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 be a bit drier in terms of rain, but still hot and humid. 

Expect partly sunny skies with highs near 90. 

Expect a breeze out of the east at 10 to 20 mph. 

We will see a chance of a stray afternoon shower, but many stay dry. 

Lows will fall to the mid 70s at night. 

Highs: 90

Lows: 75

Rain Coverage: 20%

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Tropical Update

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Tampa Bay Rays’ new owners outline future for team, hopes for stadium
Tampa Bay Rays Managing Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski, Co-Chair Bill Cosgrove and Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby met with reporters at Steinbrenner Field.

2. Pinellas officials calling for safe removal of lithium batteries from public
The batteries can burst into flames if they’re punctured, damaged, or come into contact with salt water.

3. Tropical Storm Jerry forms in the Atlantic
Tropical Storm Jerry has maximum winds of 45 mph and is quickly moving westward at 24 mph. It’s expected to slow down and eventually turn northward during the next couple of days.

4. As government shutdown continues, House speaker says Democrats’ priorities are ‘absurd’
On the seventh day of the federal government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he agrees with President Donald Trump about working with the Democrats to address health care funding but will only do so after the government reopens.

5. Despite law, Trump says he may deprive some federal workers of back pay
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration may circumvent a law he signed in 2019 that mandates furloughed federal workers receive back pay for the days and weeks of missed time due to a government shutdown.

6. DeSantis announces over 9,400 law enforcement recruitment bonuses since 2022
In addition to the bonus, the governor’s office said “benefits of becoming a Florida law enforcement officer include financial stability, upward mobility, health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs, and more.”
 

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

CSX CROSSING MAINTENANCE | Four eastern Hillsborough County roads will be closed for four days each in the coming weeks as CSX does railroad crossing maintenance. County crews also will be on site to ensure the roads have smooth transitions across the finished tracks. The closures include: Parsons Avenue between East Clay Street and Victoria Street until Oct. 10; Falkenburg Road between East Broadway Avenue and Nancy Watkins Drive from Oct. 20 to Oct. 24; Sydney Washer Road between Salem Church Road and Sydney Dover Road from Oct. 27 to Oct. 31; and South Forbes Road between Sydney Road and Varnadore Lane from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7. 

BLUE ORIGIN MISSION | Blue Origin plans to send up six space tourists on a New Shepard launch on Wednesday morning. And the sixth person is a bit of a mystery. Read more details about the mission here. 

POLK COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS | Polk County commissioners are looking for volunteers who would like to serve on the county’s Lakes Access Advisory Committee. The Lakes Access Advisory Committee studies how to increase public access to Polk County’s lakes and reports findings and recommendations back to the commission. The Lakes Access Advisory Committee includes 10 members appointed by the commissioners. If you are interested in becoming a member, submit your resume and cover letter to ambersmith@polk-county.net by the end of business day on Oct. 27, 2025.
 

National Notes

Wednesday, Oct 8

U.S. Supreme Court hears GOP Rep. Michael Bost’s challenge to mail-in voting
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee’s probe into the Jeffrey Epstein controversy
Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes and economic forecast published
Competency hearing for man charged with murdering Los Angeles bishop
Forbes World’s Best Employers List published
Nobel Prize in Chemistry announced
Draconids meteor shower due to peak

 

Geraldine Hermida is a second grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary in Tampa. (Spectrum Bay News 9)

This week’s A+ Teacher spent 15 years in the financial industry before switching careers. Geraldine Hermida said during the pandemic she decided to pursue teaching.

 

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