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 warm and somewhat humid day for Thursday.

Highs will be in the low to mid 80s with partly sunny skies.

There will be a small chance of an isolated shower in the afternoon, but most stay dry.

Lows fall to the mid 60s at night. 

Highs: 83

Lows: 67

Rain Coverage: 10%

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Today’s Big Stories

1. After 400+ rescues from Middle East, Grey Bull returns to Tampa
The group helped Americans and people from ally countries escape violence in the region after the start of the war in Iran. That group included 30 members of GT Church in St. Petersburg, who were in Israel on a tour of the holy land.

2. School officials considering start time changes at some Pinellas schools
Parents received a letter about proposed changes at St. Pete High, Dunedin High and Largo Middle and Largo High School.

3. Banged up Rays make adjustments as Opening Day arrives
After a mostly productive spring training, the Tampa Bay Rays are limping into the start of the regular season.

4. Palm Harbor man arrested, accused of making threats against MacDill Air Force Base
Jonathan James Elder, 35, of Palm Harbor, has been arrested and charged with making threats against the base.

5. Democrats, Republicans yield no ground in DHS shutdown fight as travelers face long lines at airports
As the shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding entered its 40th day on Wednesday, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem no closer to resolving their differences.

6. Iran dismisses U.S. ceasefire plan, issues counterproposal as strikes land across the Mideast
Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport.

 

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS | The Tampa City Council will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Old City Hall (315 E. Kennedy Blvd.) The meeting will be streamed on Spectrum Channel 640. To view the meeting agenda, click here. Meanwhile, St. Pete City Council will meet tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers (175 5th St. N). The meeting will be streamed on Spectrum Channel 641. To view the agenda, click here.

BOLTS LATEST | The Tampa Bay Lightning are off tonight before resuming their seven-game homestand tomorrow night with a 7 p.m. matchup against the Seattle Kraken at Benchmark International Arena. That will be followed by home games Saturday against the Ottawa Senators (1 p.m.) and Sunday against the Nashville Predators (5 p.m.).
COMPOST WORKSHOPS | Residents are invited to attend free educational workshops to learn about residential composting and obtain a free compost bin from the city of St. Petersburg. St. Pete’s Composting Program aims to help single-family residential customers minimize their environmental impact by turning kitchen and yard waste into usable, nutrient-rich fertilizer. Workshop dates have been added through 2027 and are free to attend with prior registration. Workshop dates and registration can be found here.

PINELLAS ADOPTION CAMPAIGN | Pinellas County Animal Services is launching a new “Spring Free from the Shelter” adoption campaign to get its longest-waiting pets a fresh start. From now through May 31, it will waive adoption fees for dogs and cats who have been in the shelter’s care for more than 60 days. All adoptable animals are spayed/neutered and come with a microchip with free lifetime registration, age-appropriate vaccinations, a one-year Pinellas County pet license, a bag of pet food and a toy or treat. All adoptions will require its usual screenings for adopters. To see our full list of adoptable dogs, visit pinellas.gov/dogs. For cats, visit pinellas.gov/cats.
 

National Notes

Thursday, March 26

Major League Baseball season begins
Nicolás Maduro and wife in court after capture by U.S. troops
Epstein prison guard scheduled to sit for deposition following Congressional subpoenae 

Jaime Collins is a Plant City native giving pizza a sweet strawberry makeover. Collins is behind this and other menu items at the Berry Sweet Acres Food Truck in Plant City. They’ve worked on these recipes for five months, and Collins gives her recipe for Strawberry Pizza.