Summer Meal Program + Late Night Gator + Climate Change Bank

Good Morning and Happy First Friday! My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Tampa area with Patch News.

In this issue, you'll learn about what Tampa Bay projects were vetoed by Governor DeSantis, a late-night Plant City gator sighting, summer meal program, and more.

Today’s weather: The high is 89 and the low is 73 with scattered thunderstorms. There is a 60% chance of rain.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Tampa:

1. Hillsborough County Public Schools will begin its free summer meals program to feed teens and children in need on June 2nd. Meals will be provided from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday at 36 curbside pickup sites. (WTSP)

2. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cut nearly $7.5 million in appropriations from Tampa Bay in this year’s budget including cuts to Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, Feeding Tampa Bay FRESHforce Program, Summer Bridge Program in Hillsborough County Public Schools, Lois Avenue Complete Streets Project Tampa, and more. (Florida Politics)

3. A Plant City couple was awakened at 2:30 a.m. by a 9-foot alligator banging on their patio door. The incident is part of a string of recent sightings around the state. Mating season has prompted the reckless animal behavior, said authorities. (Fox 13 Tampa Bay)

4. A Tampa diver was attacked by a alligator while searching for shark teeth in the Myakka River on Sunday. (Patch)

5. A new eco-friendly bank in St. Petersburg puts climate change first. It offers customers specialized green loan options for everything from rooftop solar to renewable energy. Outgoing St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman cheered on the new bank. (Bay News 9)

Today in Tampa:

• Café con Tampa: Teaching Tampa to Fish: Creating Critical Mass in Tampa's Art Industry at Oxford Exchange. Weekly gathering with local leaders. (8 a.m.)
• Gothic Soirée at the SpookEasy Lounge in Ybor City. (4 p.m.)
• First Friday Art Walk at Gulfport Waterfront. (5 p.m.)
• Pride Month Kick Off Party at St. Pete Side Lot. (6 p.m.)
• Hot Girl Summer at Painting with a Twist. Get the summer started with a painting session. (7 p.m.)
• Comedy and Cocktails at Dark Door Spirits presented by Laughs on the Go! $15 in advance and $20 at the door. (7 p.m.)
• First Friday Karaoke at Wild Rover Brewing Company. (7:30 p.m.)

Tampa Patch Notebook:

• A new study found cancer-causing chemicals in 78 sunscreens.
• A gambler received probation for threatening Tampa Bay Rays players. One message said he would “kill your entire family.”
• Pasco County properties saw a double-digit increase in values during 2020. Property values rose to $35.06 billion in 2020, an 11% increase.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning are offering coronavirus vaccines on Saturday at Amalie Arena.
• Howl-O-Scream is returning to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with haunted houses on September 10th. Tickets are now available.
• Gulfport Pride was this past weekend, WMNF has photos and voices from the event.
• Florida AFL-CIO has launched a campaign to convince Governor DeSantis to reverse the end of federal unemployment benefits in Florida.
• St. Pete City Council Member Robert Blackmon wants to use e-scooter money for free bikes.
• $500,000 is needed to fund an African-American Historical Museum in Lakeland.
• The Tampa City Council has approved a $6.2 million amendment to build a new city department complex in east Tampa.

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That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Tampa. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: tampadaily@patch.com

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Tampa area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.