5 Things to Know Today: Thursday, June 23

1) Beginning today, 15 local restaurants in Gulfport will offer sampler plates of their signature dishes for the Rand McNally/USA Today "Best of the Road" competition. Check out who's participating and see what they're serving in this article.

2) The city council workshop is today at 3:30 p.m. at Gulfport City Hall. The public can comment at workshops. Officials will discuss the 2012 operating budget. As always, you can view and print the agenda from the city's Web site.

3) Looking to try something new this summer? Check out the St. Pete/Clearwater 100 Days of Summer website! Enjoy stay-cations, near-cations and much more in Florida.

4) Officials have announced a new interim dean of Stetson University College of Law. Professor Royal C. Gardner will serve as interim dean beginning in early July. Dean Darby Dickerson has accepted a deanship at Texas Tech University School of Law.

5) Here is your Thursday forecast: We have a 30 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Otherwise, it'll be mostly sunny with a  high near 91. Heat index values will be as high as 100. Expect a south-southwest wind between 8 and 11 mph. Tonight, we have a 30 percent chance of rain, mostly before 2 a.m. Otherwise, it'll be mostly cloudy with a low around 80.