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

It will be cool to start Saturday, but we will warm to the low to mid 70s in the afternoon.

Expect plenty of sunshine and light winds.

Low temperatures fall to the mid 50s at night with low 40s north. 

Highs: 74

Lows: 55

Rain Coverage: 0% 

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Today's Big Stories

1. St. Pete Beach hurricane-damaged hotel keeps spring break spirit alive
A handful of St. Pete Beach’s most popular hotels still haven’t reopened since Hurricane Helene, but one historically busy spring break spot is doing everything they can to keep the spirit of the season alive.

2. Florida law enforcement officers arrest suspected Venezuelan gang member for ICE
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol on Thursday made what state and federal authorities said was the first arrest in the United States under the Alien Enemies Act, the Department of Homeland Securities announced today.

3. Heathrow says some flights will resume after fire cut power to Europe's busiest airport
Heathrow Airport said it planned to resume some flights today after a large fire at an electrical substation knocked out power to Europe's busiest flight hub and disrupted global travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

4. Cold weather shelter opening in Citrus County Friday night
A cold weather shelter is opening in Citrus County this evening ahead of temperatures expecting to drop.

5. Trump assigns student loans to Small Business Administration, school nutrition programs to Health and Human Services
One day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Education Department, he announced new homes for some of its most critical functions.

6. USF Bulls prepared for a tournament run earlier in the season
USF’s path to the NCAA Tournament has been paved brick by brick. And the journey can be traced all the way back to the first two months of the season.

 

Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

  • TIGERS MEET TIGERS | The Detroit Tigers, who have been in Lakeland for spring training, recently enjoyed a visit by some team members to Disney World during a break from their schedules. Pitchers Tyler Holton and Will Vest, infielders Zach McKinstry and Colt Keith and outfielder Matt Vierling visited Animal Kingdom, where they enjoyed attractions such as Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris, according to Disney World officials. A high point of the trip was meeting a critically endangered nearly six-month-old Sumatran tiger, Bakso, the newest resident at the park. The Detroit Tigers will play the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow at 6:05 p.m.
The Detroit Tigers visit Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. (Courtesy of Olga Thompson/Walt Disney World Resort)
Bakso, a critically endangered Sumatran tiger, at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. (Courtesy of Olga Thompson/Walt Disney World Resort)
  • TRAFFIC NOTES | There will be a lot of traffic this weekend in Palm Harbor for the Valspar Championship. Drivers should expect delays along U.S. 19, Belcher Road, Klosterman Road and Alt 19 near the Innisbrook resort. The event goes through Sunday. Looking ahead to next week, the new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge is set to open.
  • BOLTS THIS WEEKEND | The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the road this weekend, with games tomorrow at Utah (5 p.m.) and Sunday at Las Vegas (8 p.m.). The Bolts have won three in a row. They return home Tuesday with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena.
  • HYDE PARK VILLAGE ART FAIR | Exquisite works of original art will line Tampa’s historic streets during the 32nd Annual Hyde Park Village Art Fair tomorrow and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Oils, acrylics, expert woodworking, hand-blown glasswork, life-sized sculpture and more will be displayed. Admission is free.


           NATIONAL NOTES        

Saturday, March 3/22

  • Trump will be in PA for NCAA wrestling
  • WWF's Earth Hour rolls across the globe /Lights turned off across every continent for Earth Hour
  • NCAA Men's Basketball Second Round begins
  • NCAA Women's March Madness First Round continues
  • Birthday of James Tiberius Kirk, captain of the starship USS Enterprise in the TV show 'Star Trek'. The character was born 22 Mar 2233 at an unknown location, though residents of Riverside, IA, claim him as their own. Today is also the 94th birthday of William Shatner, who played the part of Kirk from 1966-1969 and in seven of the subsequent movies
  • World Water Day, an international observance that highlights the importance of fresh water and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources

Sunday, March 3/23

  • NCAA Women's Basketball Second Round
  • National Puppy Day, celebrating puppies and encouraging adoption 
  • Mark Twain Prize for American Humor presented to Conan O'Brien
  • Opening night for 'Othello' on Broadway starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal
  • Pakistani military marks Republic Day with an annual military parade, a display of nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems

ICYMI

Polk County tax collector to reduce customer capacity at historicial Lakeland location

Starting Monday, a well-known tax collector’s office in Lakeland will cut the number of customers it serves daily because of floor repairs.