Bradenton Soldier Burial
U.S. Army, Pfc. Nick Panipinto, 20, died last week in South Korea during a training exercise when a Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled over.
Panipinto joined the Army after graduating from Manatee High School. He planned on serving in the Army for four years, then using the G.I. bill to go to college.
His casket is expected to arrive at the Tampa International Airport at 6 p.m. Mourners will gather by the Green Bridge around 7 p.m. with flags and lights. A candlelight vigil will get held along Manatee Avenue at 7:30 p.m. He will be buried next Wednesday at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
Honor-A-Bull
As military families around Tampa Bay are reminded of the sacrifices each loved one made, many of them spent today honoring veterans on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.
The 2019 Honor-A-Bull Awards Ceremony recognizes student veterans who have contributed to the community. The event took place at noon at the Marshall Student Center Amphitheater. A free barbecue lunch was provided for attendees. Attendees also had the chance to win t-shirts.
A study by WalletHub recently ranked Tampa as the best city for veterans to live in. Boasting nearly 140-veteran owned businesses, Tampa scored high in veteran employment. Other Florida cities within the top 50 best cities according to the study include Orlando, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, and Miami.
Safe School Routes
Transportation and public health officials from across the country have come to Tampa to address safety concerns. Florida is the most dangerous state in America for pedestrians, according to a report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition.
Walk Bike Tampa is advocating for better sidewalk infrastructure for the children who walk and ride bicycles to school. The group is hosting the 2019 Safe Routes to School National Conference. The event runs through tomorrow.
WWE Free Event
Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual tonight in Downtown Tampa.
World Wrestling Entertainment fans are flooding Amalie Arena for a free event. The event will be celebrating WWE’s upcoming WrestleMania 36, which will take place on April 5, 2020, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The event will feature appearances from wrestlers, live matches and games. It is free and open to the public.
WrestleMania 36 presale tickets went on sale this morning.
TPA Number One
Tampa International Airport has been ranked the best midsize airport in the country by The Wall Street Journal.
The article released today ranked the airports based on factors including on-time arrivals, average fare, and convenience.
Tampa International Airport’s design, featuring a central terminal and parking with four satellite buildings with gates connected by trams, was described as super-efficient.
The airport now offers nonstop services to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Salt Lake City.
Anchor: Will Poston
Producer: Sonu Trivedi
Director: Nate Lovely
Technical Director: David Jones
Audio: Mahmoud Bennet
Graphics: Austin Peet
Prompter: Jordan Gaias
Floor Manager: Brianna Froncillo
Camera Operator: Jeslyn Santiago
Reporter: David Jones, Mahmoud Bennet
Radio: N/A
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Gugerty, Jeanette Abrahamsen
