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A Manatee County Mosquito Control District helicopter crashed near Dakin Dairy Farm in Myakka City, Florida, on Thursday night. Authorities said the aircraft contacted a radio tower; a second helicopter in the area landed safely and attempted to render aid. The FAA was responding as local fire and sheriff’s personnel investigated the wreck.
Tampa has agreed to contribute up to $80 million toward a proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, with the team expected to fund half of the projected $2.36 billion project and cover cost overruns. The October 15 council action did not itself issue bonds; it authorized the city to pursue court validation for potential borrowing, with a further council vote required before any debt is issued. The proposed stadium remains subject to additional approvals and agreements, including a community-benefits agreement and a Hillsborough County Commission vote.
Major League Baseball moved ALCS Game 3 at Cleveland’s Progressive Field from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 15 because of a forecast of inclement weather. The best-of-seven series had been tied 1-1 after the first two games in St. Petersburg before Cleveland’s Game 3 win gave it a 2-1 advantage.
The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) oversees the county’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a five-year plan required for projects seeking federal transportation funding. FDOT is building a 49-acre truck-parking facility at County Line Road off Interstate 4, planned to include 160 spaces and parking-information technology. The charging project would add electric-truck infrastructure to that facility using federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program funding.
Sarasota County Fire Department says it has responded to seven structure fires in 2026 in which lithium-ion batteries caused or contributed to the fire. The department is urging residents to recognize signs of battery failure and to avoid attempting to handle a battery fire themselves. A separate county disposal notice warns residents not to put lithium-ion batteries or battery-containing devices in curbside trash or recycling carts.
Tampa Bay defeated Seattle 4-3 in overtime at Benchmark International Arena on October 15, 2026. Captain Victor Hedman scored the winner 2:07 into overtime after the Kraken erased a one-goal third-period deficit. Brandon Hagel scored twice for Tampa Bay, while Ilya Mikheyev’s third-period goal was the 100th of his NHL career and Dominic James returned from a hand injury for his season debut.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay enters after its first win of the season, a 24-16 road victory over Dallas, while Pittsburgh is 3-2 after beating Indianapolis. The game is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 18, with CBS carrying the local broadcast.