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 day for Tuesday with highs in the upper 70s north with low 80s south and inland.

Expect partly to mostly sunny skies with light winds out of the northeast. 

Lows will fall to near 60 at night with mostly clear skies. 

Highs: 81

Lows: 60

Rain Coverage: 0%

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Is your license plate frame illegal? Florida clarifies new plate law
A Florida law went into effect Oct. 1 and established harsher penalties for anything that obstructs vehicles’ license plates.

2. Flying with gifts? TSA says check your carry-on bag
It’s the holiday season at Tampa International Airport, which means people traveling with gifts should take a second look in their carry-on luggage so they don’t risk getting flagged at the security checkpoint.

3. St. Pete Coast Guard crews helping in search for missing boaters
The U.S. Coast Guard in St. Petersburg is helping in the search for two missing boaters off the coast of Fort Myers.

4. Morris Bridge Road in Pasco County reopens
It had been closed since June for repair work, and the reopening was delayed several times.

5. Access to fresh produce helping stop food insecurity across Pasco County
In the four weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday break, Access to Fresh delivered fresh produce and other food to 15 elementary schools, two low-income senior housing facilities, two Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Food Pantry Thanksgiving Distribution at Life Church.

6. USF QB Byrum Brown hits the transfer portal, ending stellar Bulls’ career
The University of South Florida’s do-it-all quarterback Byrum Brown won’t return for a senior season.

7. Here’s what stores are open, and which ones are closed, on Christmas
From department stores to grocery stores, most retailers across the U.S. close early on Christmas Eve and shut their doors entirely on Christmas Day — while others opt to cut back hours. But there’s also a handful of businesses that will be open during the holiday.

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Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

BOLTS THIS WEEK | The Tampa Bay Lightning play only two games this week, with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day falling between them. The Bolts host the St. Louis Blues tonight at 7 p.m. at Benchmark International Arena. The Lightning will visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday, also at 7 p.m.

ST. PETE CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL | City residents can request their live Christmas trees to be collected, free of charge. The city is only collecting trees from customers who submit a special pickup request rather than performing a citywide sweep, as the city has done in years past. For more information and guidelines, click here.

TRAFFIC NOTE | The I-275 southbound exit to I-4 east in Tampa will be closed from 10 p.m. tonight to 5 a.m. tomorrow. Drivers can detour around using Exit 45-A to Jefferson Street. This is so crews can work on the soundwall at the downtown interchange.

HOLIDAY EVENTS, ATTRACTIONS | The holiday season is in full swing, which means there are plenty of festive events across Tampa Bay and Orlando for people of all ages to enjoy. From theme parks to zoos and aquariums, many local attractions have much to offer.

National Notes

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Seventh busiest shopping day of the year, as predicted by global retail solutions provider Sensormatic Solutions
Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes initial estimate GDP data for the third quarter of 2025.
The 48th Annual Kennedy Center Honors broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. Hosted by President Donald Trump. Honorees include country music star George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, rock band Kiss including Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace
Frehley, and Broadway star Michael Crawford 8pm ET.

A Polk County woman is helping some little students learn how to read.

Tracey Stephens is doing it with the help of a great big dog.

Each Monday, Stephens takes her big black Newfoundland named Teddy to Sikes Elementary School where she goes to the library to volunteer as a reading coach. Stephens has set up a huge dog bed in the corner of the library for Teddy.