🌱 Abu Omar Halal Grand Opening + Blue-Green Algae Health Alert

Hello all. It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Daily. Let's get this Friday started off right, with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's happening in town...

First, today's weather:

A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 92 Low: 77.

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Here are the top five stories today in Tampa:

1. The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in the Hillsborough River north of Morris Bridge Road, west of I-75. The health department warns that waters where there are algae blooms are also not safe for animals including pets. (Tampa Patch)

2. Abu Omar Halal is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Florida at 12208 North 56th Street in Temple Terrace. The concept has 20 food trucks in Texas and California. The restaurant has a Grand Opening planned for Saturday, August 13 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The menu includes a falafel sandwich, beef shawarma sandwich, chicken tender wrap, gyro, various rice bowls and more. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. Matthew Council, 50, of Riverview, Florida pleaded guilty over his involvement in the January 6th Insurrection at a District of Columbia federal court to one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, one felony count of interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, and four misdemeanor offenses, according to court records. He is facing up to 16 years in prison. (Fox 13)

4. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor on Thursday announced a $12.6 million grant for Port Tampa Bay. The federal grant money will be used on the newly expanded Big Bend Channel. The grant is part of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed into law last year. (WTSP)

5. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was excused from practice for the second time in a week for personal reasons. Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said the 11-day absence was planned before training camp and that Brady will rejoin the team after August 20. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: AP)

Today in Tampa:

• Café Con Tampa - A Vision For Tampa In 2045: Planning Our Community's Future at Oxford Exchange. (8 a.m.)
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Fundraiser at Park At Lake Magdalene. (11 a.m.)
• Historic Tampa Theatre Paranormal Investigation. (3:15 p.m.)
• Back To School Supply Drive! at MacDinton's Irish Pub. (6 p.m.)
• Centro Asturiano Wines Of Spain. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place near a Dollar General in Dade City at the the intersection of 14th Street and Main Avenue on Thursday morning. (WFLA)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are getting an enhanced gameday experience at Raymond James Stadium for the 2022 football season called The Krewe's Nest. The new area will expand seating to 70,000 at the stadium, which is the average for the NFL. (ABC Action News)
• 🚧 The southbound lanes of I-275 on the Howard Frankland Bridge from Tampa to St. Petersburg will be closed from 11 p.m. on Monday, August 15 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, August 16. This 6-hour, late-night road closure is necessary for crews to perform overhead sign installation work as part of the Florida Department of Transportation's Gateway Expressway project. (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Join historic Tampa Theatre for a two-movie Olivia Newton-John tribute. Grease on Sunday, September 4 at 3 p.m. and Xanadu on Friday, September 9 at 10:30 p.m. Tickets now available online. (Tampa Theatre via Facebook)

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Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (August 16)
• Smooth Jazz Sunday w/Blake Aaron, Tom Braxton & Rob Zinn! (August 28)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— 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