🌱 NHL Postpones Lightning Game + Largo Insurrectionist Gets 5 Years In Prison

Welcome back, Tampa! It's Saturday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in Tampa today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and humid. High: 83 Low: 72.

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Here are the top stories today in Tampa:

1. The National Hockey league (NHL) postponed a Tampa Bay Lightning game, originally scheduled for today, December 18th against the Colorado Avalanche, due to growing concerns over the COVID-19 virus. A number of Colorado Avalanche players recently tested positive for the virus. (WFLA)

2. 54-year-old Robert Palmer of Largo, Florida has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for attacking police officers during the January 6th Capitol Hill Riot. It is the toughest sentencing so far. During the insurrection, Palmer threw a wooden plank, sprayed and threw a fire extinguisher, and attacked officers with a pole, among other objects. (Click Orlando)

3. The Tampa Taco & Margarita Festival returns next year with a new location at Raymond James Stadium. The event will be held on March 12th, 2022. It will include live wrestling from Mission Pro Wrestling, a live performance by Ryan Cabrera, and over 50 local vendors. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

4. Florida is struggling to produce enough doctors to serve its growing and aging population. More than 36,000 state physicians are expected to retire by 2035, leaving a gap for nearly 25% of Florida residents. (WUSF)

5. Local schools say they are aware of TikTok violence threats, but classes will still go on. Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies say they've received no credible threats so far. Students who threaten school violence verbally, through text messages, written notes or on social media are now subject to a felony charge. (Tampa Patch)

Today in Tampa:

• Ybor City Saturday Market At Centennial Park. (9:00 AM)
• Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k At Tampa Convention Center. (10:00 AM)
• Navidad Con Corazon 2021 At La Pequena Colombia Express. (11:00 AM)
• Downtown Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade At Tampa Riverwalk. (6:00 PM)
• Holiday Glow Winter Concert At Lumina Youth Choirs. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Baylo the manatee has returned to freedom from ZooTampa following recovery from sickness from red tide toxins. (ABC Action News)
• The TECO Line Streetcar carried 77,971 trips in November 2021. Ridership is up 155,452 since October 1st. (Twitter)
• A study from Health Affairs Journal says Florida's initial vaccine rollout with Publix failed people of color and low-income residents. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• A turkey caused a stir in Westchase on Friday, including wandering into busy intersections. (Twitter)

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Events:

• Holiday Full Moon 20th Virtual Global Psychic, Holistic Health, Wellness Fair on Zoom (December 18)
• Winter Wonderland (December 18)
• Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD’s Sunniest Blooms (December 21)
• Marathon Mania (January 2)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning 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.