🌱 Gasparilla Pirates Threaten Invasion + Westfield Mall Shooting + Seminole Heights Fire

Welcome back, Tampa! Let's get you all caught up to start this Wednesday, January 26th off on an informed note. Here's what's happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Warmer with a shower in spots. High: 67 Low: 54.

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Here are the top five stories in Tampa today:

1. On Tuesday, members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla went to the Tampa Convention Center to hand deliver a letter to City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, asking her to "negotiate a peaceful surrender of the city or face a long and costly battle." The Mayor refused to surrender to the demanding vandals. Pirates will invade Tampa for Gasparilla on Saturday. (WFLA)

2. Tampa Bay ranks near the middle or bottom in job growth rate, gross regional product and the nurturing of talent and innovation, according to Tampa Bay Partnership's 5th annual Regional Competitiveness Report. Tampa Bay's per capita GDP is dead last among the top 20 markets in the United States. Transportation also remains a major issue in the area. (Tampa Bay Times)

3. A malfunction in the air handler at North Seminole Heights business, Florida Fast Title, on Monday morning was the cause of a fire, according to Tampa fire investigators. Firefighters first checked if anyone was inside and then attacked the fire from the inside, getting the fire under control in about 30 minutes. (Tampa Patch)

4. An undercover Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy was involved in a shooting late Monday afternoon outside Westfield Brandon. Undercover deputies were in the process of buying guns from two suspects when the suspects pointed their guns at the deputy and attempted to rob him. The suspects then fired at least five shots toward deputies and led to a lockdown at the mall. Officers are still searching for one suspect. (ABC Action News)

5. Dr. Tapan Padhya, professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and medical director of Tampa General Hospital's Ear, Nose and Throat Institute, has completed a landmark 250th procedure of an implantable device that can significantly reduce the snoring and oxygen deprivation caused by obstructive sleep apnea. (TGH)

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Today in Tampa:

• Story Time at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (10:15 AM)
• Love INC 101, A Fast-Paced & Engaging Monthly Informational Session at The Portico Cafe. (12:00 PM)
• Tech Help at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (1:30 PM)
• Tampa Bay Bucs Mobile Food Pantry at Middleton High School. (4:30 PM)
• Teen Open Studio at Winthrop Arts Inc. (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Lightning has reassigned forwards Charles Hudon and Daniel Walcott, as well as defenseman Andrej Sustr, to the Syracuse Crunch." (Facebook)
• Tampa International Airport has nonstop flights from TPA to EYW in Key West on Silver Airways for less than $200 for select dates in March just in time for spring break. (Facebook)
• Dunbar Elementary Magnet School held its second annual 5th Grade White Coat Ceremony sponsored by Brain Expansions Scholastic Training - BEST Program. (Facebook)
• It's Celebrate Literacy Week at Hillsborough County Public Schools. This year's theme is Launch Into Literacy, Blast Off Into New Worlds. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Sol y Luna Tantric Shamanic Festival (English/Spanish) (January 27)
• Cornhole Tournament (January 28)
• St. Petersburg Seafood & Music Festival (January 28)
• Add your event

For sale:

• Rad Rover e-bike for sale (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! 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.