Good evening, Tampa Bay. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

Warm and muggy conditions are expected this weekend. A weak front approaches the area, but you won’t notice it. It will remain warm and humid this weekend with highs in the 80s to low 90s. The warmest temperatures will be inland. Boaters can expect a pleasant day on the water.

Tomorrow's Forecast

Lows: 60s and 70s Highs: 80s and 90s Warm and muggy

Klystron 9 Radar | Neighborhood Radars

Today's Big Stories

1. Tampa Bay restaurant owners, workers cite multiple reasons for employee shortage
Across the Tampa Bay region, the dearth of hospitality workers continues to dominate local news headlines, and employees, owners and managers alike have taken to social media to bemoan a shortage of job applicants.

2. Florida Politics: Tax relief package to include ‘Freedom Week’ for outdoor activities
Three tax holidays will provide an estimated $134.6 million of relief. Those proposals include the disaster preparedness tax holiday, an extended back-to-school holiday, and a new weeklong holiday for outdoor activities and products.

3. U.S. to restrict most travel from India amid COVID-19 surge

India is experiencing a record surge in COVID-19 variants and cases. The country reported nearly 400,000 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, with more than 18.7 million cases in the country, a total second only to the United States which leads the world with more than 32 million reported cases.

4. U.S. surpasses 100 million fully vaccinated for COVID-19
Nearly 144 million Americans, or 43.3% of the population, had received at least one vaccine dose as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

5. Where does President Biden stand on key promises after 100 days?
According to an Associated Press tally, Biden made somewhere around 61 promises to the American public for his first 100 days, pledging to tackle policy issues ranging from climate change to tax reform.

6. SpaceX Crew-1's return home now set for Sunday morning
The SpaceX Crew-1 team is staying in the packed International Space Station for another day as wind-speed concerns push back their return home.

Your Notes for Tonight and This Weekend

• FIRST OF 3: The Tampa Bay Rays take on the Houston Astros in the first of a 3-game series tonight at The Trop. First pitch flies at 7:10.


• WALK FOR PEACE: In celebration of World Labrynth Day, the public is invited to Walk for World Peace at Tampa’s Franciscan Center tomorrow from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.


• DEFEAT ALS: Another walk for a cause — this one is at Armature Works. The Saturday even will raise money for ALS awareness


• SCHEDULED FOR SPLASHDOWN: After a few delays, NASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday 2:57 a.m. EDT for Crew-1 to slash down in the Gulf of Mexico