A Petersburg woman has been identified as the victim in a fatal shooting in Hopewell's Thomas Rolfe Court area and a Richmond man is in custody charged with her murder 57 was found unresponsive and lying next to a car around 6:45 a.m May 3 in the 200 block of South 7th Avenue She had been shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene police arrested 45-year-old Derek McPherson He has been charged with second-degree murder use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon McPherson is being held without bond at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Cameron List at (804) 541-2284; or anonymously through Crime Solvers at (804) 541-2202 or the P3Tips mobile app Goode's death is the third homicide in Hopewell this year as well as the second in the past three days of Hopewell was found stabbed to death in the 200 block of South 4th Avenue was arrested shortly after the stabbing and has been charged with voluntary manslaughter Fla — St Petersburg Police (SPPD) said they arrested a woman who allegedly left a suspicious package at police headquarters Police said an employee noticed a suspicious vehicle parked in the police department's loading dock on 1st Avenue around 2:25 p.m An officer searched the area and found a suspicious suitcase in the parking lot under a forensics unit van The parking garage was blocked off and businesses in the area were evacuated SPPD said they called Tampa's Bomb Squad to investigate SPPD said security video showed a woman later identified as Rebekkah Westermeyer drive up in a vehicle and pull out a large suitcase The woman then allegedly walked around a wall under a security barrier and into a restricted area with the suitcase SPPD said officers were called to 249 4th Avenue North for a person who was allegedly shot SPPD said the SWAT team was able to take Westermeyer into custody and charged her with Abuse of 911 and manufacture and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Pinellas County News from ABC Action News Report a typo playTropicana Field roof damaged from Hurricane Milton (0:59)Check out some of the damage Hurricane Milton caused to the home of the Tampa Bay Rays ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The once and possibly future home of the Tampa Bay Rays will get a new roof to replace the one shredded by Hurricane Milton with the goal of having the ballpark ready for the 2026 season Petersburg City Council voted 7-1 to approve $22.5 million to begin the repairs at Tropicana Field which will start with a membrane roof that must be in place before other work can continue Although the Rays pulled out of a planned $1.3 billion new stadium deal the city is still contractually obligated to fix the Trop The agreement requires us to fix the stadium," said council member Lissett Hanewicz "We need to go forward with the roof repair so we can do the other repairs." The hurricane damage forced the Rays to play home games this season at Steinbrenner Field across the bay in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees The Rays went 4-2 on their first homestand ever at an open-air ballpark the Rays owe three more seasons at the Trop once it's ready again for baseball It's unclear if the Rays will maintain a long-term commitment to the city or look to Tampa or someplace else for a new stadium Major League Baseball has said keeping the team in the Tampa Bay region is a priority The Rays have played at the Trop since their inception in 1998 "We are pleased to see City Council take this important step toward preparing Tropicana Field for Major League Baseball in time for 2026 opening day," Rays co-president Brian Auld said in a statement Rays and MLB staff for their cooperative efforts to get us to this point." The overall cost of Tropicana Field repairs is estimated at $56 million the work includes fixing the playing surface ensuring audio and visual electronics are working getting concession stands running and other issues We feel like we're in a good place," Quintana said at the council meeting Thursday the roof installation will take about 10 months The unique membrane system is fabricated in Germany and assembled in China adding that officials are examining how President Donald Trump's new tariffs might affect the cost will be able to withstand hurricane winds as high as 165 mph one of the strongest hurricanes ever in the Atlantic basin at one point 9 south of Tampa Bay with Category 3 winds of about 125 mph the Rays last month pulled out of a deal with the city and Pinellas County for a new $1.3 billion ballpark to be built near the Trop site That was part of a broader $6.5 billion project known as the Historic Gas Plant district to bring housing arts and a Black history museum to a once-thriving Black neighborhood razed for the original stadium The city council plans to vote on additional Trop repair costs over the next few months I'd much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in the most affected neighborhoods," council member Brandi Gabbard said Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun Watch the live stream of Fox News and full episodes Reduce eye strain and focus on the content that matters Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker PETERSBURG — City Council members voted Thursday to approve replacing Tropicana Field’s roof shredded by Hurricane Milton last year The vote represents a major step toward readying the dome for the Tampa Bay Rays’ return to St The team is using a temporary home at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa the city is required to make the Trop playable again Council members said they recognized the city’s contractual obligation The Rays are expected to play home games back in the dome next year through the 2028 season “I’d much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in our most affected neighborhoods,” said council member Brandi Gabbard Council members voted 7-1 to replace the Trop’s roof He said he would have liked to see the city present the numbers for what a settlement with the Rays would’ve cost compared to repairs The city could have bought the Rays out of playing their final three seasons at the Trop The council voted in November to replace the roof but Rays president Brian Auld said the team preferred a settlement Auld said the team doubted repairs would be done on time and at