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

Thursday will be partly cloudy with scattered showers and storms around.

Highs will be near 90. Showers could hit at any point in the day, but they will be more off than on. 

Lows will fall to the upper 70s at night. 

High: 90 Low: 78 Rain Coverage: 40%

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Today's Big Stories

1. Army veteran deployed 10 times after 9/11 honored at remembrance ceremony
A U.S. Army veteran who spent much of his career as a Special Forces Green Beret in command of hundreds of soldiers was honored at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony Wednesday.

2. U.S. inflation reaches 3-year low as Federal Reserve prepares to cut interest rates
The post-pandemic spike in U.S. inflation eased further last month as year-over-year price increases reached a three-year low, clearing the way for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week.

3. Hurricane Francine will make landfall in Louisiana this evening
Francine is a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, with sustained winds of 90 mph. It’s moving northeast, heading toward Louisiana, where it is expected to make landfall later this evening.

4. SpaceX to launch AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites
The Falcon 9 rocket will launch the BlueBird 1-5 mission from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Thursday at 4:52 a.m. ET, according to AST SpaceMobile.

5. Johnson pulls vote on bill to avoid government shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson pulled a vote Wednesday on a temporary spending bill that would keep federal agencies and programs funded for six months when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1.

6. Mega Millions jackpot winning ticket sold at Texas gas station
It’s the highest jackpot won by a Texas ticket worth an estimated prize of $800 million or $404.2 million cash. The ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in Sugar Land, a suburb southwest of Houston.

7. Florida Politics: Florida Marijuana Policy Conference will tackle recreational pot, rescheduling and banking
The 2024 Florida Marijuana Policy Conference will be a timely opportunity for the cannabis industry to spotlight one of the hottest ballot initiatives this election cycle, which seeks to legalize marijuana for recreational use among adults 21 and older.

8. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Uceta, manager Cash suspended after incident vs. Phillies
The incident happened while the Phillies were scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to eventually win, 9-4.
 

Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

• RAYS LOOK TO AVOID SWEEP: The Tampa Bay Rays will try to salvage the finale of their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The teams were tied in the eighth inning of last night's game before the Phillies scored five runs to win, 9-4. Shane Baz gets the start for Tampa Bay, with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m.

• TRAFFIC ALERT: East Hanna Avenue is closed between North 22nd Street and North 23rd Street as the Tampa Water Department returns to complete a more permanent repair following earlier work to repair a water main break. There will be barricades and signs in the area to help reroute traffic. The work is expected to be completed with a return to normal traffic patterns by tomorrow at 5 p.m., weather permitting.

• HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS 2024: Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights is now open, running on select nights through Nov. 3. Officials said that guests can expect a new collection of spooky experiences, including 10 all-new movie-quality haunted houses inspired by cinematic greats and eerie original stories created by members of Universal themselves, and five scare zones. View more details about Halloween Horror Nights.

        
           NATIONAL NOTES        

           Thursday, Sept 12

• Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump attends campaign fundraising evening reception in Los Angeles
• Pretrial hearing for former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein as prosecutors bring 'new sexual assault charges and rape claims against Weinstein that occurred in Manhattan' to court. 
• Unemployment weekly claims report
• Black Conservative Federation concludes 'BCF Bus Tour' in support of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump today in Baltimore
• London Fashion Week Spring/Summer, exhibition for ready-to-wear designer fashion and trade show for buyers opens. Today's designers include Harris Reed and Hu Bing * Celebrities expected