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Lt. Gov. Jay Collins held an impromptu press conference on Monday at the Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg. Image: Screengrab. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has doubled down on his bid to become Florida’s next governor. The former Green Beret also took aim at “pay-to-play media” and his top opponent, a fellow Republican. ​Collins, speaking at […]

Café Ora’s co-founder, Meiko Seymour, poses with his daughter, Portlynn, and his wife, Simone Seymour. Image Courtesy of Uncommon City. Residents in South St. Petersburg can look forward to a new cafe opening later this year, thanks to St. Petersburg’s community leader and advocate, Meiko Seymour, co-founder of Café Ora. Seymour is no stranger to […]

St. Petersburg is now accepting proposals for a company to replace aging analog water meters with more accurate digital versions that are compatible with advanced reporting software. Photos by Mark Parker. ​A company’s unsolicited proposal to help St. Petersburg replace its outdated water metering infrastructure with a technologically advanced system has intrigued city officials, despite […]

From left: Jeff Baker, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy; former Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin; former Mayor Rick Kriseman; Rob Kapusta, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership board member; and Jeff Hearn, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership board member, at the St. Petersburg Innovation District’s 10th anniversary celebration. All photos by Brian James unless otherwise noted. […]

Deputy County Administrator Greg Horwedel (standing) called the Tampa Bay Rays’ timeline “very aggressive” when there is still “a lot of work that needs to be done.” Image: Screengrab. Hillsborough County officials have roughly six weeks to approve a $2.3 billion stadium with the Tampa Bay Rays, despite a lack of information, assumption-based financial projections, […]

The 20th African American Health Forum is Saturday at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s Center for Health Equity. Photo: St. Petersburg Innovation District. ​Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts, one of many stunning statistics that highlight persistent health disparities. ​Dr. Kenneth Bryant, founder […]

Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, president of the Pinellas County Urban League, said she has never seen such a demand for emergency services in her three years of leading the organization. All images: Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s office. ​Federal policies and the war in Iran have exacerbated affordability issues, which are now a top-of-mind concern for people from all […]

Gary Hartfield hopes to become the first Black mayor in the City of Tampa’s 139-year history. Photo by Octavio Jones. Gary Hartfield is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, community leader, and author. What he is not – a career politician – may serve him best in what he hopes is his next role: Mayor of Tampa. […]

Ongoing youth programming in St. Petersburg, including the Mayor’s Future Ready Academy (pictured), will receive funding in the fiscal year 2027 budget. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch kicked off a Budget Open House event on Monday by pledging to prioritize projects that strengthen infrastructure and support long-term environmental resiliency in […]

The long-vacant Commerce Park property, valued at $4.525 million, sits directly across 22nd Street South from the Manhattan Casino. All images: City documents. Mayor Ken Welch’s administration has revived nearly 20-year-old plans to activate several parcels along the historic Deuces corridor in South St. Petersburg. ​The city issued a request for proposals (RFP) on April […]

Bianca Lanoue, a University of South Florida graduate and technology architecture analyst at Accenture, built early momentum in tech through internships, mentorship, and community involvement while still in college. As AI and emerging technology continue to reshape the industry, her journey reflects how hands-on experience, strong guidance, and intentional preparation can help new graduates move […]

Artist and educator Debbie Garrett poses in front of her artwork. Image courtesy of Debbie Garrett. Among community leaders who are making a change in the St. Petersburg area, artist, educator, and mentor Debbie Garrett advocates for creatives and youth while rallying support for environmental progress in the St. Pete area. “My inspiration comes from […]

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, now eligible for a third term, hopes to regain his title. Photo courtesy of Hannah Webster, Omnicom. Bob Buckhorn, a long-rumored candidate to run for mayor of Tampa in 2027, has made it official. ​The former mayor, who led the city from 2011 to 2019, filed paperwork and launched his […]

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (left) and Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Port Tampa Bay, celebrate the facility receiving $10 million in federal funding on Thursday. Photos: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s office. Florida’s largest port now has $10 million in federal funding to launch an ambitious project that enhances navigational safety, […]

Maggie Rogers, executive director of Catholic Charities, said Tampa Hope has served nearly 2,000 people in just over four years and will continue expanding. All images: City of Tampa. The Tampa Hope campus began in 2020 with an ambitious vision to temporarily shelter 100 people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapidly evolving facility […]

Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Patrick Zalupski and CEO Ken Babby at the team’s 2026 home opener in St. Petersburg. The team’s lease at Tropicana Field terminates following the 2028 season. Photo by Mark Parker. ​A proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium financing deal includes $1.065 billion in public funding and a self-imposed deadline of June […]

Multiple city council members want St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch to wait for the results of an Urban Land Institute study before selecting a developer to reimagine the Historic Gas Plant District. His administration prefers to complete the work simultaneously. Photo by Mark Parker. ​St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch plans to select a proposal to […]

Barry Brown, principal at Gibbs High School, walks through a new weapon detection system. Image: Pinellas County Schools. Two schools in Pinellas County began testing new weapon detection systems on Tuesday. Hyper-responsive settings and rain dampened the launch at one site. ​Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor University High School are participating […]

On Monday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor (second from left) and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch (second from right) simultaneously threw out ceremonial first pitches at Tropicana Field, which hasn’t hosted a game since September 2024. All photos by Mark Parker. ​When asked who had the better ceremonial first pitch before Monday’s historic home opener at […]

Hurricane Helene flooded the existing homes at 421 15th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. All images: Screengrabs, city documents. A developer will soon demolish several storm-damaged, 101-year-old apartments to build an environmentally resilient complex in the Bartlett Park neighborhood of South St. Petersburg. ​The city’s Development Review Commission approved the approximately $2 million project at […]

Ebony Vaz (second to right) with innovators and leaders at the 2022 Synapse Summit conference. The Black Innovation Leaders of Florida (BILF) is changing the economic architecture of the Tampa Bay area. With co-founder and board president Ebony Vaz at the helm, BILF works tirelessly to close the gap between local talent and established businesses, […]

Myiah Moody Huff (MyiahPink), founder of HappySoul Revival Inc., has built her creative practice around faith, wellness, and helping others find their voice through art. Photo Courtesy of HappySoul Revival Inc. The fourth annual Soul Revival Art Festival and Fundraiser returns with a three-day experience shaped by art, healing, wellness, and sickle cell awareness, April […]

Pinellas County Commission Chair Dave Eggers (standing) greets David Baldwin, grandson of Dansville’s founder, Dan Henry, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a long-awaited park on March 31. All photos: Pinellas County Government. What was once a dumping ground in a historic yet long-neglected Black neighborhood in Pinellas County is now home to a 12-acre park. […]

BayCare Ballpark opened in 2004 at 601 Old Coachman Rd. in Clearwater. The Philadelphia Phillies have held spring training in the city since 1947. Photo: MLB.com The Philadelphia Phillies are seeking approximately $110 million in public funding to renovate their spring training complex in Clearwater. ​Pinellas County’s other stadium saga is seemingly nearing a conclusion […]