Morning Briefing, July 25

Today is Monday, July 25, the 205th day of 2011.

HEADLINES

TIDBITS

• Japanese Fleet: Hillsborough County Board of County Commission Chairman Al Higginbotham will be part of a welcoming ceremony today for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force at the Port of Tampa. He will present a key to the county to the Commander of the Japanese Training Squadron, Rear Admiral Umio Otsuka. The three ships that make up the fleet – the Kashima, Asagiri and Mineyuki – will arrive at the Port early this morning and remain through Wednesday.  The public is invited to board the ships for free tours Tuesday and Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. 
• Heads up for Tuesday: The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association's July General Membership "Eating Meeting" takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Seminole Heights Garden Center, 5810 N. Central Ave. OSHNA provides a main course, beverages and utensils. Members are asked to bring a dish to share. If your last name begins with A-M, bring a salad or dessert; N-Z  names are asked to bring a side dish or vegetable. 

EVENTS

• 6:30 p.m. at Seminole Heights Branch Library

See Patch's Events Calendar for the rest of today's happenings.

MEETINGS

City of Tampa

• 2 p.m. Economic Development and Land Use Sub-Committee, 1907 E. Hillsborough Ave.

Hillsborough County

• 8 a.m. ERP Evaluation Committee, 311 Pauls Dr., Brandon

FORECAST

• Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. West southwest wind between 5 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

POLLEN LEVEL

• Tree: No Activity
• Grass: Medium
• Weed: Medium

*Headlines compiled from Patch.com and other regional media outlets; Forecast and Pollen Level obtained from the National Weather Service and Weather.com.