Moms for Liberty leadership presented Gov. Ron DeSantis (second from left), a staunch supporter, with “The Liberty Sword” in July 2022 at their inaugural national summit in Tampa. The organization is now struggling to maintain its short-lived power. (Photo courtesy of Moms for Liberty, Facebook) Sarasota County voters have reversed the conservative stranglehold on their school board by formally rejecting a coalition established by Gov. Ron DeSantis and activist group Moms for Liberty....

Emely Thompson, founder of Emely Rachael Consulting, recently brought her AI governance and personal development expertise to Tampa Bay. (Photo submitted by Emely Thompson) Most attorneys follow a straight line toward partnership. Emely Thompson took the scenic route - one that led her from the trenches of social justice to the complex frontier of AI governance. ​ Thompson, founder of Emely Rachael Consulting, recently brought her hard-earned perspective to Tampa. She is also proving the best...

Former Congressman Charlie Crist (left), who said he was surprised and humbled by his15-point margin of victory, held his watch party at Cassis restaurant on Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Crist’s campaign, Facebook). Mayor Ken Welch (right) greets joyous supporters on Tuesday night at his campaign’s watch party, held at the St. Petersburg Fire Fighters Association headquarters. (Photo by Mark Parker) St. Petersburg voters have narrowed the mayor’s race to a two-candidate...

St. Petersburg mayoral candidates, from left: Kevin Batdorf, Jim Large, Maria Scruggs, Charlie Crist, City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, and Mayor Ken Welch participate in a forum in June. (Photo by Mark Parker / Power Broker Magazine) For many voters, St. Petersburg’s hotly contested mayoral race is a referendum on the city’s direction. Today, that debate moves away from the stage and social media to the ballot box. ​ Residents, regardless of registered party, have until 7 p.m. to make...

For Dr. Vikki, launching the organization is an invitation for women to redefine success by making space for themselves without guilt. (Photo: Rest and Re-create) For generations, many women, particularly Black women, have carried the weight of family, careers, caregiving, and community while placing their own well-being at the bottom of the priority list. A new wellness organization founded by St. Petersburg native Dr. Vikki T. Gaskin-Butler is working to change that by creating intentional...

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is warning that privatizing the passenger screening process at Tampa International Airport will jeopardize hundreds of federal jobs and associated benefits. (Photo courtesy of TPA) Tampa International Airport (TPA) finds itself at the center of a deepening controversy over its voluntary participation in a federal program that outsources passenger screening. ​ Privatizing the airport’s passenger-screening workforce through the Transportation Security Administration’s...

A Duke Energy truck in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The company no longer has a franchise agreement in St. Petersburg, and is warning city officials of the potential fallout. (Photo courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg) St. Petersburg is entering uncharted territory as its 30-year franchise agreement with Duke Energy Florida has officially expired, triggering a high-stakes standoff between city leadership and the utility giant. ​ Duke, in an Aug. 7 letter addressed to Mayor Ken Welch,...

One of Troy’s most notable international achievements occurred at the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (Photo via Troy Alston) In the world of endurance sports, few athletes possess the sheer vertical tenacity of Troy R. Alston. Recently, the Tampa Bay region celebrated a milestone as Alston was officially certified by Atlas World Records for his latest feat: achieving the most documented stair-climbing race victories within a single state or province. Between 2010 and 2026, Alston...

Caption: An African American couple holding hands. (Stock image) A quiet demographic shift has been unfolding in Pinellas County for more than two decades, one that mirrors a national pattern but now sets the county apart from other parts of the Tampa Bay region. Census data, released in early 2026, shows for the first time in measured history, a majority of Black adults in Pinellas have never walked down the aisle. According to data spanning 2000 to 2024, the share of ‘never married’ Black...

A regional lifeline for transportation-disadvantaged residents in Pinellas County has ended due to an unexpected lapse in state funding. (Photo courtesy of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) The road to life-saving medical care has hit a dead end for hundreds of low-income Pinellas County residents who lack reliable, affordable transportation. ​ A stroke-of-the-pen veto by Gov. Ron DeSantis has dismantled the Pinellas County Transit Authority’s (PSTA) lifeline for...

