Evening Briefing Tampa September 5 2025

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

Saturday will start with partly sunny skies. Then scattered storms will develop in the afternoon as the sea breeze drifts in from the Gulf.

Expect a 50% coverage of scattered storms, with the best coverage late afternoon to evening. Highs will be in the low 90s.

The storms will die down at night, with clearing skies overnight into Sunday morning. 

Sunday will be similar, but with a 40% coverage of PM thunderstorms. Highs will be in the low 90s.

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Tropical Update

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Today’s Big Stories

1. ‘Deportation Depot’ opens for detainees in North Florida
The Florida Division of Emergency Management confirmed Friday that the new immigration detention facility dubbed “Deportation Depot” by Gov. Ron DeSantis is officially open and receiving detainees. 

2. USF enters into contract with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command have entered into an agreement in which USF will work to develop new technology and make it a reality for soldiers.

3. Hillsborough Animal Control responds to dog found with legs tied on side of road
The dog is now located at the Pet Resource Center, and Hillsborough County Animal Control is asking those who recognize the dog or know anything to call them at 813-744-5660.

4. Hiring stalls with companies reluctant to expand in uncertain economic landscape
The Labor Department said Friday that hiring decelerated from 79,000 in July and came in below the roughly 80,000 economists had expected for August.  

5. SpaceX launches Starlink mission in weather-friendly skies
The Falcon 9 rocket sent up Starlink 10-57 mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, stated SpaceX. 

6. High-ground neighborhood in St. Pete concerned about flooding
Residents in the Harshaw Lake Park neighborhood in St. Petersburg, which lies in the Disston Heights area at an elevation up to 60 feet, have become increasingly concerned about flooding and stormwater system maintenance.

Your Notes for Tonight and Tomorrow

• TRAFFIC NOTES | Looking ahead to Sunday night, a southbound lane on the U.S. 98 bypass in Dade City is reopening after months of being closed. The highway will now have traffic in both directions from Lock Street to MLK Boulevard. Construction will continue there to widen the road to four lanes, with work expected to wrap up late next year. Also this weekend, part of Orient Road in Tampa is still closed, just north of Adamo Drive, for drainage work. Drivers will be detoured to U.S. 41 or U.S. 301. That closure is expected to last for the next several weeks.
• RAYS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING STREAK | The Tampa Bay Rays, who have won seven straight games and 10 of their past 12, continue their series tonight against the Cleveland Guardians at Steinbrenner Field. While the Rays are still 10 games out of first place in the American League East, they are just two games out of the final Wild Card spot. First pitch tonight is at 7:35 p.m..
   
• BLESSINGS BAZAAR | Beulah Baptist Institutional Church in Tampa will host a “Blessings Bazaar,” a community-wide yard sale with a meaningful twist, tomorrow. Everything is free and was donated. Items include small appliances, clothing, books, toys and more. Families and neighbors in need will be able to browse, select and take home items. It is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, located at 1006 W. Cypress Street.
• POWERBALL AT $1.7 BILLION | The Powerball jackpot hasn’t been won in more than 40 drawings and now stands at $1.7 billion for tomorrow night’s drawing. Read more about it here.

National Notes

Saturday, Sept. 6

• 2025 Library of Congress National Book Festival. This year’s author lineup includes Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Geena Davis, Ron Chernow, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jenny Slate, John Green, Joy Harjo, Ada Limón, R.L. Stine, and Tracy K. Smith. The 2025 event is titled “Uniting Book Lovers for 25 Years” to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
• 700th day since start of Hamas-Israel conflict
• Creative Arts Emmy Awards take place over two consecutive nights, recognizing remarkable creative achievements in television.
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony, including former Magic center Dwight Howard and former Gators coach Billy Donovan
• Ralph Menzies, 67, scheduled for execution by firing squad in Utah for the abduction and murder of Maurine Hunsaker in 1986.
• NCRI rally against Iran’s executions and nuclear program
   

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure is more than just a place to learn about marine life. The aquarium is expanding and now wants to introduce visitors to the rainforest.