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

Wednesday will start out mostly dry in the morning, but expect scattered thunderstorms to develop again in the afternoon.

Most of the area will see rain in the afternoon with only a few dry spots near the coast. 

Highs will top off in the upper 80s. Lows on Wednesday night fall to the low 70s. 

Get updates from Klystron 9 before you go on a bike ride or a walk.

High: 87

Low: 71

Rain Coverage: 60% 

Check your hour-by-hour forecast here | Share your weather photos

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Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.

Today's Big Stories

1. DeSantis to announce 2024 bid in Twitter chat with Elon Musk
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to formally announce his long-anticipated presidential campaign tomorrow in a conversation with Twitter owner Elon Musk, a source confirmed to Spectrum News.

2. McCarthy: ‘Nowhere close’ on debt limit deal, but could ‘finish this by June 1’
With a little more than a week to go until the June 1 debt default deadline set forth by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told his conference Tuesday morning that he and the White House are “nowhere near a deal yet."

3. Precautionary boil water notice issued in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Water Resources has issued a precautionary boil water notice for customers in a large area of south-central Hillsborough County.

4. Financial committee approval moves USF on-campus stadium a step closer to reality
The University of South Florida’s vision of an on-campus football stadium moved closer to reality today.

5. Biden admin. seeks input for national AI strategy, announces efforts on research and education
The Biden administration today called for public input as it works to develop a national strategy governing artificial intelligence.

6. Increasing U.S. temperatures have led to more mosquito days
The warm weather months are a time of outdoor fun, from hiking to water activities. But there’s one thing that can make it dreadful - mosquitoes.

7. Disney Parks chairman discusses Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser closure
Disney World announced last week that it is shutting down Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the interactive two-night hotel experience, less than two years after it opened in March 2022.

8. Tampa Bay Times: In Clearwater, engineers build cockpit for Artemis moon mission
At a manufacturing plant off of highway U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road, Honeywell Aerospace engineers are working toward NASA’s mission to return humans to the moon.

 

Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

  • RAYS VS. BLUE JAYS GAME 2: The Tampa Bay Rays seek a second victory at home against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight in a four-game series. Tampa Bay still leads the major leagues with 94 home runs and a recond of 35-14. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.
  • TAMPA TRAFFIC ALERT: Livingston Avenue will be closed between 148th Avenue and 149th Avenue while the Tampa Water Department returns to complete repairs on a water main break. The completion of the work with a return to normal traffic patterns is expected by Friday, May 26 at 5 p.m. Plan your route ahead of time by using our Real Time Traffic Map.
  • FLORIDA PYTHON CHALLENGE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District will be opening registration for the 2023 Florida Python Challenge on Wednesday, May 24 at 10 a.m. The goal of the event is to raise awareness and control the population of pythons due to its invasive nature. Here's how to register.

           
           NATIONAL NOTES        

          Wednesday, May 24

  • 1st anniversary of Uvalde, TX, school shooting
  • Sentencing of man photographed with feet on desk in Nancy Pelosi's office at 6 Jan Capitol Attack
  • Court hearing for Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy for role in 6 Jan U.S. Capitol attack
  • Status conference for police officers charged with depriving Breonna Taylor of her civil rights
  • Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch, carrying Progress 84P cargo spacecraft to the ISS
  • Administration subcommittee hearing on U.S. confidence in elections *
  • Education and the Workforce subcommittee latest hearing on implications of President Biden's student loan policies *
  • Court hearing for Virgin Orbit bankruptcy sale

In Case You Missed It:

 

Straz program supports veterans in the Bay area

Veterans who are struggling as they transition back to civilian life are finding support in a group offered at the Straz Center.