🌱 Iron Gwazi Wins Top Awards + Hills. Mosquito-borne Health Advisory

Hello, neighbors! I'm Carlos Hernandez, back in your inbox this morning with the most important things happening in town these days. Let's take a quick look:

• 🎢 Busch Garden Tampa Bay's Iron Gwazi was recently graced with numerous awards for the steel attraction.
• 🐈 A new South Tampa cat cafe already achieved 23 adoptions in its first month in business.
• 🎰 Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming is increasing employee pay around the nation, including in Tampa.

Today is National Live Creative Day. It was first introduced in 2016 by an American company called "Creative Promotional Products." Get your creative juices going!

First, today's weather:

A couple of heavy t-storms. High: 86 Low: 74.

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Here are the top five stories today in Tampa:

1. The University of South Florida ranked no. 97 among 443 national universities for its performance against a number of factors by U.S. News & World Report. USF also ranked no. 38 in Top Performers on Social Mobility and No. 42 in Top Public Schools, as well as in the top 100 in other categories as well. (Tampa Patch)

2. Iron Gwazi, North America's tallest and the world's fastest and steepest hybrid coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has been awarded the Golden Ticket Award for the Best New Roller Coaster in 2022. Iron Gwazi was also ranked in the top five steel roller coasters in the world. (MOR-TV.com)

3. South Tampa’s first cat café, Cats & Caffeine, saw 23 adoptions the first month after opening. The business works with a local non-profit to help rescue cats. Kittens and cats available for adoption are housed at the lounge until they are adopted. (WFLA)

4. The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County announced a mosquito-borne illness advisory for northwestern Hillsborough County on Tuesday. The health department issued the advisory after Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) was detected in two horses, heightening the risk of transmission to humans. (ABC Action News)

5. Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming announced Monday that it is boosting the salaries of thousands of employees nationwide, including for 1,500 employees in Tampa. Hourly wages in nontipped roles will now start at $18 to $21 per hour, above Florida's current $10 minimum wage. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Yahoo Finance)

Today in Tampa:

• Dunkin’® Shines Gold For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month In Tampa. (7 a.m.)
• Coffee Connection at Greater Tampa Chamber Of Commerce. (8:30 a.m.)
• Book Club For Adults at Temple Terrace Leisure Services. (2 p.m.)
• Tech Topics: Getting Started With Coding With Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. Virtual. (5:30 p.m.)
• Municipal Code Enforcement Board Meeting at Temple Terrace City Council. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Manatee County teacher pay is increasing more than $2,000 after school board members approved a new contract with the district and the Manatee Education Association, the school district said in a release. (WTSP)
• Alison Pondo, TGH Assistant Director of Marketing & Consumerism, has been named to SHSMD - Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development's 2022 Class of Rising Stars. (Tampa General Hospital via Facebook)
• Quake is performing at the Tampa Improv this week. Tickets are now available. (Tampa Improv via Facebook)
• Tickets are now available for the 2022 South Tampa Chamber Expo + Conference. Booth space are still available as well. (South Tampa Chamber via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Daily? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com