🌱 First Lady Visiting Tampa + Bearss Groves Farmer's Market Pleads For Help

Up and at 'em, Tampa! Let's get this Wednesday started off right. Here's everything worth knowing today in town.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 80 Low: 64.

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Here are the top five stories in Tampa today:

1. First Lady Jill Biden will promote the relaunch of the White House's efforts to find a cure for cancer when she visits Tampa on Thursday and Friday, according to a White House news release. The program is called Cancer Moonshot and is a program VP Biden oversaw in the last year of the Obama administration. (Tampa Patch)

2. U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding a grant totaling $4,863,280 to the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority for the Cross-Bay Ferry service. Hillsborough Commissioner Pat Kemp says the grant will be used by the authority to acquire its own 350-passenger boat. (Tampa Bay Times)

3. A victim in a Tarpon Springs pain management clinic case is pleading with other victims to come forward and go to the police. The victim alleges that Christopher Ferguson, former director of Phoenix Medical Pain Management Clinic in Tarpon Springs traded sexual favors for a clean slate in doctored drug results. Ferguson's wife still owns and operates the facility. (WFLA)

4. Tampa's iconic Bearss Groves Farmer's Market says its produce stand is in danger of being shut down due to fines from Hillsborough County. Owners believe the stand should be protected from certain taxes and regulations under Florida's Greenbelt Law for agricultural operations, but the county says Bearss Groves would need to change several things to qualify for the exemptions. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

5. Hillsborough County teachers and Hillsborough County Public Schools announced Monday that the two sides have reached a tentative agreement for salary increases for "all instructional personnel including teachers, counselors, social workers, and school psychologists." The county says the increase is dependent on "each employee's current step level and would range from $799 to $2,200." (ABC Action News)

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Today in Tampa:

• Coffee With Mayor Castor at McDonald's South Manhattan. (9:30 AM)
• School Board Workshop at Hillsborough County Public Schools. (10:00 AM)
• Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Meeting at City Of Tampa Lemon Street Municipal Building. (1:30 PM)
• After School Art at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (3:30 PM)
• Black History Month Films: Harriet (PG-13) at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Hillsborough County Public Schools is congratulating the four high schools moving on to the Finals of the Black History Brain Bowl: Gaither High, Strawberry Crest High, Robinson High and Bloomingdale High. (Facebook)
• City of Tampa celebrated the groundbreaking for the New Tampa All Abilities Playground. The Tampa playground is the first disability and sensory-friendly playground that is fully funded by the city. (Facebook)
• City of Tampa is looking for minority participation for Hanna Avenue. East Tampa residents and businesses interested in working on the project are invited to a DPR Construction info session at Ragan Park Community Center today, February 16th, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Facebook)
• Family Day at the Fair is this Friday, February 18th and you will not want to miss "Hillsborough Kids Rock" at 3 p.m. on the Midway Stage. The event is sponsored by Caspers Company. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• 4 Part Retirement Planning Webinar Series 2/17 - 3/12 (February 17)
• Monopoly Tournament (February 19)
• FEB 18th-20th Greek Fest in Fort Myers (February 20)
• Social Security Webinar 2/21 & 2/23 (February 21)
• Estate Planning Webinar 2/21 & 2/23 (February 21)
• Social Security Webinar (February 22)
• Social Security Seminar 2/22 & 2/23 (February 22)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar 2/25 & 3/3 (February 25)
• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 11)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 12)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 13)
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Announcements:

• Travel Agency - M and D Travel-Dream Vacations (Details)
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For sale:

• Tarot Card Readings with Nicole, Private and/or Parties (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! 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.