🌱Abortion Protests Continue + 'Foodie' Epicurean Hotel Expansion

Hey, people of Tampa! It's me again, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Daily.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and beautiful. High: 89 Low: 66.

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Here are the top five stories today in Tampa:

1. The award-winning foodie-centric Epicurean Hotel is preparing for a $21 million expansion project in South Tampa. Located directly across Howard Avenue from the 137-room main hotel, the expansion will include 51 new guest rooms and suites, a private lobby, meeting space and rooftop terrace. Just up the street from Bern's Steak House. (That's So Tampa)

2. Tampa police are investigating a homicide in which a dead young woman was found in the 100 block of Floribraska Avenue North. Officers were sent to the area Friday at 3:15 a.m. after receiving a report of shots fired and discovered the body of the young woman near the road. (Tampa Patch)

3. Protests over a leaked Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade continued on Saturday afternoon in downtown Tampa outside the Federal Courthouse. A majority of people who were attending were from from the pro-choice movement including the Party for Socialism and Liberation. A religious group appeared in opposition. (WTSP)

4. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a Democrat from St. Petersburg who is running for Florida governor, is set to file a bill in Washington on Tuesday that he says could lower home insurance rates by at least 10 percent. Homeowners insurance has been a hot button issue this year as Floridians face record surges in pricing. The Fueling Affordable Insurance for The Homeowners, or FAITH Act, is set to be filed in Washington D.C. Tuesday. (WFLA)

5. The Florida Orchestra will launch its 2022-23 Hough Family Foundation Masterworks series in October 2022 with the powerful drama of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, conducted by Music Director Michael Francis in venues throughout Tampa Bay. Throughout the season, TFO will perform a variety of music that reflects the different cultures, backgrounds and influences that make up the community. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

Today in Tampa:

• Macs Latin Nights at MacDinton's Irish Pub. (4:00 PM)
• Friends of the Seminole Heights Library Meeting. (6:00 PM)
• How To Make Vietnamese Food Any Day at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. Virtual. (6:00 PM)
• Tampa Police Memorial Ceremony at Tampa Police Department. (7:00 PM)
• Mischief Mondays With Special Guest G-TRAIN at The Ritz Ybor. (10:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Hillsborough County Commission approved the county school district’s request to place a property tax referendum on the 2022 Primary Election ballot, set for August 23.
  The commission voted 5-2 to set the referendum, which would add $1 to every $1,000 on property taxes. (Florida Politics)
• Thousands of Hillsborough County Public School students will be offered new accelerated college-level courses when they return to school in the fall, the school board announced May 4. (Bay News 9)
• City of Tampa is adding more freight parking in Ybor City, including three spots near the bar and venue Crowbar, after complaints about new parking fees in the historic district. (Florida Politics)
• 5 years after an explosion led to the deaths of five workers at its Apollo Beach power plant, Tampa Electric Co. has pleaded guilty to violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday off right! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Daily? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com