🌱 TPD Officer Accused Of Soliciting Prostitute + Wild Fork Opening

Hi all. I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

First, today's weather:

Sunshine with a shower. High: 94 Low: 80.

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Here are the top five stories in Tampa today:

1. A 25-year-old Tampa Police Department (TPD) officer, Stanley Clerveaux, has been charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution, according to a news release from police. The incident happened in the 4800 block of West Cypress Street, Tampa. Clerveaux has been relieved of duty. (WTSP, Tampa Patch)

2. The city of Tampa launched a campaign Tuesday to inform the public about new state regulations regarding the disposal of cooking grease and oil. It requires restaurants to pump out used grease and accompanying dirty water simultaneously, without letting any water remain in the grease trap. The city is also discouraging residents from flushing toilet wipes. It is an effort to reduce pipe and drain blockage. (Fox 13)

3. Seven years after CSX first said it would consider selling two of its freight lines running through Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, the company has removed the "for sale" sign. The change is dimming hopes for a commuter train in Tampa Bay. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times)

4. Wild Fork Foods has opened a new store in South Tampa at 824 South Dale Mabry Highway. A grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for today. The meat and seafood market specializes in quality beef, pork and chicken, as well as alligator and A5 Wagyu at an affordable price. (That's So Tampa)

5. Hillsborough County School District is asking voters to approve a 1-mil tax increase for schools at the ballot box. Homeowners would face hundreds of dollars in raised taxes based on their property value if passed. Since the pandemic began, resignations and retirements have created more than 1,000 open positions in the school district. (Tampa Patch)

Today in Tampa:

• Get Free McAlister's Deli Famous Sweet Tea For Free Tea Day at McAlister's Deli.(9 a.m.)
• Thirty On Thursday - Curator's Talk at Tampa Museum Of Art (12:30 p.m.)
• Friends Of The Riverview Public Library Monthly Meeting. (1 p.m.)
• Summer Movie: Godzilla Vs. Kong at Thonotosassa Library. (2:30 p.m.)
• Fail Forward at Entrepreneur Collaborative Center. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay saw rents hit $2,106 in May, a 47.9% increase since June 2019, only behind Miami in South Florida for rent increases during this period. Meanwhile, typical home values hit $382,776 in the Tampa Bay area, a 72.5% increase since June 2019. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Business Journal)
• Malu, a four-year-old male orangutan at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, was euthanized on Tuesday after experts were unable to diagnosis a serious health condition. Busch Gardens said on Facebook, "Malu was a beloved member of our zoo family, and our team formed a very special bond caring for him and watching him." (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• Dawning Family Services, a local non-profit, is receiving more calls from homeless families in Tampa amid an affordable housing crisis. The program offers immediate assistance without requiring additional qualifications and helps families with employment support and homeless prevention. (WUSF)
• On a 4-1 vote, Polk County commissioners sided with residents and denied a 242-unit subdivision proposed for rural Kathleen. The main issue was compatibility with the neighborhood. (The Ledger)
• A federal appeals court has sided with the city of Dunedin in its three-year legal battle with a homeowner who racked up $30,000 in fines over uncut grass, in another loss for the homeowner. (WTSP)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Daily? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com