🌱 Tampa Bay Taco Week + DeSantis Snaps At Tampa High Schoolers

Happy Friday, people of Tampa! Here's everything you need to know going on in Tampa today.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 84 Low: 64.

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Here are the top five stories in Tampa today:

1. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for an end to "COVID theater" and erratically snapped at high school students wearing masks on Wednesday. The governor was at USF to discuss new state funding for statewide cybersecurity education when the encounter occurred. A 14-year-old involved in the encounter said he "was a little bit surprised at his tone." The video of the incident has gone viral and drawn condemnation and praise from across the political spectrum. (Tampa Patch)

2. The staff at Tampa Russian restaurant, Babushka's, says they stand firm with Ukraine and are flying the Ukraine flag outside their doors. "Even though we're Russian people, we don't have to support the government," Kirill Chemodanov, the owner of the restaurant said. He also said, "as a Russian myself, I completely disagree with the government section. I think what Putin is doing is a crime against humanity, and he should be stopped." (WTSP)

3. Tampa Bay Taco Week is happening from Thursday, March 31 to Thursday, April 10 and will be a partnership between CL Tampa Bay and WUSF. There will be taco specials and drink specials around town during the week. Restaurants participating include Taco Dirty, American Social, Sea Dog Cantina, and more. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

4. After two rounds of severe red tide in the Tampa and Sarasota bays, snook have re-opened to harvest for some along the Gulf of Mexico coast. The season runs from now through April 30, north of State Road 64 in Manatee County. Snook are still catch and release only in the river and its tributaries. (WFLA)

5. The Florida House has continued to hold out on an appropriation that would fund an education program on local abandoned African American cemeteries in Tampa Bay. Sen. Janet Cruz and Rep. Fentrice Driskell filed the appropriation requests. Cemetery experts believe there are over 3,000 unknown cemeteries with erased local history. (Florida Politics)

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Today in Tampa:

• Exhibit Of Outsider Art at Tampa Museum Of Art. (10:00 AM)
• Baby Time at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (10:15 AM)
• OLLI-USF Free Friday Lecture: LGBTQ+ Identity And Inclusive Language. Virtual. (12:15 PM)
• The Early Bird Open Mic at Spitfire Comedy House. (6:30 PM)
• Softball Robinson Vs. Sickles at Robinson High School. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Edelweiss Air is returning to Tampa International Airport (TPA), reestablishing its nonstop service between Tampa and Zurich. It returns after a two year pandemic hiatus. (St. Pete Catalyst)
• Mosaic Florida Operations is donating $500 for every Tampa Bay Lightning goal and $5,000 for every hat trick they score at home this season as part of the Lightning's Goals for Food initiative. With 8 goals in February, they've added another $4,000 to the season total. (Facebook)
• Celebrate St Patrick's Day at the 2022 River O'Green Fest. Eat, drink and celebrate the luck of the Irish on March 12th at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. (Facebook)
• Tampa General Hospital was named to Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2022 List. They are one of only 3 Florida medical facilities and the only hospital in Tampa Bay to make the Nation's Top 100 list. (Facebook)
• The Tampa Museum of Art is hiring a full-time Studio Programs Coordinator to help create and implement studio art education programs for all ages at the Tampa Museum of Art and at off-site locations as needed. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Navigating Your Social Security (March 3)
• [Free Giveaway] Mental Health Matters Decal - Tampa Counseling Center! (March 4)
• Age of Kerouac: A Beat Generation Celebration at the Studio@620 (March 4)
• FREE Biz Owners Profits Workshop Live Q&A (March 4)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 11)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 12)
• Jazz on the Lawn @ Riverwalk STEM Academy (March 12)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 13)
• Social Security Seminar 3/14 & 3/16 (March 14)
• Creating Income in a Low Interest Rate Environment (March 29)
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For sale:

• Buy Black Girl Decals - Shop Local Black Owned Etsy Shops (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll see you around.

— 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.