Issue #599: TPA’s Robot Dog Astro + Florida Lovebug Tips + Stunning Tampa Bay Rooftops + Junior Caminero’s Hot Bat in 2026

5/8/2026

Author

Ted Grellner
08 May

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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

— Meet Astro: The Robot Dog Helping Build TPA’s Future Terminal

Of Interest

— Florida’s Lovebug Explosion Is Back: How to Protect Your Car

Food

— Tampa Bay’s Most Beautiful Rooftop Restaurants and Bars Right Now

Sports

— Why Junior Caminero’s Flat Swing Is Crushing Baseballs in 2026

Meet Astro: The Robot Dog Helping Build TPA’s Future Terminal

Tampa International Airport’s massive Airside D expansion just gained an unusual new crew member: a robotic dog named Astro. The four-legged machine recently appeared at a Hillsborough County Aviation Authority meeting before heading onto the active construction site to assist workers with inspections, scanning, and data collection.

Astro is being tested by contractor Hensel Phelps as part of the airport’s $1.528 billion Airside D project, a roughly 600,000-square-foot terminal expected to add 16 gates for domestic and international travel. Airport officials say the terminal is scheduled to open in 2029.

The robotic dog is designed to handle repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks, including mapping work zones, gathering 3D site data, and conducting routine inspections. Supporters say the technology could improve safety and efficiency while freeing workers to focus on higher-level construction tasks.

The Airside D project marks one of Tampa Bay’s largest infrastructure investments, and Astro’s deployment offers a glimpse into how AI-powered robotics may increasingly become part of major construction projects in the future.

Florida’s Lovebug Explosion Is Back: How to
Protect Your Car

Drivers across the Tampa Bay area are once again battling heavy swarms of lovebugs as peak season returns to Florida roads. Fueled by warm temperatures and rising humidity, this year’s hatch is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent memory, according to University of Florida researchers.

The insects may be harmless to people, but they can wreak havoc on vehicles. Experts warn that dead lovebugs left baking on a car’s surface for more than a couple of days can damage paint and leave permanent pitting due to their acidic remains.

Pest control experts say lovebugs are especially attracted to bright colors, sunlight, engine heat, and vehicle exhaust, which explains why highways and parked cars often become magnets during peak season. Despite the nuisance, the bugs do not bite or sting.

Drivers are encouraged to wash bug residue off quickly and avoid letting splatter sit in the Florida sun too long. Some experts also recommend using hydrogen peroxide to help break down bug remains. Fortunately, scientists say the worst of the swarm season should fade over the next few weeks.

Tampa Bay’s Most Beautiful Rooftop Restaurants and Bars Right Now

As spring settles into Tampa Bay, rooftop season is officially in full swing. With cooler evenings, glowing sunsets, and skyline views stretching across the city, rooftop bars and restaurants are once again becoming some of the region’s hottest destinations.

Downtown Tampa and St. Pete continue to lead the trend with elevated venues offering everything from handcrafted cocktails to upscale dining experiences. Popular rooftop bars include M. Bird at Armature Works, EDGE Rooftop at the Epicurean Hotel, and Beacon atop the JW Marriott Water Street, currently the highest public rooftop bar in downtown Tampa.

Across the bay, rooftop favorites like The Canopy, Pier Teaki, and Azura Rooftop are drawing visitors with panoramic waterfront views and sunset lounges overlooking the Gulf. Meanwhile, rooftop restaurants such as Azure at Tampa EDITION and Sal Y Mar in Midtown Tampa are blending scenic dining with Mediterranean and coastal-inspired menus.

From relaxed sunset drinks to upscale date nights, Tampa Bay’s rooftop scene continues to expand as one of the area’s most popular warm-weather experiences.

Why Junior Caminero’s Flat Swing Is Crushing Baseballs in 2026

Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero is turning heads across Major League Baseball for more than just his towering home runs and electric celebrations. According to Statcast data, Caminero now owns both the fastest and flattest qualifying swing in the majors, giving him one of the sport’s most unique offensive approaches.

Caminero’s average bat speed this season is an eye-popping 79.9 mph, the highest among MLB hitters. At the same time, his swing path carries a remarkably low 22-degree tilt, allowing him to stay level through the strike zone and square up pitches more consistently. The approach has helped fuel his early-season power surge and current 40-home-run pace.

The Rays slugger credits Hall of Famer Albert Pujols for influencing his flatter swing mechanics during time spent together in the Dominican Winter League and World Baseball Classic preparations. Caminero says the goal is not simply lifting the ball, but driving it with precision and authority.

The result has been one of baseball’s most dangerous young hitters — a player combining elite bat speed, raw power, and a swing unlike anyone else in the game today.

Top Events
in Tampa Bay for the
week of May 4
Source:
tampabay.com

 
Things to do Around Pasco this coming week:
4/ - 4/
Source:


Things to do Around
Tampa & WC
5/7- 5/13
Source:
tampabeacon.com

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