Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties are all under a state of emergency issued by Governor DeSantis Saturday. Officials have been monitoring a containment wall at the Piney Point facility in Palmetto that continues to leak 2-3 millions of gallons of contaminated water a day. Evacuations began earlier this week, and it will affect traffic in the area with US-41 closed to the south from Buckeye Road to Moccasin Wallow Road. Moccasin Wallow Road is also closed west of 38th Avenue East.

Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order banning “vaccine passports.” That’s in effect for the next 90 days and bans any business from banning anyone who can’t prove they’ve been vaccinated. By the way, if you are fully vaccinated " target=_blank>the CDC says you do not have to quarantine or be tested for COVID anymore.

As of Monday, COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to all Florida residents 18 and older. More vaccine doses are on the way that will cover first and second doses with just under 30% of Floridians vaccinated. Please click here for more on the Vaccine in Florida for testing and vaccination sites.

Hillsborough County Public schools may have to cut up to 1,000 jobs. Both the school board and Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association blame the state for not providing necessary funding. Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association President Rob Kriete was part of a recent workshop to talk about those cuts and how to save as many jobs as possible.

The Tampa Pride Parade will be back in May. You will still have to wear a face covering at the event scheduled for May 22nd after being postponed three times last year. We have more event information here.

Cox Media Group