Tampa Mask Showdown + Seminole Height Steeple + Relief Funds

Happy Saturday, people of Tampa! Here's everything you need to know today in town.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 91 Low: 77.

Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. Parents in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County are setting up for a mask showdown before school begins. They are currently passing around petitions to bring masks to school as COVID-19 surges. (Tampa Patch)

2. Tampa’s Old Seminole Heights Baptist Church steeple has found a new home at Ella’s. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. Governor DeSantis is objecting to vaccine mandates at hospitals for both visitors and employees as the battle continues over COVID-19 vaccine requirements in Florida. Some hospitals have instituted vaccine requirements for employees as floors fill with COVID-19 patients and amid a nursing shortage. (Fox 35 Orlando)

4. Nearly $216 million was awarded to Tampa Bay restaurants from COVID relief funds. A list of the top restaurants shows the top recipients included Irish 31 Pub, The Getaway, Chili's, Bascom’s Steakhouse, and more. (WFLA)

5. A 16-year-old patient at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville died from COVID-19 Thursday, according to a statement from the hospital. The number of kids hospitalized has been on the rise as the delta variant spreads in the state. (WFLA)

Today in Tampa

• WWE Star Titus O'Neil To Host Back To School Bash. (9:00 AM)
• 'Jaw' Star Richard Dreyfuss To Appear At SharkCon 7. (9:00 AM)
• Back-2-School Health Clinic - Hillsborough County Schools. (9:00 AM)
• Ybor Saturday Morning Market. (9:00 AM)
• Sarasota Back to School Bash at The Mall at UTC. (9:00 AM)
• Sensory Saturdays at Community Roots Collective. (10:00 AM)
• Florida Penguin Back to School Extravaganza - Clearwater. (10:00 AM)
• Bank of America Museums on Us Weekend. (10:00 AM)
• PETFEST @ Chill Cawfee. (11:00 AM)
• Rosé All Day Saturdays w/ EDX at WTR. (12:00 PM)
• Parents and Pints Day at Bullfrog Creek Brewing Co. (12:00 PM)
• Korn In Concert At MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. (6:30 PM)

Tampa Patch Notebook

• Tampa Bay Times: "Don't be afraid, local Democrats tell school boards, urging them to push back against the governor and get masks on s..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Is DeSantis governing, campaigning or both? Depends how you look at it." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "“It’s not something I support,” DeSantis said when asked about the issue during a news conference at Tampa General Ho..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "The $1.85 million he would be paid would equate to $50,000 for each year he was wrongfully incarcerated." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "The lawsuit from a faculty union, professors and students argues, in part, that the new law is meant to “to target an..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Located near Scientology's headquarters, the house was sold by the same trust that owns the actor's Ocala mansion." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Eleni Peca, the mother of 27-year-old Joana Peca, delivered an emotional speech at a news conference in St. Petersbur..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Pandemic-related unemployment is helping fuel the 5 million Floridians expected to enroll in Medicad this year." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "As of Friday morning, Spirit already had more than 14 times the number of daily cancellations as the next-highest U.S..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "BREAKING: Florida’s leading environmental agency is suing Piney Point's private owner over the leak that set off an e..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Disney World will sell new annual passes again" (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Florida has spent more than $45.7 million on the environmental emergency at the old Piney Point fertilizer plant. Now..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "What is the school district’s mask policy? How safe are vaccines for children? Here are the answers to those and plen..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Joana Peca's mother Eleni pleaded for help Thursday to find the man accused of shooting her daughter in the face whil..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Tampa's City Council called on the city to move to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2035:" (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "The duo compares favorably to the greatest sports rivalries of all time." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Immigrant detentions are soaring despite President Biden’s campaign promises, more than doubling since the end of Feb..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "A state contract said the $1,000 bonuses to teachers and first responders would feature a governor's logo. The state ..." (Facebook)
• The University of Tampa: "Every summer, a group of driven UT students are awarded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships from the UT Office ..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "The man charged in the 2014 slaying of a Tarpon Springs doctor has pleaded guilty — but not to murder." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Yet another sign the air travel industry is rebounding." (Facebook)
• TAMPA Downtown Magazine: "Best of the City voting ends Monday 8/5. Vote all weekend to get your favorites on the list. Link in bio. Best of t..." (Instagram)
• Kiera | Tampa Bay Foodie: "Celebrated #NationalOysterDay with these beauties from @heightsseafoodco! Super fresh with great flavor. They are..." (Instagram)

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You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? I'm all ears. You can contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com.