Hillsborough County High Schools Recognized for Civic Engagement
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer recognized VoteHillsborough High School Voter Registration Champions at a school board meeting.
The Supervisor of Elections Office holds voter registration drives in high schools every fall and spring semester.
The seven schools recognized for having the most successful voter registration drives this academic year were Brandon High School, Durant High School, East Bay High School, Gaither High School, Jefferson High School, Newsome High School, and the Grand Champion — Sumner High School.
This recognition went to those schools in which more than 25% of the senior class population or more than 150 students registered to vote during the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections voter registration drive at their school. Sumner High School, the Grand Champion, had both the highest percentage and the highest total number of registrations, with 321 students registering.
Memorial Day Impacts Trash Pickup
The Memorial Day holiday will impact the collection of trash, recycling, and yard waste. Residents who normally receive recycling and/or trash collection on Mondays will be serviced on Tuesday, May 26. Residents who normally receive recycling and/or trash collection on Tuesdays will be serviced on Wednesday, May 27.
There will be no collection of yard waste the week of May 25.
All other days will receive normal collection of trash and recycling.
Morales-Garcia Denied Bond
After Murder of Girlfriend’s
Stepfather
A judge ordered 19-year-old Kenny Morales-Garcia to remain in jail until trial after granting the State’s motion for pretrial detention. The defendant is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend’s stepfather.
According to investigators, an argument over the relationship escalated into violence when Moarles-Garcia shot into the victim’s vehicle near the intersection of Baker St and Thonotosassa Rd. He died later at the hospital.
Assistant State Attorney Chinwe Fossett is prosecuting the case.
Rescue Pets of Florida Issues Urgent Plea for Foster Homes as Shelters Reach Crisis Capacity
Rescue Pets of Florida, a volunteer-driven nonprofit that recently celebrated over 25,000 adoptions in its first 10 years, is issuing an urgent plea for foster homes as shelters and rescues across the Tampa Bay area reach dangerous overcrowding levels during kitten season.
The rescue currently has zero available foster homes for incoming kittens, while county shelters and rescue partners throughout the region continue to operate at or beyond capacity. According to the organization, local shelters have already begun euthanizing animals for space.
“We are at a critical point,” said Jeanine Cohen, Director and Cat Division Lead for Rescue Pets of Florida. “Every single foster home directly translates into lives saved. Right now, we are being forced to make heartbreaking decisions simply because we do not have enough homes available to safely place more animals.”
Founded in 2015, Rescue Pets of Florida began as a small cat rescue originally known as Rescue Cats of Florida. Over the past decade, the organization has grown into one of the region’s largest volunteer-based rescues, operating five adoption centers throughout Tampa Bay and expanding its mission to save cats, dogs, neonatal kittens, and farm animals in need.
The rescue relies entirely on volunteers and foster families rather than a traditional shelter facility. Foster homes provide temporary care for animals until they are medically cleared and adopted into permanent homes.
“We provide everything,” said Tara Pisano, Director and Dog Division Lead for Rescue Pets of Florida. “Food, medical care, supplies, support — we just need people willing to open their homes temporarily. Even fostering for a few weeks can literally save lives.”
In addition to rescue and adoption efforts, Rescue Pets of Florida has become known for its regional impact through spay/neuter initiatives and shelter partnerships. The organization was previously the number one rescue partner for Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center and helped contribute to the shelter reaching a live release rate exceeding 90%. Over the past two years, the rescue has shifted much of its lifesaving focus to Polk County Animal Services, where it has become the county shelter’s number one rescue partner.
The organization also sponsors rescue and partner-rescue spay/neuter clinics aimed at reducing overpopulation before animals enter shelters. Since 2023, Rescue Pets of Florida and its rescue partners have completed thousands of sterilization surgeries, helping reduce intake pressure across multiple counties.
In 2025, Rescue Pets of Florida was honored by Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay awards with:
Best Animal Rescue 2025
Best Place to Adopt 2025
Best Farm 2025
Rescue Pets of Florida is currently seeking foster homes throughout St. Petersburg, Valrico, Wesley Chapel, Spring Hill, Plant City, and surrounding Tampa Bay areas.
Community members interested in fostering can apply at:
www.rescuepetsofflorida.org/volunteer
Donations to support medical care, food, and emergency rescue efforts can be made at:
