🌱 FlixBus Launches Lakeland Bus Route + Sarasota Kidney Donors

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now. Today we'll cover:

• Hubert Jack is the second Hillsborough County resident to plead guilty to charges of voter fraud.
• FlixBus has added Lakeland to its routes connecting Florida.
• TGH Director of Pharmacy Maja Gift has been re-appointed to the Florida Board of Pharmacy.

But first, today's weather: Very warm. High: 89 Low: 69.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. FlixBus has added a stop to Lakeland to its Florida intercity bus routes. Tampa is already a FlixBus city and Lakeland stops now adds more of Florida to the map. Tickets start at $14.99 for Lakeland to Orlando trips and $36.99 for Lakeland to Miami trips. (Lakeland Patch)
2. Two Sarasota women have connected during National Kidney Month after one of them donated a kidney to the other. The recipient's sister used social media to help find a donor for a kidney transplant. The two met at the TGH Transplant Institute for the procedure. (WFLA)
3. Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Director of Pharmacy Maja Gift has been re-appointed to the Florida Board of Pharmacy by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gift must now be confirmed by the Florida Senate for the role before she can join the board. Gift earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Utah. (Press Release Desk)
4. Hubert Jack is the second Hillsborough County resident to plead guilty to charges of voter fraud brought by a task force created by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The guilty plea is a victory for DeSantis, who has complained about voter fraud since the 2020 election. Jack was facing five years of prison but will now receive six months of probation instead. (Florida Politics)
5. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) CEO Adelee Le Grand has been suspended with pay and drawn an investigation into her leadership. An investigation found "lack of effective leadership, poor organization morale, significant turnover and potential violation of state law," according to the Tampa Bay Times. An official defense is planned for May. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Fox 13 Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Family Story Time at John F. Germany Public Library. (11 a.m.)
• Mahjong at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (2 p.m.)
• Faith & Flow: A Night Of Creative Expression at Courageous Church. (7 p.m.)
• Music Department Honor's Recital at The University Of Tampa College Of Arts And Letters. (7:30 p.m.)
• Return Of The Switchblades Vs. Cigar City Mafia at Skateworld Of Tampa. (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Police Department shared: "Throughout her 35-year career, Rita Cross has answered countless 911 calls and dispatched thousands of officers as a Public Safety Telecommunicator for the Tampa Police Department." (Tampa Police Department via Facebook)
• Tampa General Hospital shared: "Tampa General Hospital proudly celebrates our outstanding physicians and their commitment to advancing academic medicine and delivering exceptional patient care. Our team of more than 1,400 physicians and 10,000 health care professionals works together to innovate, educate and provide world-class care to patients throughout Florida. Their outstanding contributions have made TGH one of Florida’s leading academic medical centers for over 50 years. Happy Doctors’ Day and thank you for all you do." (Tampa General Hospital via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "The eBike Voucher Program Application will open tomorrow (Friday, March 31) at 8 a.m. 🚲 This program will support reliable, low-cost transportation options as we work toward a more bikeable city." (City of Tampa via Facebook)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com