All for Transportation tax upheld
Judge Rex Barbas approved the one-cent All for Transportation sales tax on June 17 after county commissioner Stacy White moved to get clarification on the legality of the plan.
Barbas modified details of the charter amendment regarding spending allocations and restrictions, which can be reinstated with a majority vote of the Hillsborough County Commission, but ultimately decided the tax was what county residents wanted.
“It is evident that the voters of Hillsborough County desire to improve transportation needs,” Barbas wrote in his decision.
Roughly 60 percent of Hillsborough County voters approved of the All for Transportation tax on their November ballots. Plant City voters and those in unincorporated Hillsborough County at large were among the areas that voted in favor of the sales tax.
HCSO issues cybersecurity warning
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister hopes to get Florida trending in a better direction when it comes to cybersecurity.
HCSO cited a Federal Trade Commission report stating the Sunshine State leads the nation in cyber scams in its most recent call to citizens to be aware of their online activity and what could befall them if they don’t be careful.
“In today’s tech-driven world, it’s just as easy to become a crime victim online as it is coming face-to-face with a criminal,” Chronister said in a video message posted to social media on Monday.
Chronister encouraged residents to think before giving out their email and computer passwords, and to create a network of strong passwords so as not to use one or two easy-to-exploit passwords online. He also said if anyone emails you claiming you’ve won a prize or owe money and the company appears legitimate, contact the company by phone or in a new email to verify.
“Remember, when you’re online you are a target to hackers. It’s up to you to protect yourself and your information,” Chronister said.
The full public service announcement can be seen at youtube.com/watch?v=8sl8cTBVfL4 or on the official HCSO Facebook page.
July job fair for veterans
DAV RecruitMilitary is calling out to Tampa Bay-area veterans in need of work with a free event in July.
The July 18 Tampa Veterans Job Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, and promises to get veterans and their spouses, transitioning military personnel, National Guard members and Reserve members connected with potential employers for free. Pre-register for the event online at success.recruitmilitary.com/events/tampa-veterans-job-fair-july-18-2019.
PC residents opening state’s first HteaO
Florida’s first HteaO location is all set to open its doors this week.
Plant City residents David and Susan Sullivan own this franchise of the Texas-based iced tea company, which sells 24 flavors of sweet and unsweet tea.
“We are excited that we get to introduce Florida to a tea product that is unlike anything in the eastern United States, and for Lakeland to get to be the first city to experience this in the east is a really cool thing,” David Sullivan said in a press release. “I don’t think Florida knows what they are about to experience and I am excited to introduce them to it.”
HteaO Lakeland is located at 3920 S. Florida Ave., right next to the Polk Parkway, and opens Friday. A ribbon-cutting will be held at 3 p.m. Customers can take advantage of half-priced teas Friday and Saturday and can enter a contest to win free tea for a year. Gallons and half-gallons of tea can be purchased at a 50 percent discount through the end of the month.