🌱 TPA Prepares For Travel Surge + Local Kid In National Spelling Bee

Hello, friends! It's Saturday in Tampa and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

First, today's weather:

An a.m. shower; partly sunny. High: 88 Low: 75.

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Here are the top five stories today in Tampa:

1. Tampa International Airport and other airports across the country are preparing for what promises to be busy travel months ahead. Busy days are now passing pre-pandemic levels. TPA offers a number of services to help alleviate travel including the TPA To Go on the Grab mobile app and online booking for parking. (Tampa Patch)

2. Tampa City Council asked staff to look into creating a tenant advocacy office and a landlord registry on Thursday. More than 20 residents made emotional pleas for the city to address the uncontrolled rental crisis during the meeting. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. Tampa Bay has officially been classified at “high” risk of COVID-19, federal health officials reported Thursday. Federal guidelines recommend that all residents, regardless of health status, should wear a well-fitting mask in public indoor spaces in 10 Florida counties including Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times)

4. The lawyer for a woman arrested last week in connection to an incident at a Lakeland McDonald’s is accusing Sheriff Grady Judd of ridiculing and mocking her despite mental health problems. Sheriff Judd held a news conference last Friday, detailing an outburst at the McDonald’s, calling Jones "McMad." (WFLA)

5. Bruhat Soma, 10, of Tampa is participating in the 94th Scripps National Spelling Bee next week. It is the first in-person spelling bee since 2019. There will be 234 spellers, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and more at the competition. (ABC Action News)

Today in Tampa:

• Sunshine Market at Midtown Tampa. (10 a.m.)
• Wtr Pool MWD Rosé All Day With Fat Joe & Konstantina Gianni. (noon)
• Tampa Margarita Festival at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. (1 p.m.)
• Land On Your Feet Jazz Festival at Water Works Park. (1:30 p.m.)
• A(R)T House at Cactus Moon. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Hillsborough Community College Lady Hawks Tennis team finished as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national runners-up during the championship tournament held from May 7-11 in Tucson, Arizona. (Tampa Bay Newswire)
• July 4th Boat Parade registration opens June 1 off the Tampa Riverwalk. All registered boaters will receive Champa Bay bags, and participate in the city's poker run for more prizes. (Twitter)
• Frontier Airlines began nonstop flights to Cancun from Tampa starting Friday. The three times weekly service will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (That's So Tampa)
• Brenda McMahon Gallery in Gulfport will kick-off a month long celebration of diversity and creativity in honor of Pride Month starting Friday, June 3. (Tampa Bay Newswire)
• Tommy Del Zoppo, one of the founders of New Hotel Collection, has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the company, which is working on a major expansion of the historic Cordova Inn in downtown St. Petersburg. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next 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