🌱 Tampa Gang Member Sentenced + Asher Welcomes First Residents

Happy Thursday, people of Tampa! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.. High: 82 Low: 62.

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Here are the top five stories today in Tampa:

1. The Florida Aquarium and Tampa General Hospital have announced an expanded partnership to bring a new, on-campus animal health center, which is expected to open later in 2022. The aquarium and hospital will host an official ribbon cutting when the Tampa General Hospital Animal Health Care Center opens. (thetampabay100.com, TGH.org)

2. Water Street Tampa mixed-use development, Asher, has welcomed its first residents who will live on Tampa's waterfront. Amenities at Asher include the neighborhood's largest rooftop pool deck with over 70 lounge chairs and a media lounge, as well as a co-working space with private conference rooms. Move-ins and in person tours are now underway at the building, following a highly successful pre-leasing period. (That's So Tampa)

3. Tampa philanthropist Penny Vinik, together with her husband Jeff Vinik have donated $5 million to USF, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The funds are to be earmarked for the on-campus football stadium officials and many students have been pursuing since last year. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Business Journal, Free: Creative Loafing Tampa)

4. 30-year old Keon Moore, a high-ranking member of Money Power Respect (MPR), a violent and rapidly growing prison and street gang that operates throughout the Tampa Bay area, will spend 17 years and six months in federal prison. Moore was sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them. (Tampa Patch)

5. A new report released from the Tampa Bay Partnership on Tuesday found the region would need to spend nearly $13.4 billion to protect against rising seas and frequent flooding by 2070. They found that for every dollar spent, the area would save at least $2.27 for investing in upgrades and protections against climate change. (Fox 13 Tampa)

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Today in Tampa:

• Tampa City Council Meeting at Old City Hall. (9:00 AM)
• Paws For Literacy at Humane Society Of Tampa Bay. (2:45 PM)
• Art On The House at Tampa Museum of Art. (5:00 PM)
• Rock The Park In Downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. (6:30 PM)
• Whiskey And Barrel Nite at Armature Works. (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Cena Tampa's executive chef shared the restaurant's latest successes and what it is like to beat Bobby Flay with TBBJ. (Subscription: Tampa Business Journal)
• Support St. Pete's Spring For The Arts and Creative Clay, when you buy items with the event logo, such as hats, shirts, computer accessories, home decor, and more. (Twitter)
• A fundraiser for a 9-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet in Robles Park is up and running to help with the cost of her family's mounting medical and household bills. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• On Tuesday two Tampa Bay area teachers were surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award. (ABC Action News)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Spring Fling Market in Seminole Heights (April 9)
• 4-Course Dinner & Auction to benefit Wheels of Success - presented by Santander Consumer USA (April 11)
• Open House: St Pete Beach Home for Sale (April 13)
• Add your event

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with 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.