Issue #136: Black History Museum Opens, Brady's $89K Pants, Rising Phishing Threat

06/13/2024

Author

Ted Grellner
13 Jun

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In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

 

Local News

⛪ Historic Church Transforms into Tampa's Black History Museum

🏈 Tom Brady's Final Game Pants Sell for $89K at Auction

Of Interest

⚠️ Scam Alert: Phishing Reports Double Amid Rising Threats

Medical News

19 - CDC Reports Increase in COVID-19 ER Visits Amid Emergence of KP.3 Variant

Sports

⚾ MLB All Star Ballot

🏒Senators Interested in Lightning’s Shutdown Defenseman Matt Dumba

 

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Historic Church Transforms into Tampa's Black History Museum

Tampa will soon have a new museum dedicated to preserving its rich Black history. The Tampa Bay History Center and the Tampa Housing Authority announced their collaboration to establish this cultural institution downtown.

C.J. Roberts, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay History Center, highlighted the project’s extensive planning. “This partnership represents months of thoughtful planning to share Tampa’s Black history,” Roberts stated.

The museum will be located in a historic red brick building, once home to St. James Episcopal Church, founded in 1895, within the Encore development.

The official announcement and unveiling will take place on June 17, kicking off the week of Juneteenth.

Tom Brady's Final Game Pants Sell for $89K at Auction

Tom Brady's pants from his final NFL game sold for nearly $90,000 at an online auction hosted by Grey Flannel Auctions. The dark gray pants, authenticated by MeiGray, were worn during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss to the Dallas Cowboys on January 16, 2023.

While $89,100 might seem steep, it’s modest compared to some sports memorabilia. For instance, Brady’s Buccaneers jersey sold for $480,000 in 2022, and Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey fetched $10.1 million.

Coincidentally, a rare prototype pair of Nike Air Jordan sneakers sold for over $325,000 during the same auction. The most expensive sports pants sold are Babe Ruth's, which went for $183,500 in 2012.

Brady, who retired shortly after his final game, will debut as Fox Sports' lead football color commentator this fall.

Scam Alert: Phishing Reports Double Amid Rising Threats

Playing cards that are criminal

Complaints about scam calls, texts, and emails have surged, with reports doubling in the past year, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The increase highlights the growing threat of phishing scams, which attempt to steal personal information or money.

Barbara Rupp thought she knew how to spot a scam. When her Caller ID displayed her cable company, she listened to an offer claiming to slash her bill by $50 monthly if she bought a Target gift card and shared the card number. Realizing the scam, Rupp avoided potential loss.

In 2022, the BBB's Scam Tracker received over 9,000 phishing scam reports, nearly double the previous year's figure. BBB's Melanie McGovern emphasized the importance of reporting scams even if no money is lost, as scammers are constantly devising new tactics using emails, voice calls, and increasingly, text messages enhanced by artificial intelligence.

McGovern advises caution when messages induce panic, and suggests watching for red flags such as unexpected account issues, payment links, unrequested alerts, and urgent, typo-filled language.

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CDC Reports Increase in COVID-19 ER Visits Amid Emergence of KP.3 Variant

A new COVID-19 variant, KP.3, has become the most prevalent strain in the U.S., leading to a rise in COVID-19-related emergency room visits.

According to the CDC, ER visits increased by 16.2% for the week ending June 7, now accounting for 0.5% of all visits. As of June 8, KP.3 makes up 25% of COVID-19 cases, while KP.2 accounts for 22.5%, and the former dominant strain JN.1 has dropped to 3.1%. Both KP.2 and KP.3 are FLiRT variants, characterized by their specific spike protein positions.

Johns Hopkins University professor Andy Pekosz stated that the severity of these variants is similar to previous ones, but the population's immune response is stronger due to past infections and vaccinations. The FDA's advisory committee recently recommended that the Fall 2024 vaccines target the JN.1 variant, despite the rise of KP.3 and KP.2.

MLB All Star Ballot

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Senators Interested in Lightning’s Shutdown Defenseman Matt Dumba

The Ottawa Senators are interested in acquiring Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba to strengthen their right side. Dumba joined the Lightning from the Arizona Coyotes before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline to add defensive depth. However, with Tampa Bay needing to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos and limited cap space, it is unlikely they will re-sign Dumba.

A seasoned right-shot defenseman, Dumba's offseason availability is expected to draw interest from several teams, including the Senators. Ottawa, needing to bolster their right-side defense, might consider adding Dumba, who could slot into their second or bottom defensive pairing and serve as a key penalty killer. This season, Dumba tallied four goals, 12 points, 108 blocks, and 202 hits in 76 games, showcasing his defensive prowess.

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