Casper Family Purchases Old Kojaks BBQ Location +

Hi all. Carlos Hernandez here with your Monday edition of the Tampa Daily. Keep reading to find out all the local information you need to know right now, including updates on:

• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is offering free admission to Preschool students who are Florida residents, but parents or guardians interested must register soon to qualify.
• Abortion rights protesters gathered on Sunday in Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg.
• An entity linked to Tampa’s Casper family has purchased the former Kojak’s BBQ location.

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Now, today’s weather:

Clouds and sun; not as warm. High: 68 Low: 48.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. Miami-based real estate investment firm Torose Equities, in partnership with Merrimac Ventures, has closed on a $31 million acquisition of 6302 Corporate Center in Tampa located at 6302 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The deal closed on Jan. 18. (Tampa Patch)
2. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is offering free admission to kids with a Preschool card. Children ages five and under can enjoy free admission to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island with the Preschool Card as long as they are Florida resident with registration available now through Feb. 26, 2023. (WFLA)
3. Thousands of people gathered on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa this past weekend for the Gasparilla Children’s Parade. Organizers said it was the largest Gasparilla Air invasion in history. After the parade guests enjoyed the Piratechnic Fireworks Finale. (Fox 13 Tampa)
4. Abortion rights protesters gathered on Jan. 22 in Tampa. Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. The Tampa protest was held at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square located at 600 E Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa. “We have heard anti-abortion politicians in Tallahassee are pushing for a ban similar to what we saw in Texas,” said Amy Weintraub, reproductive rights director for Progress Florida. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
5. The previous building that held Kojak’s BBQ has been purchased by an entity linked to the Casper family, which owns Oxford Exchange, Stovall House and The Library in St. Petersburg, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. There are no plans for the property at this time. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Business Journal, Free: That’s So Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Tampa Bay Job Fair at The Coliseum. (10 a.m.)
• All You Can Eat Pizza Skate at Skateworld Tampa. (5:30 p.m.)
• HIIT In The Park at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. (6 p.m.)
• Enchanting Eiffel at Painting With A Twist. (6:30 p.m.)
• The Hip Pocket Jazz Quartet at The University Of Tampa College Of Arts And Letters. (7:30 p.m.)