Issue #469: Amazon Drones Coming to Tampa | Foodie City Fame | Peacock Feud Turns Bizarre | Police vs. Driverless Car

In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

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WEATHER 

Local News

— Amazon Drone Delivery Coming to Tampa by Year’s End

— Tampa Cracks Top 10 in National ‘Foodie Cities’ Ranking

OMG!

— Pasco Man Cooks Pet Peacocks After Feud With Neighbor

— Driverless Dilemma: Police Pull Over Waymo, Can’t Ticket It

🎵 Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

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Amazon Drone Delivery Coming to Tampa
by Year’s End

Amazon Prime Air will soon launch drone deliveries in Tampa Bay, bringing one-hour shipping to residents near the Ruskin fulfillment center.

Customers who select the “drone delivery” option at checkout can expect packages to arrive within 60 minutes, according to Amazon. The service will cover an eight-mile radius from the facility, making Tampa the first Florida city to receive it.

Amazon is using its Prime Air MK30 drones, which operate between 150 and 400 feet in the air, designed to be nearly unnoticeable unless spotted directly.

The company says the program won’t add traffic but will bring faster delivery and new jobs. Amazon already employs nearly 3,000 workers in Tampa Bay and expects to hire several dozen more for the drone program.

The Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa is currently displaying the drone, offering visitors a close-up look at the technology.

The rollout follows positive results in Tucson, Arizona, where Amazon charges $4.99 for drone delivery.

Read More: tampabay.com

Tampa Cracks Top 10 in National ‘Foodie Cities’ Ranking

Tampa has officially been named the No. 7 "foodie" city in the U.S., according to a new 2025 study by WalletHub. The ranking reflects Tampa’s vibrant culinary scene — from fine dining to street eats.

Researchers analyzed 182 cities using 28 key indicators including grocery costs, food taxes, restaurant diversity, and accessibility. While Tampa scored a modest No. 114 in affordability, it excelled in culinary richness, placing No. 6 for diversity, accessibility, and quality.

The term “foodie” refers to those with a deep passion for discovering great food, whether in gourmet kitchens or at hidden local gems. Tampa’s culinary profile includes everything from Cuban sandwiches and fresh seafood to innovative, chef-driven concepts.

Florida dominated the top 10, with Miami ranking No. 1 and Orlando at No. 5.

With a total score of 68.62 out of 100, Tampa’s inclusion solidifies its reputation as a go-to destination for food lovers.

Read More: wtsp.com

Pasco Man Cooks Pet Peacocks After Feud With Neighbor

A Hudson man is facing felony animal cruelty charges after admitting to killing and eating two of his own pet peacocks.

According to Pasco County deputies, 61-year-old Craig Vogt said he resorted to the act because his neighbor wouldn’t stop feeding the birds. Vogt reportedly wrote a letter to his neighbor admitting he had killed the birds and threatened to continue doing so unless she stopped.

Deputies say Vogt claimed he cooked the peacocks in a frying pan and was willing to kill the remaining birds to prevent them from being taken away. He was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals resulting in excessive pain or death, WFLA reported.

The case has raised concerns among animal rights advocates, as peacocks, while not protected under federal law, are often kept as ornamental pets in Florida neighborhoods.

Vogt remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Read More: tampabay.com

Driverless Dilemma: Police Pull Over Waymo,
Can’t Ticket It

A Waymo self-driving vehicle was pulled over in San Bruno, California, after it performed an illegal U-turn, catching the attention of local police.

The vehicle, operating autonomously, safely pulled over and used its internal communication system to connect officers with a Waymo representative. However, since no human driver was present, officers were unable to issue a citation.

The incident highlighted legal gaps in traffic enforcement involving autonomous vehicles. Currently, California law does not allow police to ticket the company or the car directly in such cases.

That will change soon. Starting in July, police will gain authority to cite AV companies directly for traffic violations committed by their vehicles.

The San Bruno Police Department shared the stop publicly, expressing hope that Waymo and similar companies would update programming to avoid repeat infractions.

Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company.

Read More: scrippsnews.com

What’s New In Tampa Bay
Oct 2025
Source: tampamagazines.com

Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

The Arts
- The Exhibiting Society of Artists (new)
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series

Theater
- NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre

Misc
- Carrollwood Center Events
- Craft Festivals (new)
- Fall (Farmer’s) Market Guide for Tampa Bay (new)
- The Krate, WC
- The Shops at Wiregrass, WC
- visitflorida.com

For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids

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