Hello Tampa! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Hero Play Day at Kiddie Academy of Westchase and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Mother Arrested After 11-Year-Old Crashes Car At Gas Station, Hillsborough Sheriff Says (patch.com) — In nearby Riverview, Hillsborough deputies say a mother was arrested after allowing her 11-year-old child, who has autism, to drive to a gas station, where the car hit a concrete barrier. No one was hurt, but the crash damaged the vehicle and building, and investigators allege the mother's license was invalid and she'd previously let underage children drive, raising safety concerns for Tampa Bay families.
2. Florida driverless rides expanding to new cities (latination.com) — Tampa is slated to become Florida's next hub for driverless rides, with state-backed autonomous vehicle services and eVTOL air taxi tests moving toward public launch here. Officials, USF researchers, and companies like Waymo are mapping local streets, training emergency crews, and running safety simulations now, aiming to transform how residents commute across the west coast metro area.
3. Tampa Bay Wave ranked No. 3 startup accelerator in U.S. by Time (baynews9.com) — Tampa Bay Wave has been named the No. 3 startup accelerator in the U.S. and No. 1 in Florida by Time, spotlighting Tampa's growing tech scene. The nonprofit has supported more than 670 companies, including local founder Ed Buckley, whose AI education tools now reach 20,000 Tampa Bay students.
4. Tampa investing $2.2 million to flood-proof Forest Hills wastewater station (fox13news.com) — Tampa is spending $2.2 million to flood-proof a key Forest Hills wastewater pumping station after severe flooding during recent hurricanes. Crews are elevating electrical systems, adding pumps and backup power to keep sewage flowing during storms. The work, part of the city's massive Pipes Program, is already underway and expected to wrap up in 2027, offering northwest Tampa residents more peace of mind each hurricane season.
5. Who won Florida House, Senate primary races in Tampa Bay? (tampabay.com) — Voters across Tampa Bay just reshaped who will represent parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas in Tallahassee, with several universal primaries effectively deciding seats now. Key races include Fentrice Driskell's likely move to the state Senate and Jacqueline Coffie-Leeks' lead in a west Tampa–Ybor–Temple Terrace House district. The results set up November matchups while keeping Republicans firmly in control statewide.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Tampa PatchAM possible:
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Tampa! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Tampa Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.