With a move to the east, now category one Hurricane Eta has the Bay area and a great deal of the west coast of Florida under a hurricane watch, a tropical storm warning and a storm surge watch. For constant updates from the National Hurricane Center as our weather partners from 10 Tampa Bay please check back with the Dove Hurricane Guide. Two other systems are being tracked with subtropical Storm Theta out in the eastern Atlantic that’s no threat to the U.S,; another disturbance in the Caribbean has a very good chance of developing over the next five days.
The Ray’s Kevin Cash was named AL Manager of the Year Tuesday. Cash took the Rays to the World Series, losing in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Voting was wrapped up by the Baseball Writers' Association of America before the beginning of the playoffs. Cy Young winners will be announced tonight and league MVP’s Thursday.
Things got a little out of control at the Pinellas County School Board meeting in Largo. One woman was arrested for refusing to wear a mask in the lobby outside the meeting room. Many of the parents at the meeting wanted the mask order lifted for kids inside classrooms, but the board did vote 4 to 1 to continue requiring the order for face coverings for students and teachers inside classrooms.
Another 4,353 coronavirus cases were reported in Florida Tuesday. The state total is now 852,174 with 17,248 Florida residents losing their lives to the virus. The Florida Department of Health has changed the time cases are announced each day. They’ll now do it in the evening instead of 11 am each day. For information from the Florida Department of Health the COVID-19 Call Center is open 24/7 at 1-866-779-6121. You can also reach them by email at covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.
Residents of long-term care facilities can join their families for the holidays under new state rules but must be screened, not tested, for symptoms before returning to the facilities. If a resident does have symptoms they must quarantine. Many groups are concerned over residents being allowed back in without testing.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has a new program to keep those porch pirates away and keep you purchases safe. Operation Pinch-A-Grinch will allow you to ship packages right to HCSO district sites for pickup directly from deputies. The completely free program runs through December 21st, but will be closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
The Bucs lost for the second time this season to the Saints 38-3 last Sunday. Tom Brady was intercepted three times while Drew Brees threw four touchdowns. That puts the Saints in first place. The Bucs will take on the Carolina Panthers Sunday at 1 pm on the road.