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- Issue #550: International Plaza’s Big Redesign • Raw Milk Warning After Infant Death • Clearwater-Tampa Bridge Plans • McDonald's Valentine Twist
Issue #550: International Plaza’s Big Redesign • Raw Milk Warning After Infant Death • Clearwater-Tampa Bridge Plans • McDonald's Valentine Twist
2/5/2026
Ted Grellner
05 Feb
Keep your finger on the Pulse!
GOOD MORNING
Dr Ted
USAF Retired
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
Please post events of interest to our NT|WC Live Events Calendar; its easy to do.
Local News
— International Plaza to Get Major Multimillion-Dollar Redesign
Of Interest
— Newborn Death Tied to Raw Milk Prompts Urgent Health Warning
— $15M Bridge to Unite Clearwater Beach and Tampa
OMG!
— McDonald’s Puts a Luxe Spin on McNuggets for Valentine’s Day
Our NT|WC Live Events Calendar:
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International Plaza to Get Major Multimillion-Dollar Redesign
Simon Property Group is planning a multimillion-dollar redesign of International Plaza, part of a $250 million investment across three U.S. shopping centers.
The Tampa mall will see a 50,000-square-foot exterior expansion, creating a new walkable outdoor shopping experience. A major focus is Bay Street, the mall’s dining district, which will gain a new outdoor dining and gathering space designed to enhance social and hospitality experiences.
Additional upgrades include a refreshed interior design, improved amenities, and what the company calls “curated hospitality experiences” aimed at modern shoppers.
Simon acquired an 80% stake in the mall in 2020 and became the sole owner in late 2025 after buying out Taubman Centers.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with new tenants announced in the coming months.
Newborn Death Tied to Raw Milk Prompts Urgent Health Warning
Health officials in New Mexico are warning the public against drinking raw milk after a newborn died from a likely Listeria infection linked to unpasteurized dairy.
The baby’s mother is believed to have consumed raw milk while pregnant. Although the exact source of infection hasn’t been confirmed, authorities say the incident underscores the serious risks raw dairy poses to pregnant women, newborns, seniors, and immunocompromised individuals.
Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria like Listeria, E. coli, salmonella, and even bird flu. Listeria, in particular, can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or life-threatening infection in infants, even if the mother shows only mild symptoms.
Pasteurization kills these dangerous pathogens by briefly heating the milk.
“Pregnant individuals should only consume pasteurized dairy,” said Dr. Chad Smelser of the NM Department of Health. The state agriculture secretary echoed that call, urging consumers to make safer dairy choices.
$15M Bridge to Unite Clearwater Beach and Tampa
A $15.3 million pedestrian overpass along the Courtney Campbell Causeway is on track to open by year’s end, connecting Clearwater Beach to Tampa and enhancing regional walkability.
As construction nears completion near Bayshore and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevards, Clearwater is eyeing upgrades to the 1.6-mile Bayshore Trail, a scenic route serving walkers and cyclists from Gulf-to-Bay to the Safety Harbor line.
Proposed improvements include a new trailhead with bike racks, benches, and community gathering space. Additional amenities like picnic tables, signage, trash cans, and dog waste stations may also be added, pending a grant from the Florida DOT.
City leaders also aim to repair and raise the aging boardwalk near Drew Street, which has sustained damage from rising tides.
"This connects intergovernmental parks," said Clearwater’s Parks & Rec manager Mark Parry. Public feedback is ongoing as the city refines its plans.
Read More: fox13news.com
McDonald’s Puts a Luxe Spin on McNuggets for Valentine’s Day
McDonald's is putting a playful twist on Valentine’s Day with a limited-time McNugget Caviar Kit, blending fast food and fine dining in a free online promotion.
The kits, available starting at 11 a.m. ET on Feb. 10, pair Chicken McNuggets with premium caviar and will be offered while supplies last exclusively at McNuggetCaviar.com. They will not be sold in restaurants.
Each kit includes a one-ounce tin of McNugget caviar, a $25 Arch Card redeemable for nuggets, crème fraîche, and a Mother of Pearl caviar spoon.
The promotion marks McDonald’s first collaboration with Paramount Caviar, a supplier known for serving luxury hotels and restaurants.
Company officials say fans have long paired nuggets with caviar, inspiring the brand to offer an “elevated experience—without the elevated price.”
All the Best Gasparilla Events of 2026
Source: cltampa.com
Top Events in Tampa Bay for week of | Things to do in Tampa this weekend |
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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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