County approves four-lane roads around the Rays stadium site

Tampa police are again teaming up with the Institute for Police Technology and Management and the University of North Florida on a statewide campaign to cut serious and fatal crashes involving people on foot and on bikes. Through May 2027, expect more officers on city roads doing targeted enforcement and outreach about Florida traffic laws and how drivers, walkers and riders share the street. Focus areas include Fowler Avenue, Busch Boulevard, Nebraska Avenue, Florida Avenue, Kennedy Boulevard, Hillsborough Avenue, Dale Mabry Highway, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and downtown. The effort is part of FDOT's Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow initiative and focuses on places where severe crashes have happened before.

The city is warning of heavier-than-usual traffic downtown on Saturday, Oct. 17, and notes that its event list is not exhaustive. The Walk to End Alzheimer's starts at 9 a.m. at Benchmark International Arena and Bayshore Boulevard. Art Fair Tampa opens at 10 a.m. at the Tampa Convention Center, followed by the National Franchise Expo there at 11 a.m. The Tampa Pig Jig starts at 1 p.m. in Julian B. Lane Park, the Lightning play at 4 p.m. at Benchmark International Arena, and USF football kicks off at 7 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium. The Straz has shows at 6, 7:30 and 8 p.m. The city suggests planning ahead, leaving extra time and watching for pedestrians near event areas, or skipping the car for the free TECO Line Streetcar, DASH, HART buses, scooters or bikes.

Tampa's Charter Review Advisory Commission finished after 15 meetings, and City Council is now choosing which of its ideas go to voters. One would create an independent inspector general to investigate city contracts, programs and spending for fraud, waste and abuse. The commission's version needed a referral to open a case and could subpoena interviews but not records. Council strengthened it so the watchdog can start its own investigations and subpoena records, and accepted that language unanimously on Oct. 1. The commission also proposed a city zoning hearing officer to help decide what gets built. Commission attorney Kenneth Tinkler is expected to bring revised language on Oct. 15, with a public hearing set for Nov. 5 and final adoption Nov. 19 if Council moves ahead. Each amendment needs a two-thirds Council vote and goes through the ordinance process, where the mayor can sign or veto it, before reaching the March ballot alongside races for mayor and City Council.

Florida's State Board of Immigration Enforcement, made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his cabinet, gives grants to agencies whose officers are trained for federal immigration enforcement through the 287(g) program. It approved $430,000 for the Tampa Police Department and $270,000 for Plant City police, $700,000 for the two departments combined. Neither has reported an immigration arrest to the state, and the board's dashboard shows no arrests under federal immigration authority. In Tampa, 32 encounters ended in arrests, all on state criminal charges that would have happened regardless of the 287(g) agreement.

Inside Kress Contemporary, Honey Gallery opens "Microdose," a group show and fashion presentation that uses well-known corporate logos to comment on healing and consumer culture, from gallery owner Effren Denson, artist Eito Ohashi and local resident artists. It is one of more than 40 stops, from artist studios and galleries to stages and hospitality spots, open 4 to 9 p.m. with free admission. The self-guided evening mixes gallery art with live performances and readings, and Gallery114@HC on the Ybor City Campus and Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery are also on the map. The tour runs twice a year and centers on venues that hold space for public art all year. A venue list and interactive map are at kresscontemporary.com/yborartstour.