🌱 Sandbags Available For Tropical Storm Ian + School Closures

Hey, Tampa! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including updates on...

• 🌀 Sandbags are available to residents in the Tampa area in preparation for Tropical Storm Ian.
• 🏫 Local school districts have started to announce closures due to the planned impact of Ian.
• 🚓 Multiple people were taken into custody after a shooting at Chuck E. Cheese near Brandon.

Today is National Pancake Day. It's a great day to support your favorite local breakfast spot.

But first, today's weather:

A stray afternoon t-storm. High: 87 Low: 75.

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Here are the top stories today in Tampa:

1. Three sandbag locations are now open in Tampa from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., until further notice. City of Tampa will have bags, sand, and shovels available as well as volunteers to help. Officials are urging residents to know their evacuation zone. (Tampa Patch)

2. School districts across the Tampa Bay area have announced school closures on Sunday ahead of the impact of Tropical Storm Ian. Hillsborough County schools will be closed Monday, Sept. 26 through Thursday, Sept. 29. Pinellas, Pasco, and Manatee County also announced closings. (ABC Action News)

3. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputies responded to reports of a gunshot at Chuck E. Cheese located at 1540 W. Brandon Blvd. Saturday at 5 p.m. HCSO said all three women and a man involved were taken into custody and no shooting victims were found at the scene. (WFLA)

4. The first Nepalese restaurant in Tampa has opened named Gorkhali Kitchen. "We wanted to bring the authentic flavors of Kathmandu to Tampa Bay," said Reena Lama-Widdoes. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. (ABC Action News)

5. El Dorado Furniture celebrated the grand opening of its Wesley Chapel store this past weekend with giveaways, including gift cards and free comforter sets. It is the 18th store that the concept has opened. (That's So Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Dunkin' Unveils Raise the Flags Donut. (all day)
• Macs Happy Hour at MacDinton's Irish Pub. (4 p.m.)
• Castle & Key Bar Crawl at Armature Works. (6 p.m.)
• Quicksand at The Orpheum. (7 p.m.)
• Karaoke at Speakeasy Kava. (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has declared a State of Local Emergency in the City of Tampa. She encourages everyone to be prepared and have a plan if the storm impacts Tampa. (Twitter)
• Hurricane checklists are available online for those trying to make sure they have all the things needed ahead of Tropical Storm Ian's potential arrival. The Humane Society is reminding residents to not leave their pets behind. (National Hurricane Survival Initiative)
• Sunday's NFL attendance of 69,197 marked "the largest attendance for a Buccaneers game in Raymond James Stadium history." (Scott Smith via Twitter)
• MOSI Tampa will host a celebration of International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. No ticket or purchase required for those who attend. (MOSI via Twitter)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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• St Pete's Super Greek Festival 2022 (October 7)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow morning for 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