🌱 Valspar Championship PGA Tour​ + Seminole Heights Homicides

Good morning, Tampa! Let's get you all caught up to start this Saturday, March 12 off on an informed note. Here's everything happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Strong winds subsiding. High: 76 Low: 38.

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Here are the top five stories in Tampa today:

1. The world's top-ranked golfers will meet in Pinellas County's Palm Harbor at Innisbrook Golf Resort next week for one of the PGA Tour's most-watched tournaments, The Valspar Championship PGA Tour. The event will run from Monday, March 14 to Sunday, March 20. (Palm Harbor Patch)

2. Tampa Police Department says they have charged a suspect with homicide in the deaths of Linda Harris and Jenny De Leon, two women who were found dead in abandoned houses in Seminole Heights less than two miles apart last year. Damien Marshall was developed as a person of interest using surveillance, DNA, and investigative techniques and later became a suspect, according to police. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. USF student Alexis Yahre is sharing her love for nature through an award-winning documentary film on Florida's state parks that will premiere at the Gasparilla International Film Festival on Sunday, March 13 at 3:45 p.m. Her film is called "Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks" and features local organizations including Nature's Classroom, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, and Save The Manatee. (WUSF)

4. Former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of a man who tried to shoplift from his store. Dunn shot Cristobal Lopez as Lopez tried to steal a hatchet from Dunn’s military surplus store, Vets Plus. Dunn's lawyers tried to dismiss the case with the "stand your ground" defense, but prosecutors argued that it would not apply in this situation. (WFLA)

5. Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously to name the district's new school, Dorothy C. York PreK-8 Magnet School, last month. The school is located in the Waterset by Newland community off of U.S. Highway 301. Dorothy Carter York was well-known locally for her work at Blake High School, Hillsborough High School, Hillsborough Community College, and USF's Project Upward Bound. (Osprey Observer)

Today in Tampa:

• 57th Annual Chiselers Market at University Of Tampa. (9:00 AM)
• Dino & Dragon Stroll at Tampa Convention Center. (9:00 AM)
• Vintage Roost Market. (9:00 AM)
• Ybor City Walking Tour at The Cuban Club. (10:00 AM)
• Skywatch at MOSI. (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Standard time will give way to daylight saving time on Sunday morning, March 13 at 2 a.m. in just about every state in the U.S. Don't forget to set your clock forward tonight. (WFLA)
• The Glazer Children's Museum has opened a new exhibit in partnership with South Tampa's Dairy Joy. The new kids' ice cream parlor is retro-styled with black and white checkered floors and opens today. (ABC Action News)
• Foreigner is returning to Clearwater for a concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Monday, March 14. Only one member of the original Foreigner still plays with the band, although its on and off. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• 49-year-old Timothy Kasprik called Suncoast Health about his health insurance and threatened to "blow up" Northside Hospital. He has been arrested and charged with threat to discharge a destructive device. (WFLA)
• The Humane Society of Pinellas County is about to begin a $5 million expansion with a new adoption facility that will double capacity. Construction is expected to begin this summer. (Fox 13 Tampa)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Making Sense of Your Medicare Choices (March 10)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 12)
• Gulfport Stand-Up Comedy Show (March 12)
• Screenings of On The Road - Kerouac Centennial Event (March 12)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 13)
• Social Security Seminar 3/14 & 3/16 (March 14)
• Downtown St. Pete Food Tour (March 15)
• Jazz on the Lawn @ Riverwalk STEM Academy (March 27)
• Creating Income in a Low Interest Rate Environment (March 29)
• Add your event

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That's it for today. I'll be 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.