Good morning, Tampa Bay. Here’s what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
After another cold morning, temperatures will warm to the mid 60s at the coast to the low 70s inland.
It’s mostly sunny with winds out of the south/southwest around 10 mph.
It will be a nice afternoon for a bike ride or walking the dog.
It will not be as chilly tonight with lows in the low to mid 50s.
Expect some 40s north of Tampa tonight.
High: 59
Low: 43
Rain Coverage: 0%
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Around Tampa Bay
1. Pinellas County school board approves closings, consolidations to adjust to declining enrollment
The board unanimously approved closing Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy, as well as turning Bay Point and Oldsmar into K-8s.
2. Could retractable wall in Tampa Bay prevent storm surge flooding?
The immediate past president of the Shore Acres Civic Association, Kevin Batdorf, has pitched lawmakers on a big idea to install a retractable wall at the entrance of Tampa Bay to protect against storm surge flooding from hurricanes.
3. Anna Maria City Pier set for comeback after $2 million county approval
Manatee County commissioners have approved a grant of up to $2 million to help rebuild the Anna Maria City Pier. In total, it’s a $7 to $8-million project.
4. Manatee County Commissioner Carol Felts dies
Commissioner Carol Felts has died, according to a statement by District 5 Commissioner Dr. Bob McCann.
5. Sarasota another step closer to reopening pier, park and Hart’s Landing
All projects have price tags in the millions, and FEMA will not start paying the city back until the projects reach completion.
6. NASA to roll back its Artemis II moon rocket for repairs
NASA will use a crawler transporter to move the Space Launch System rocket and its Orion capsule back to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Around the Nation & World
1. President Trump’s State of the Union Speech
2. Judge bars government from ‘wholesale’ search of Washington Post reporter’s seized devices
3. Texas Rep. Gonzales resists calls to resign over allegations of an affair with an ex-staffer
4. Iranians worry over American military buildup as next, last-chance round of talks with U.S. nears
Quote of the Day
For some young children in Columbus, Ohio, reading assessments don’t start in the kindergarten classroom — they happen first in the doctor’s office. With concerns rising about lagging childhood literacy rates across the country, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has begun screening children’s literacy skills starting at age 3 during pediatrician visits. The idea is to catch reading struggles early on and guide parents on how to help their kids. “They are all doing developmental screenings, they’re all talking to parents repeatedly,” said Sara Bode, the hospital’s medical director of school-based health. “So this is an opportunity.”