East Tampa Lead Smelter Update + School Hacking + Stingrays Dead

Good Morning and welcome to Memorial Day weekend! My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Tampa area with Patch News.

In this issue, you'll learn the latest about an east Tampa lead smelter, AAA Four Diamond hotel, a school hacking, and more. Now, let's get started.

Today’s weather: The high is 89 and the low is 72 with mostly sunny skies.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Tampa:

1. An east Tampa lead smelter facility is having problems with their ventilation system, according to a video shared by an employee with the Tampa Bay Times. The Times published an investigation in March that found hundreds of workers at the facility were exposed to high amounts of lead and other chemicals. (Tampa Bay Times)

2. The Karol Hotel in Clearwater was awarded the coveted AAA Four Diamond designation. Only about 6% of the hotels inspected by AAA receive this ranking. (Patch)

3. A 17-year-old St. Petersburg high school junior hacked the Pinellas County School District’s computer network and was arrested on felony computer charges and expelled. The hack exposes the vulnerability of government-run computer networks after a string of ransomware attack and various incidents on government networks nationwide. (Tampa Bay Times)

4. 12 of ZooTampa’s stingrays were found dead. Zoo officials have begun an investigation to find out what happened, including tests on the water and mechanical equipment. Results may take a few weeks. (WFLA)

5. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being sued in federal court by tech groups after passing a “social media censorship” bill. DeSantis prioritized the bill after social media companies “deplatformed” former President Donald Trump after the 2020 Election and a violent insurrection on U.S. Capitol Hill that left multiple people dead. The lawsuit was expected by DeSantis. (Politico)

Today in Tampa:

• Saturday Morning Market in Ybor City. Weekly market showcasing local vendors. (9 a.m.)
• Video Game Revolution at MOSI Tampa. A new summer exhibit that takes visitors on a journey that covers generations of gaming. (10 a.m.)
• Sunflower U-Pick at HarvestMoon Fun Farm. Cash only. (10:30 a.m.)
• Full Moon Dark Market at Dark Door Spirits. Vendors, food trucks, cocktails, and more. (5 p.m.)

Tampa Patch Notebook:

• Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Tax Holiday has started. Grab important goods to prepare for Hurricane season tax-free. Find a list of items that are tax free on the City of Tampa website.
• Tampa International Airport is already packed for the weekend. Make sure you arrive early for your flight if you plan on traveling.
• The City of Tampa is celebrating the new Community Garden at Wellswood Park, the first vegetable and butterfly garden on City land.
• Polk County has issued a burn ban ahead of Memorial Day weekend due to dry weather. There is an increased risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires due to current weather conditions.
• St. Pete Pridefest has been approved and masks will be required in addition to temperature checks, capacity limits, and more.
• Spirit Airlines is adding two nonstop routes in November at Tampa International Airport, including daily flights from St. Louis to Tampa, and 3x weekly flights from Louisville to Tampa.
• St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has narrowed the Tropicana Field redevelopment proposals to two firms: Midtown Development and Sugar Hill Community Partners, JMA Ventures. You can read all the proposals on St. Pete Rising.
• WWE Smackdown will be returning to Amalie Arena in Tampa on August 6th.
• The Manatee County School Board voted to end the mask mandate in schools. Parents had been vocal about their opposition to the requirement.
• Universal Studios Orlando has dropped their mask requirement for vaccinated individuals. The theme park will rely on an honor system to determine who is vaccinated.
• Floridians will be able to use their hazard lights when it’s raining legally starting July 1st.

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That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Tampa. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: tampadaily@patch.com

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Tampa area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.