5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Thursday, August 2

TAMPA - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Thursday, August 2.

(1) President Obama in Florida

President Obama will hold a campaign event in the Orlando area on Thursday.

Mr. Obama is scheduled to speak at Rollins College's Harold and Ted Alfond Sports Center at 2:40 p.m.

The President was originally supposed to attend a campaign rally at Rollins College on July 20, but he canceled that event following the theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado.

President Obama will discuss his vision of how he would plan to grow the economy and create middle-class jobs should be be re-elected in November. Mr. Obama will also repeat his call for Congress to give middle-class families cost certainty by preventing a tax increase scheduled for January.

Following his stop in Winter Park, the President will hold a campaign rally in Leesburg, Virginia.

(2) RedState Gathering

A number of leading conservative Republicans will attend the 4th annual RedState Gathering which begins in Jacksonville on Thursday.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the three-day conference on Saturday.

Other speakers include Florida Governor Rick Scott, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan.

The RedState Gathering is being held at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel.

For more information, search for hashtag #RSG12 on Twitter or visit www.redstategathering.com .

(3) Kevin Kyne sentencing

Kevin Kyne will be sentenced in Pinellas County on Thursday for killing his mother.

A jury found the 25-year-old guilty of second-degree murder on July 24 for the August 2010 death of his mother, Diane Kyne.

Detectives say Kevin was abusive with his mother and he strangled her when she attempted to throw him out of the house.

Kevin accused his stepfather, Bill Kyne, of the murder. Authorities say both men called 911 and originally looked at the possibility either one could be responsible for Diane's death.

It was only after a months-long investigation that involved obtaining DNA evidence, did a grand jury indict Kevin for murder.

The sentencing hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater.

(4) Bush in concert

British rock band Bush will play in Tampa on Thursday night.

The alternative rock band formed in 1992 in London and found success with their debut album Sixteen Stone in 1994. Their 1996 album, Razorblade Suitcase, hit number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

Bush went on to sell more than 10 million albums in the United States in the 1990s before breaking up in 2002.

Original members Gavin Rossdale (vocals, guitar) and Robin Goodridge (drums) reformed Bush in 2010 with Chris Traynor (guitar) and Corey Britz (bass guitar).

The band released their latest album The Sea of Memories in September 2011.

Bush plays the Ritz Ybor in Tampa at 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit ritzybor.com .

To learn more about Bush, visit the band's official website at www.bushofficial.com .

(5) Rock the Park

The monthly music series Rock the Park returns to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa on Thursday.

The free event showcases features local acts of various musical genres.

Tonight's lineup includes punk/ska band Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso, jazz/funk/soul group Serotonic, and acoustic singer-guitarist Renee Proffitt.

In addition to live music, there will be food vendors in the park. Friendly pets are welcomed.

The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.rocktheparktampa.com.

For more information about each of the acts, visit their own Facebook pages:

• Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso: www.facebook.com / guttercalypso .
• Serotonic: www.facebook.com/serotonicband .
• Renee Proffitt: www.facebook.com/reneeproffittmusic .