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

A few showers are possible in the morning as the front to our south lifts northward across the area.

Skies will be partly cloudy.

High temperatures will reach into the 80s.

The afternoon sea breeze will likely initiate more showers and some storms.

Keep an eye on Klystron 9.

Highs: 82

Lows: 69

Rain Coverage: 40%

 

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Spring Break: Free, low-cost programs for Tampa Bay kids
For working families, a number of cities are offering free or low-cost week long camps. Another option is spring break programs offered through local YMCA branches, that in many cases are open to non-members.

2. All 6 airmen on U.S. refueling plane that crashed in Iraq are dead, U.S. military says
All six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran are dead, the U.S. military said today, after their plane crashed in western Iraq.

3. Manatee County launches Mixon Farms Market
The former Mixon Fruit Farms property, now owned by Manatee County, will be filled with vendors when a new farmers market holds its first event Sunday.

4. As a revival comes to Gas Plant District, more attempts to maintain its past
As the future of St. Petersburg’s historic Gas Plant District is still unfolding, an effort is underway to preserve its past.

5. Starlink launched pushed back to Saturday morning
For a second time, the Starlink launch has been pushed back. This time, to tomorrow morning.  

 

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

TRAFFIC NOTE | There is a big closure on U.S. 98 this weekend that will send drivers out of their way. It’s between County Road 54 and Old Lakeland Highway at the Polk-Pasco line. The closure starts at 8 p.m. tonight and goes to 6 a.m. Monday. Drivers will have take a nearly eight-mile detour to get around it. The closure is so crews can install drainage pipes and repair the pavement. View a detour map.

WEEKEND SPORTS | The Tampa Bay Rays have games tomorrow against the Minnesota Twins in Ft. Myers and on sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Port Charlotte. Both games start at 1:05 p.m. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night at Benchmark International Arena, with a puck drop time of 7 p.m. And on Sunday, a number of state basketball teams will learn their seeing and opponent for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Florida, USF, UCF and Miami are all likely to qualify.

RIVER O’GREEN | The annual Tampa event that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day will take place tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Park and will include dyeing the Hillsborough River green. Watch our On The Town preview.

Gold Award Girl Scout Shea Polley (center) says she is inspired by her grandmother Laurie Pharr (left) and mother Leesa Polley, whom both were scouts. (Spectrum News/Roy De Jesus)

Tampa Bay area Girl Scout Shea Polley has reached an important milestone: She has sold more than 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in her years as a scout.

While that is a monumental achievement, it is her other Gold Award projects and legacy that are just as inspiring.