🌱 Coffee Uniting People Coming To South Tampa + FHP Investigation

Hello, neighbors! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Daily. Here's what you need to know about what's happening locally, including:

• A new coffee shop is opening in South Tampa to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Florida Highway Patrol is seeking tips from the public in the death of a mother of four in Tampa.
• Nearly 500 flights have been canceled this week at Tampa International Airport.

But first, today's weather:

More humid in the afternoon. High: 82 Low: 67.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is seeking tips from the public in the death of a mother of four who was found on the shoulder of I-75 just south of the Dale Mabry Highway exit on Christmas Day. Troopers said the victim, 29-year-old Stephanie Contreras, was found just after 7 a.m. Sunday by a Florida Department of Transportation road ranger. Contreras suffered a head injury as well as road rash throughout her body from being dragged across the pavement and later died from the injuries. (Tampa Patch)

2. CUP (Coffee Uniting People) is a new coffee shop opening in South Tampa with the goal of providing job opportunities for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The new shop will be located at 3408 South Dale Mabry Highway. The baristas and staff have been training at 22nd Street Coffee in Tampa with a focus on learning espresso shots and brewing hot cofffee. (WFLA)

3. Nearly 500 flights have been canceled this week at Tampa International Airport amid a nationwide collapse with Southwest Airlines and holiday travel struggles. The struggles began when a winter storm disrupted air travel over the weekend. Airport spokesperson Emily Nipps is hopeful the situation will improve today. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Tampa Patch)

4. Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell has been recognized as the first recipient of the Joe Rizzo Learner & Leader Award by The Consortium of Florida Education Foundation. The award is given to a "local education foundation leader who is active in his or her own learning and development while serving as a leader in their organization and through engagement with the consortium." (Osprey Observer)

5. School districts throughout the Tampa Bay area continue to struggle to find teachers to staff schools. Hillsborough County has 534 teacher vacancies, which is the most of any school district in Florida. Pinellas has 136 vacancies and Polk around 200 vacancies. (ABC Action News)

Today in Tampa:

• Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park. (4 p.m.)
• Música In Flor Fina With Kafkasso Flamenco Trio at Hotel Haya. (6:30 p.m.)
• New Year's Eve Celebration at Publix Aprons Cooking School Of Citrus Park. (6:30 p.m.)
• Screen Door Presents: Breathing Happy at Screen Door Cinema. (7 p.m.)
• WWE Friday Night SmackDown at Amalie Arena. (7:45 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "The NFC South title is at stake Sunday 👀." (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park shared: "Mark your calendar to tune in to Nat Geo Wild on Sunday, Jan. 1 at 10 p.m. EST." (ZooTampa at Lowry Park via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "Check this out! Tampa remains one of the safest cities of its size based on the FBI’s latest crime data recently released for select cities. Thank you Tampa Police Department for keeping our community safe." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Tampa General Hospital shared: "Tampa General Hospital has just become the first hospital in Tampa Bay to perform 500 WATCHMAN™ device procedures!" (Tampa General Hospital via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "Tampa Solid Waste is offering curbside Christmas tree collection at no additional charge from Jan. 3- 13 on your regularly scheduled yard waste collection day." (City of Tampa via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you tomorrow for your next 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