🌱 Gronkowski Sends Pinellas Veteran To Super Bowl + Tampa Pipeline

Hi all. I'm back with your fresh copy of the Tampa Patch newsletter. Keep reading for everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including updates on...

• Five passengers were recently injured on a United Airlines flight to Tampa International Airport.
• Tampa Police is asking the public for help identifying suspects who allegedly burglarized storage units on Hillsborough Avenue.
• A proposed pipeline expansion between Hillsborough County and Pinellas is facing opposition from activists and questions from the federal government.

But first, today's weather:

Very windy; not as warm. High: 68 Low: 51.

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Here are the top stories today in Tampa:

1. Tampa Police Department (TPD) is asking the public for help identifying suspects who allegedly burglarized more than 40 storage units at Life Storage located at 2119 W. Hillsborough Ave. on Tuesday night. Anyone with information in the incident is asked to contact Tampa Police by calling 813-231-6130. (Tampa Patch)
2. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Rob Gronkowski and USAA are sending a local veteran from Pinellas County, Mark McCabe, to the Super Bowl today. McCabe has decades of military experience and now works with Vietnam veterans. (Bay News 9)
3. A proposed pipeline expansion from Florida Gas Transmission Company and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) is facing opposition from activists and questions from the federal government. The government wants the companies to explain how the expansion will impact the local habitat and air quality between Hillsborough County and Pinellas. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
4. Five passengers were injured on a United Airlines flight 600 to Tampa on Thursday night, according to Tampa International Airport (TPA) officials. The passengers were taken to the hospital when the plane landed. WFLA reports that the passengers were injured by turbulence, although the airport did not report that in its statement. (WFLA)
5. A new report from the Washington Post claims Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his campaign did not want guns at his election night victory party in Tampa last year. The report said the DeSantis campaign sought to blame the City of Tampa and the Tampa Convention Center instead for the gun policy. The news comes as Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature are preparing to unwind gun laws in the state. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Washington Post)

Today in Tampa:

• Bud Light Super Bowl Brunch, Bar Crawl, & Watch Party at American Social. (11 a.m.)
• SuperBowl Sunday CornHole Tournament at The Blind Goat Food And Drink Co. (1 p.m.)
• Haya Lounge Latin Sunday at Hotel Haya. (3 p.m.)
• Super Bowl Chili Cookoff V.7 at Pour House At Grand Central. (3:30 p.m.)
• Super Bowl Watch Party at Social House. (4 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "We've interviewed Rams Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Coach Thomas Brown for our open OC position." (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• Tampa International Airport shared: "28 companies, including Southwest, JetBlue, the TSA and so many more will join us next week for Hiring Day. More than 400 jobs are available with many hiring on the spot." (Tampa International Airport via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "Great news, Tampa! We ranked as the No. 1 City with the Most Bicycle Friendly Businesses, according to the League of American Bicyclists. 🚲" (City of Tampa via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— 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