🌱 Juneteenth Made Tampa Official + Hills. Transportation Tax Appeal

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Daily. Here's all the community news you need to know right now. Today's briefing includes news about...

• ⚖️ One of the 20 people charged by Governor Ron DeSantis' new election task force in Tampa is hoping his charges will be dropped after a Miami man successfully had his charges thrown out.
• 🚓 The owner of a local Japanese restaurant has been charged by police with a running a drug house out of the business.
• 📅 Juneteenth is now an official local holiday in Tampa.

Today is National Croc Day. The popular shoes were originally designed for boaters and are now worn around the world.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and nice. High: 84 Low: 65.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. One of the 20 people charged by the voter fraud task force launched by Governor Ron DeSantis is hoping the charges will be dropped against him. Nathan Hart of Gibsonton is hopeful after charges were recently dropped this week against a Miami man due to lack of jurisdiction. (Fox 13 Tampa)

2. The owner of Japanese restaurant, Oishi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi, in St. Petersburg has been accused of running a drug house out of the business, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Police said they found a safe that contained about "750 grams of cocaine, 985.5 grams of MDMA, 65 grams of Ketamine, 10 grams of Adderall, and 20 grams of oxycodone." (WFLA)

3. Pasco County Animal Services' (PCAS) Land O' Lakes shelter is temporarily suspending adoptions, intakes, and surgeries for 14 days due to the presence of Canine Pneumovirus. The virus causes a respiratory disease in dogs. Staff at PCAS says the virus is likely present in the community. (WTSP)

4. Hillsborough County is asking residents to continue to vote on a proposed transportation sales tax increase as the county works to appeal a judge ruling that previously threw the ballot question out. A lawsuit was launched by a former transportation official and conservative activist against the ballot measure. The transportation tax can be found on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

5. City of Tampa will now officially commemorate Juneteenth as a local holiday. "Juneteenth is the day we celebrate the end of slavery in America and pause to remember the struggle for freedom never ends," said City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. The city unofficially celebrated Juneteenth for the last three years. (WTSP)

Today in Tampa:

• PetCo Donation Drive at The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. (9 a.m.)
• Fall Fest at Southshore Bay Lagoon. (9 a.m.)
• Yoga On The Lawn at Armature Works. (9:30 a.m.)
• Pop-Up Street Fair at Water Street Tampa. (10 a.m.)
• Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT) - Stride For Strays Benefit Walk at Al Lopez Park. (11 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "Congrats to Pinellas Park High School's Max Smith for winning Coach of the Week! Winners receive a $2,000 grant from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation to help maintain and upgrade their football program." (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "Celebrate Halloween Tampa-style at Tampa Riverwalk Trick or Treat. Little ghouls and goblins are invited to this free family-friendly event on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Flûte & Dram in St. Petersburg is hosting "Halloweekend" from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30. Guests can enjoy live music all weekend long. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

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Events:

• Florida Orlando Jerk Festival Set for Sunday, October 23rd. (October 23)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (October 24)
• 'The Confucian Analects' - A Fresh Look at A Classic from Ancient China (October 27)
• 11th Annual Halloween Costume Paw-Ty (October 29)
• Tacos & Tequila on the Pier (October 29)
• The Apple Truck is coming to Tampa, Oct. 30th (12:30-2:00 PM) (October 30)
• Add your event

That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with 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 Daily? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com