🌱 Koya Tampa Omakase Experience Returns + Strip Club Shooting

Get on up, Tampa! Let's get you all caught up to start this Monday, April 18 off on an informed note. Here's everything you need to know around town today.

First, today's weather:

Humid with some sun. High: 83 Low: 65.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. Koya Tampa's omakase experience has returned with the reopening of Noble Rice. The popular celebrated 8-seat tasting menu experience will return on Thursday, May 19. Koya, located at 807 West Platt Street is able to accommodate shellfish allergies and restrictions on pork and beef. (That's So Tampa)

2. 43-year-old James Junior Williams has been charged with three felony counts of robbery. Police also say he may face other charges when their investigation is completed. The robberies he is accused of include Regions Bank at 2405 Swann Ave. and Fifth Third Bank on Swann Avenue. (Tampa Patch)

3. Tampa police said they are investigating a fatal shooting at Score's Gentlemen’s Club on North Dale Mabry Highway. Police responded to the call around 1:50 a.m. A release from the department said two individuals got into an argument in the parking lot that escalated after shots were fired. (WFLA)

4. A Valrico man is accused of molesting several young girls over two decades, and deputies believe there could be more victims out there. Hillsborough County Sheriff's detectives said they learned that, from 1998 through 2020, 62-year-old Thomas David Lair molested "numerous" young girls after befriending them and their families. (Fox 13 Tampa)

5. The Sarasota City Commission has voted to partner with the Van Wezel Foundation to design, finance, and create a new performing arts center. The new project is expected to cost around $300 to $350 million, half of the funding coming from private philanthropy and the other half from public sources. (WUSF)

Today in Tampa:

• Fantastic Beast Dumbledore / Never Ending Story Or Sonic 2 / Lost City at Silvermoon Drive-in. (all day)
• Copalli Sustainability Competition at M. Bird. (5:00 PM)
• English For Families at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (5:30 PM)
• Friends Of The New Tampa Regional Library Board Meeting. (6:30 PM)
• Mischief Mondays With Special Guest CASPER at The Ritz Ybor. (10:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• In the first quarter, St. Petersburg had an office vacancy rate of 3.5%, a historic low rate for the city. Meanwhile, Tampa had a 14.6% vacancy rate. Combined, the two rates in the metros average 11.7%. (St. Pete Catalyst)
• Flagship Bank has announced another milestone in its growth with the opening of a new office in West Pasco County, on the northeast corner of Little Road and Trinity Boulevard at 9040 Tryfon Boulevard in Trinity. (Tampa Bay Newswire)
• Tampa Riverfest is coming soon on Friday, May 6 and continues Saturday, May 7 along the Tampa Riverwalk featuring two days of free, family-friendly events showcasing Tampa’s cultural institutions, local music and restaurants. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.