5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Tuesday, September 18

TAMPA - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Tuesday, September 18.

(1) Leon Davis double murder bench trial

The double murder bench trial for convicted murderer Leon Davis will begin in Bartow on Tuesday.

In February 2011 jurors found Davis guilty killing two women at a Lake Wales insurance office in December 2007. Prosecutors say he doused the women with gasoline and set them on fire. One of the women was pregnant. The baby later died.

Davis was sentenced to death for the murders. He will now stand trial for the shooting deaths of Pravinkumar Patel and Dashrath Patel at the BP station on State Road 557 in Lake Alfred.

Davis waived his right to a trial by jury. Circuit Judge Donald Jacobson will hear the case and decide Davis' fate.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow.

(2) Veterans for Romney "Stronger Middle Class" Bus Tour

Arizona Senator and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain will kick off a "Veterans for Romney" bus tour in Tampa on Tuesday.

Senator McCain will address Mitt Romney's plan to support the U.S. military and make sure veterans return home from their service to good paying jobs.

The Romney-Ryan plan focuses on training returning troops and creating 12 million jobs in the next four years.

The bus tour will kick off with an event at 10:15 a.m. at the University of Tampa.

The tour will continue with stops at the Romney Victory Office in Casselberry at 1:45 p.m. and at the Allied Veterans Center in Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m.

(3) Alessi Bakery restructuring news conference

Alessi Bakery owner Jason Alessi will announce on Tuesday how his business plans to restructure its operations through bankruptcy.

Incorporated as Phil's Cake Box Bakeries, Alessi Bakery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 5. In documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's Middle District of Florida, the business reported assets of $14.5 million and liabilities of $14.7 million.

Alessi Bakery is celebrating its 100th anniversary next month. Italian immigrant Nicolo Alessi began the business in 1912 on Cherry Street in Tampa.

The company borrowed a lot of money to buy and expand a new plant in the Town 'N Country area in 2007. Unfortunately, that expansion occurred right before the recession hit.

Jason Alessi believes the community will rally behind the business, especially with an anniversary celebration planned for October 4 to 6. The bakery is not currently planning to lay off any of its 150 employees.

The news conference regarding the restructuring process will begin at 9:00 a.m.

(4) 2012 UNITAS open ship tours

Thirteen warships participating in a maritime exercise in Key West and in the Western Caribbean will be open for free public tours on Tuesday.

The ships are from the United States, United Kingdom, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

The multi-national forces are conducting operations in Key West and in the Western Caribbean through September 28.

UNITAS 2012 is designed to train participating forces in a variety of maritime scenarios to test command and control of forces at sea.

The free public tours will occur in Key West today from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Navy band will entertain visiting guests. Attendees are welcome to visit as many ships as they wish during the tour hours.

(5) Suncoast Schools FCU 2012 Savings Kickoff

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman will make an appearance on Tuesday at the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union 2012 Savings Kick Off.

The free public event will give members of the community free tips on ways to save money through tips and games.

Attendees can enjoy free food, prizes and autographs by Freeman.

The Kick Off event will occur from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Hillsborough Avenue Service Center at 6804 East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa.