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 another cold start to the day for Tuesday, but highs will climb to the mid 60s in the afternoon.

Expect plenty of sunshine and light and variable winds.

Temperatures will fall to the 40s around Tampa Bay at night with 30s north and inland.

Highs: 65

Lows: 44

Rain Coverage: 0%

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Duke says it’s not anticipating any rolling blackouts during cold snap
Duke Energy asked customers to voluntarily reduce their energy use this morning, in response to the extremely cold temperatures driving unusually high demand for electricity.

2. Rays hint they will pay at least half of cost of new stadium
The Tampa Bay Rays suggest the team would cover at least 50 percent of the cost for a new baseball stadium, as ballpark discussions are back on the agenda at Wednesday’s meeting of Hillsborough County commissioners.

3. Tampa mother concerned with charter school bus stop safety
The stop was moved this school year away from the neighborhood.

4. Justice Department says it’s taken down Epstein-related files that may have had victim information
The Justice Department said today that it had taken down several thousand documents and “media” that may have inadvertently included victim-identifying information since it began releasing the latest batch of documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on Friday.

5. Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, forecasting 6 more weeks of wintry weather
Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of wintry weather today, a forecast sure to disappoint many after what’s already been a long, cold season across large parts of the United States.

 

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

TAMPA TRAFFIC ALERT | All lanes of North Albany Avenue are closed between West Sligh Avenue and West Norfolk Street while the Tampa Water Department performs a more permanent restoration following earlier repairs on a water main break. Additionally, the outside westbound lane of West Sligh Avenue is closed between North Fremont Avenue and North Howard Avenue. The completion of the work with a return to normal traffic patterns is expected by Thursday, Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. The Tampa Water Department may need to return at a later date to complete additional work. 
POLK WATER OUTAGE | Polk County Utilities staff are working to repair a damaged potable water main on Banana Road in Lakeland. About 225 residents in the Lake James and Harrison Place subdivisions are experiencing a water outage. Updates will be provided as work on the repair continues. Commuters should avoid the area if possible or expect delays. For questions, please contact Polk County Utilities customer service at (863)-298-4100 or (863)-534-7351.

‘I VOTED’ STICKER DESIGN | Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer is challenging high school students to design a new “I Voted” sticker for Hillsborough County voters. The first-place design will be reproduced as stickers and given to voters during the 2026 primary and general elections. Three finalists will be selected, and one will be named the grand prize winner. To read more details and download the entry packet, students should visit VoteHillsborough.gov/VHContests. The submission deadline is March 6.

BAYSHORE TRAIL IMPROVEMENT MEETING | Clearwater residents are invited to attend an informational meeting about how the funds from the Land and Recreation Grant will be used for upcoming improvements along the Bayshore Trail on Feb. 3 at Moccasin Lake Nature Park from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. City staff will share details about the replacement of the existing boardwalk, new exercise equipment planned for Coopers Bayou Park, and the installation of a new trailhead at the intersection of Bayshore and Gulf-to-Bay boulevards near the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
 

National Notes

Tuesday, Feb. 3

3rd anniversary of train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
Suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting appears in court 4pm ET
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
Pre-Super Bowl media events, with the head coaches and nine players from both teams
U.S. Housing Vacancies
Arraignment for Dem Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, charged with stealing federal disaster funds 1:30pm ET
Pretrial conference for labor union leader arrested at immigration raid protest 12pm LA
Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on proposed Netflix-Warner Brothers transaction 2:30p

Cynthia Henderson served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s. (Spectrum News)

A Citrus County woman started a group for other female veterans like herself. She also spearheaded an effort to get a monument for female vets built and placed in front of the historic county courthouse in Inverness.