices to Appear to two other demonstrators. Police officials said the protest had grown from 40 to nearly 100 and had blocked traffic for nearly an hour. The protestersContinue Reading

COVID-19

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported a one-day record of 3,822 new positive COVID-19 cases and 43 deaths, bringing the state total to 89,748 cases and 3104 deaths. In Hillsborough County, health officials report nearly 5,000 total cases., which include 564 hospitalizations (11% of all cases) and 109 deathsContinue Reading

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor held a news conference Friday morning on policy changes to the police department. Watch the video clip below. “It’s clear from the days of protest, unrest, grief and rage that it is an important time in our history and for law enforcement,” Castor said. “The TampaContinue Reading

The Tampa City Council approved $952,000 to purchase more than 600 body cameras for the Tampa Police Department on Thursday, a move Police Chief Brian Dugan says many members of his force may not like, but if they don’t like it, “then I suggest that you turn your badge in.”Continue Reading

During the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group meeting Thursday afternoon, Hillsborough Commissioner Sandy Murman discussed the recent in coronavirus cases as testing has risen during recent weeks. Murman warned that the George Floyd rallies and protests could further the spike, stating they “are like incubators for the virus.’’ “I’m pretty concerned,’’Continue Reading

Case counts The Florida Department of Health announced one additional positive case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Thursday. The individual is a 42-year old male in Miami-Dade County. This individual is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel related case andContinue Reading

With event season on the horizon, Mayor Jane Castor is launching a new campaign as part of her sustainability and resilience commitment: Bead-Free Bay. #BeadFreeBay is an anti-littering awareness campaign to remind the public that throwing beads and other litter in the water is prohibited. Beads and other non-biodegradable items are incredibly harmfulContinue Reading