🌱 TSA Worker Files Fake Report + 'Back The Blue' Mural Controversy

Hello, neighbors! Carlos Hernandez here with your brand-new issue of the Tampa Daily.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 85 Low: 64.

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Here are the top five stories today in Tampa:

1. A Florida TSA worker is accused of creating a fake police report for a burglary that never happened in order to explain her tardiness to work, deputies said. 34-year-old Taleta Collier of Winter Haven has been charged with criminal use of a personal ID and uttering a false document. (Tampa Patch)

2. A police officer was shot in the arm while responding to a domestic dispute outside a gas station in Pinellas Park, officials said. The man's girlfriend called 911 from the restroom at a Circle K station Tuesday night, saying she had been threatened. (Click Orlando)

3. In a turn of events and nearly two years after the creation of Tampa's entirely illegible "Back The Blue" mural, retired police chief Brian Dugan now says its time for it to come down. Dugan notably resisted changes while police chief and told the Tampa Bay Times in June 2020, "the officers feel like they can't win." Dugan told CL it was a difficult time for him and for law enforcement in the area and they found the mural to be humorous at the time. (Creative Loafing Tampa, Subscription: Tampa Bay Times)

4. Tampa International Airport announced Monday night that masks are optional after the Transportation Security Administration said it will no longer enforce mask wearing after a lawsuit in Florida said the government overstepped its authority on the matter. The changes for both passengers and employees went into effect immediately, according to a statement from the airport. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport also lifted mask requirements. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Fox 13 Tampa Bay)

5. Precinct Pizza owner Rick Drury said Uber Eats has not paid him a dime for orders he’s fulfilled to the tune of $6,000, according to Drury. He added he is losing money on tips, too, because his drivers fulfill every Uber Eats order themselves. He says text messages from Uber Eats representatives are not encouraging. (WFLA)

Today in Tampa:

• Genealogy: Census Records at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (2:00 PM)
• Arthur C. Brooks | From Strength to Strength at Oxford Exchange. (3:00 PM)
• Art On The House at Tampa Museum of Art. (4:00 PM)
• Dr. Seuss' The Lorax at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (5:00 PM)
• Bar Method Class at Armature Works. (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• With three points on Tuesday, Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos has tied Martin St. Louis for most career points in franchise history. Congrats, Stammer. (Facebook)
• WARNING: Graphic Content. A man called the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to capture guinea pigs dumped in Carrollwood. 20-plus are dead including babies. (Facebook)
• Saturday, the City of Tampa will be providing 1,000 free trees to the community as part of a new initiative, Mayor Jane’s Tree Giveaway. Registration is now open for Tampa residents. (Facebook)
• Now through May 1, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Pass Members can save on guest tickets so friends and family can experience the fun too. (Facebook)
• Not every hospital is equipped with a Lift Team, but this month Tampa General Hospital is celebrating 20 years with its team that was created in 2002 to help reduce injuries among nurses and patients. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll be back in your inbox 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.