Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Mother Arrested After 11-Year-Old Crashes Car At Gas Station, Hillsborough Sheriff Says

Also, don't miss Hero Play Day at Kiddie Academy of Westchase on the Tampa Patch calendar

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Wednesday August 19th Patch AM
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Hello Tampa! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Riverview mom accused of letting 11-year-old drive to gas station
  • How soon could driverless cars start picking up riders in Tampa?
  • How did Tampa Bay Wave become a top U.S. startup accelerator?

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!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Humid with a stray t-storm, with a high of 92 and low of 80 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Humid with a thunderstorm, temps: high: 90, low: 79.
  • Friday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 92 and low of 76 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

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.
   

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Crestview Management, LLC posted a job opening for Night Auditor Marriott Tampa Westshore in Tampa. Apply here.
  • Harvard Maintenance, Inc. posted a job opening for Cleaner-38310 in Tampa. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tampa here.

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!

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