🌱 Tampa Police Chief Approved + Busch Gardens Food & Wine Fest

Good day, neighbors! Carlos Hernandez here with a fresh copy of the Tampa Daily.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and humid. High: 83 Low: 70.

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Here are the top five stories in Tampa today:

1. Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival is in its 7th year. The festival will run Friday to Sunday through May 22 from noon until the park closes. Attendees can pair more than 20 new dishes from the Culinary Cabins with 40 wines and craft beers, and cocktails including three drinks concocted to celebrate the newly opened Iron Gwazi, the world's tallest roller coaster. Concerts will also be held and include artists, such as Latin Explosion, 3 Doors Down, Tito Nieves, and Scott Stapp of Creed. (Tampa Patch)

2. Tampa City Council confirmed Mary O'Connor as police chief Thursday in a 4-2 vote, following 37 days of controversy surrounding her appointment by Mayor Jane Castor. Councilmen Orlando Gudes and Bill Carlson voted "no," both citing the flawed selection process led by Castor's administration. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. The Bachelor Live On Stage is coming to St. Petersburg's Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater on Wednesday, April 13. It is hosted by Bachelor Nation favorite Becca Kufrin, winner of season 22 of The Bachelor. Tickets are now available. (That's So Tampa)

4. Two Tampa men are among a group of suspects facing felony charges for allegedly tampering with gas pumps and stealing fuel. Florida officials are sounding the alarm about an uptick of piracy at the pumps amid record gas prices. (Fox 13 Tampa)

5. A Tampa man walking his dog was killed by a neighbor in a speeding car, deputies say. Wynard "Henk" Kruining, a father of 3, was fatally injured on February 1 as he crossed West Broad Street. 23-year-old Oscar Gonzalez was driving between 48 and 53 miles per hour when he struck Kruining. He is charged with vehicular homicide. (Tampa Bay Times)

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Today in Tampa:

• Verde: Poetics Of Shade Exhibit at Tampa Museum Of Art. (9:00 AM)
• Free Adoptions In Honor Of Betty White at Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center. (10:00 AM)
• Heritage Photo Coasters at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (2:00 PM)
• Comedy and Cocktails at Dark Door Spirits. (7:00 PM)
• FMX Presents: Sunshine Cinema at The University Of Tampa College Of Arts and Letters. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Popular beer bar chain Yard House is looking to open in downtown Tampa at Jeff Vinik's Tampa Water Street. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• Florida lawmakers awarded a total of $706 million to Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center over the next 30 years to help the non-profit build a life sciences innovation district on vacant land just east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52 in Pasco County. (WUSF)
• Former Tampa City Councilman Dingfelder, who is a realtor on the side, was helping the owners of a private property adjacent to Woodlawn Cemetery sell it. He was involved in the deal years before he became a city councilman, but should have not been involved in the votes for the property. Tampa's City attorney noted Dingfelder violated the city's ethics code. (ABC Action News)
• The Tampa Bay Lightning has signed NCAA Free Agent defenseman Declan Carlile to an entry-level contract. It will start with the 2022-23 season. (Raw Charge)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.