The Links Inc. was founded in 1946, is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. Last year, the organization partnered with Miles College and donated essential items and food supplies to the campus student food pantry. The check was presented by Vanessa Falls, Southern Regional Director. ( Photos courtesy of Crystal Pruitt) Tampa will take center stage in 2027 as it welcomes one of the nation's premier gatherings of Black and brown professional women leaders. The...

This year's winners include Ashley Reed and Dr. Lara & Memi of The Marriage Pinnacle (Photo: Famous Amos) The local culinary scene in St. Petersburg is buzzing with pride as Ashley Reed, the visionary founder of the popular food truck "The Brunch Munch," has been officially named a winner of the 2026 Famous Amos "Ingredients for Success" (IFS) Entrepreneurs Initiative. This prestigious national recognition places Reed among a select group of trailblazing Black business owners who are showing...

Members of NAAIA at a networking event. (LinkedIn). As Tampa Bay continues to experience unprecedented growth, local Black insurance professionals are working to ensure the industry's leadership reflects the communities it serves. Earlier this year, the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) created a Tampa Bay Chapter. Chartered on Feb. 26, the chapter joins the national organization founded to increase representation and provide professional development, mentorship and...

Jude Bruno is the first Black man, Haitian American, and millennial elected as Florida PTA president in the organization's 103-year history. (Photo courtesy of Florida PTA) Jude Bruno is breaking barriers as the new leader of the Florida Parent Teacher Association (PTA). For the first time in its 103-year history, the organization has elected a Black man, a Haitian American, and a millennial as its president. This historic moment happened earlier this month, starting a fresh chapter for child...

Bishop J Drew Sheard (right) is the Presiding bishop of COGIC. (COGIC Facebook) The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) annual Auxiliaries in Ministry (AIM) Convention has officially announced its next destination, with plans set to head to Tampa, Florida, in July 2027. The Bay Area has COGIC congregations that take part in the day. Bishop Anthony W. Gilyard, bishop of the Southwestern Florida Jurisdiction, shares his excitement via Facebook. “Please know that we have grown, and it’s so much more...

Deanna Joseph continues the fight for justice in her son's memory. The family remains in pursuit of the $15 million judgment awarded in 2022. (Photo by Luis Santana |Times) Twelve years ago, the life of 14-year-old Andrew Joseph, III was cut short, triggering a grueling decade-long saga of grief and legal combat for his parents. The teenager’s death occurred in February 2014 after Hillsborough County deputies expelled him from the Florida State Fair. Left in a dangerous area away from the...

Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, speaks on stage during National Archives Foundation Records of Achievement Award Ceremony and Gala 2023 (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for National Archives Foundation/TNS) Smithsonian Secretary Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch, III, has disputed a White House report that accuses the National Museum of American History of promoting “thinly veiled anti-Americanism” and “extreme political activism.” The 162-page report was...

The Woodson Museum reopened to the public on 7/11/26 (Photo by Kaylen Ross) A New Era for the Museum The Woodson Museum African American Museum of Florida in St. Pete celebrated a momentous milestone this week, marking its 20th anniversary with the grand reopening of its facility. Following a six-month, $1 million renovation project, the museum has emerged as a beacon of cultural preservation. It’s a declaration of intent to show the complex narrative of African American history in Florida...

J. Carl Divine joins Carl Lavender Jr. on The Grapevine for a powerful conversation about service, recovery, identity, self-love and community empowerment. Divine shares the story behind the Banyan Tree Project, which is celebrating 20 years of helping people rebuild their lives. He also reflects on nearly 40 years in recovery, the importance of education and civic engagement, and why meaningful activism begins with taking action—even when an issue does not affect you personally. Watch Full...

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department released this photo during the search for Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, in Mississippi. Hundreds of people gathered in Mississippi to remember Nolan Wells while urging investigators to provide more information about the circumstances surrounding the case. Family members, friends, community leaders, and supporters participated in the event, honoring Wells' life and expressing a shared desire for a thorough and transparent investigation. Throughout the...