Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw Retires After 30 Years
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw retired Aug. 6 after more than 30 years with the city and department, leaving a leadership transition.
Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida (FL) offers a mix of quiet neighborhoods and everyday conveniences. From weekday practicality to weekend exploring, it's easy to build a simple plan without overthinking it. Looking for things to do in Tampa, Florida? This page helps you explore local picks, guides, and nearby favorites. Share a favorite spot you'd recommend to someone new in town.
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Tampa Water Customers Remain Under Once-a-Week Irrigation Rules
Tampa properties remain under once-a-week watering rules through October 1, 2026, while regional water supplies remain strained by drought.
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Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw Retires Thursday; Brett Owen Set as Acting Chief
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw is scheduled to retire August 6, 2026, with Assistant Chief Brett Owen serving as acting chief until the next mayoral election.
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Tampa City Council decisions cloud the Rays stadium proposal
Two Tampa votes on July 23 interrupted key financing and land-use steps for the proposed Rays ballpark, but neither action formally ended the nonbinding stadium plan.
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Tampa City Council begins FY27 budget workshops as spending decisions near
Tampa City Council will review the recommended FY27 budget in three public workshops starting August 3, covering utilities, mobility and major city services before formal adoption.
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Tampa Gas Prices Ease Again, but Diesel Remains Far Above Last Month
Tampa Bay regular gas and diesel prices both fell from the previous check, but diesel remains 85.5 cents above last month, keeping heavier pressure on deliveries, contractors and service businesses.
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Hillsborough County authorizes up to $650M for utility borrowing
Hillsborough County authorized interim borrowing for water and sewer projects, including the South County One Water Campus, without approving a rate hike.
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Tampa’s Mercy Oaks II opens 17 affordable homes in East Tampa
Tampa, FL — Mercy Oaks II opened on North Florida Avenue with 17 affordable apartments created from a former commercial property for residents facing housing instability.
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Hillsborough budget FY27: July 29 reconciliation hearing and Sept. 24 vote
Tampa FL – Hillsborough County’s proposed $14.1B FY27 budget heads to a July 29 BOCC reconciliation hearing; final vote is Sept. 24. See where to weigh in.
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Tampa Council delays Rays stadium financing again as land-use step returns
Tampa City Council on July 23 blocked a first future-land-use change tied to the Rays stadium district, while Axios reports a financing vote was delayed again.
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Tampa Bay renters could feel Florida’s property-tax overhaul—state model starts in 2027
A Florida constitutional amendment could reduce local property-tax revenue growth starting with the 2027 roll, state model shows for Hillsborough and Tampa.
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Hillsborough plans school-zone speed enforcement expansion—what to know
Hillsborough County directed staff to draft an amendment expanding its School Zone Speed Enforcement Program to additional unincorporated school zones.
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Tampa City Council (July 16) to consider Resilient Florida grants for Greater McKay Bay
Tampa City Council meets July 16 to consider a $435,000 DEP “Resilient Florida” grant for Greater McKay Bay planning and South Howard Phase I design.
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Tampa Bay drought: Watering limits extended to Oct. 1—key rules for Tampa-area homes
Tampa FL – Drought restrictions stay in place through Oct. 1, 2026. Here’s your address-based watering day, allowed hours, and key exceptions.
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Rays stadium plan in Tampa: officials signal more delays as public approvals stall
Tampa’s Drew Park CRA vote on the Rays’ memorandum has slipped again, with officials pointing to an Aug. 20 decision on a nonbinding framework.
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DeSantis veto trims Tampa Bay flood relief: South Howard and Tampa Bay Watch
Tampa residents: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s FY 2026–27 budget, then vetoed $1.5 million for South Howard flood relief and $750,000 for Tampa Bay Watch.
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Tampa Bay water restrictions stay in place through Oct. 1 as drought drags on
Tampa FL – The drought order stays in force through Oct. 1, keeping one-day-a-week watering and narrow hours in place for Tampa homes and HOAs.
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Tampa police chief Lee Bercaw to retire Aug. 6; Brett Owen to act
Chief Lee Bercaw will retire Aug. 6, and Assistant Chief Brett Owen will serve as acting chief until Tampa’s next mayoral election.
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Tampa delays Rays stadium funding vote to Aug. 20 amid tax uncertainty
City leaders pushed the Rays stadium funding vote to Aug. 20, leaving Drew Park CRA financing unresolved as Florida’s property-tax debate adds uncertainty.
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Tampa council weighs Rays stadium deal as budget tradeoffs loom
Tampa’s May 5 workshop put the Rays stadium proposal under review, with a possible $251 million city share and budget tradeoffs still unresolved.
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Tampa’s road repaving push is speeding up — and neighborhoods are already seeing the difference
Tampa FL – The city says it has paved about 14 lane-miles by late March, with a bigger crew, a $41 million budget, and more neighborhood work ahead.
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Tampa’s new drought rules are changing lawn watering, fountains, and outdoor cleanup
Tampa FL – New drought restrictions are changing when lawns can be watered, how outdoor fountains operate, and what HOAs, landscapers, and property owners can do.