cost and would have to come up with a backup plan to play elsewhere The council then called back its vote and rejected that funding The Rays later changed their position and endorsed fixing the Trop “We are pleased to see City Council take this important step toward preparing Tropicana Field for Major League Baseball in time for 2026 Opening Day,” Auld said in a statement Thursday and MLB staff for their cooperative efforts to get us to this point.” The city and the county dismissed that idea Floyd on Thursday called that a starting point for negotiations as he would never support spending that much “What we’re doing today is voting to approve something with a finite price attached to it today but still with a range of variables ahead,” he said City Administrator Rob Gerdes said the city had multiple discussion about that with the Rays, but said any settlement would have lost the city reimbursements from insurance and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. “Just doesn’t make financial sense for the city,” he said The council still needs to vote on non-roof related repairs Those votes are expected to come before the council this summer Council member Lisset Hanewicz asked if those costs have increased since they were estimated last year “We still believe we’re in the range,” said City Architect Raul Quintana Hanewicz said County Commissioner Vince Nowicki suggested to her that the county could chip in tourist dollars for renovations Gerdes said the city is holding off on using county funding but would talk to County Administrator Barry Burton “I find it odd city administration didn’t even come and ask us to chip in,” Nowicki said the contractor that assessed the Trop’s damages last year will return to repair the stadium the Indianapolis-based construction management firm is also the same company that built the Trop 35 years ago Petersburg construction company Hennessy Construction Services to construct a new roof made from white fabric Major League Baseball preferred a white roof which is less expensive than a beige roof and will take less time to install The new roof will be designed to current building codes and could withstand 165 mph winds The material is made in Germany and will be assembled in China then flown to St President Trump announced a 10% tariff on all countries including 34% on China and 20% on the European Union The agreement includes a $100,000 contingency to cover proposed tariffs though some council members doubted that was enough The price of the roof doesn’t include an acoustical liner Special Projects Manager Beth Herendeen said it’s not needed with the installation of a new audio system and the league was OK with that Roof repairs would wrap up just in time for Christmas and turf replacement would continue through February There is some wiggle room for shipping and weather delays Council members voted to transfer or lend $2.5 million from the city’s Parking Revenue Fund, $7.6 million from the Commercial Insurance Fund and $12.8 from a $50 million loan the city took out in December. The vote also included an additional $500,600 to cover project oversight, inspections and permit costs. Jack Prator is a reporter covering breaking news and environment. Reach him at jprator@tampabay.com. The list includes only those players who have played in an NFL game See where it ranks among other schools in the state here Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts "The Nick Bartlett S.. Aidin Ebrahimi covers the NBA for SuperWest Sports Spencer McLaughlin contributes videos to SuperWest Sports and is the host of "Locke.. Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formu.. Writes about track and field and Oregon football as a columnist for Super.. writes about various topics for SuperWest sports The Crow's Nest history isn’t just something you read about; it rolls across the green every week.   Tucked between high rises and the city buzz is a small, green field at 536 4th Ave. N. that is home to Florida’s oldest formally organized lawn bowling club — a welcoming community built around a sport that values precision the club has drawn players from across the country many coming for the warm weather and staying for the game.  arrived 15 years ago along with his wife for their first Florida winter They checked out the senior center located right next to the bowling club and discovered the game.   In 1980, the clubhouse was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places officially cementing it as a local treasure what makes the club special isn’t just its architecture or history the stories and the rhythm of a game that is part sport lawn bowling might seem like a laid-back hobby but a delicate and precise practice hides under the surface Players take turns rolling heavy and slightly asymmetrical bowls toward a smaller white ball Controlling the ball path requires strategy The goal is simple: get your bowl as close to the jack as possible But the execution takes some practice.  Games usually last around two and a half hours Points are scored based on how many bowls are closer to the jack than the nearest bowl of the opposing team A small measuring tool is often used to make the call mentioned that they are always happy to see new faces and pass this historic game on.  He also shared the club’s motto: “When that great scorer comes to write against your name ‘Did you win or lose?’ but how you played the game.”  measure distances and adjust their techniques with each turn A quiet intensity keeps players coming back for more.  Many members came to the club curious and stayed because of the people Lawn bowling offers more than a workout or a hobby It creates connection — regulars greet each other like family and get together during the holidays Newcomers are welcomed with patience and encouragement.   “We wouldn’t be walking if it weren’t for this game.”   speaks to the game’s power to bring joy movement and motivation no matter the player’s age the lawn bowling club remains a bridge between the past and present It’s a reminder that even in a fast-changing city there are spaces where tradition and togetherness still matter.  welcoming beginners and experienced bowlers alike.   Free lessons are offered three times a week and all equipment is provided.   All that’s needed is a willingness to try something new.  Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application We are saddened to announce that Ethan Randy Hedden passed away suddenly on Thursday He is survived by his loving parents Jason and Michelle Hedden and sister Katelyn Hedden He also leaves behind grandparents Randy and Bonnie Hedden Preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Art and Celeste Laszlo a big heart and an infectious smile that lit up every room He was the type of person that made friends everywhere he went starting a conversation and making people laugh His joyful and carefree spirit was the type of person you couldn’t help but love IL and graduated from Lincoln-Way West High School in 2019 He went on to become an electrician under the guidance of his uncle and cousin at Vision Electric After his time at Vision Electric he moved on to become a lead electrician for Red Royal Electric in St Throughout Ethan’s life he enjoyed sports and competition Ethan and His mother both took Jeet Kun Do lessons working out and exercising were important to him In addition to physical sports he also competed in many eSports tournaments.Ethan also enjoyed playing pool with his family At an early age he learned how to play pool from his dad and joined the Kankakee Valley APA league on a team with his parents and friends Ethan loved being outside and finding new adventures He’s visited beaches across the United States and Caribbean He quickly made friends there and was able to live the beach life he always wanted God not only blessed us with time to grow stronger bonds with Ethan these past few years and allowed him to fulfill his dreams but also reached him to ensure his eternity in heaven Ethan’s life was full of love and adventure He will be deeply missed by his family and friends “Your brother will rise again.” “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” even though they die: and whoever lives by believing in me will never die Family will recieve friends on Sunday May 4 from 3-8pm at Kurtz Memorial Chapel in New Lenox Interment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Next year’s Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding is scheduled for Feb as the dates were approved unanimously via a resolution at the City of St Petersburg (Florida) City Council meeting held May 1 “The 2025 event was another tremendous success with record crowds across the three days,” said Kim Green chairman and CEO of event organizers Green Savoree Racing Promotions “After consulting with the City of St Petersburg staff and multiple stakeholders INDYCAR and our Green Savoree Racing Promotions teams agree continuing this great downtown tradition on similar dates is optimal We look forward to planning for and hosting the Grand Prix on the same weekend in 2026.” Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou won for the first time in his career on the streets of St Petersburg at this year’s race March 2 Tickets for the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding will go on sale in the fall 2025 INDYCAR® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BRICKYARD TRADEMARKS, INC. / PRIVACY POLICY & TERMS OF USE Mother’s Day weekend has been inexorably linked to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge tragedy just like this year – when an errant freighter violent storm just as it was about to pass under the massive structure collided with a support pier and sent more than 1,200 feet of concrete and steel plummeting 150 feet into Tampa Bay Thirty-five people from the bridge died when their vehicles dropped the entire distance and hit the water at a high velocity The last to fall was a Greyhound bus with 25 passengers and a driver aboard Among the passengers were six students from Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute heading home to Florida at the end of the school year and anxious to get there in time for Mother’s Day Out of the dozen or so students who’d boarded the bus back at Tuskegee most had already been dropped off as it chugged out of the St Petersburg station and headed south of U.S gazing out the windows as a light rain began to fall: Duane Adderley just moments after the Greyhound began the long ascent to the top of the Skyway under a suddenly-black sky and pounding rain was a student at Tallahassee Community College Also boarding in the capital city was 24-year-old Wanda McGarragh who was in the Masters program at Florida State University’s College of Education She carried in her lap her 6-month-old daughter The Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster was the moment St Petersburg lost its innocence; no longer was it a Molasses-slow Mayberry type of small town where nothing bad it remains the worst ship/bridge collision its port bow anchor pinned to the bottom by debris from the fallen Sunshine Skyway span Petersburg car dealer Paul “Dick” Hornbuckle; he and three friends escaped the vehicle after it slid to a stop 14 inches from the break Catalyst Senior Writer and Editor Bill DeYoung is the author of Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay’s Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down (University Press of Florida) In commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the tragedy, he will give a power point presentation Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Petersburg Museum of History (part of the “Happy Hour With the Historian” series). Tickets are available at this link as a benefit for the Gulf Beaches Historical Society Museum which was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene Add your idea below. Review Catalyst posting guidelines here. By posting a comment, I have read, understand and agree to the Posting Guidelines Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Students rocket toward STEM careers at community hub 2025 Florida legislative session extended through June 6 Multiple affordable senior housing projects advance  The Catalyst honors its name by aggregating & curating the sparks that propel the St Pete engine.  It is a modern news platform, powered by community sourced content and augmented with directed coverage your perspective and your spark to the St Pete Catalyst and take your seat at the table Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value" Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 The St Petersburg Group Enter the details of the person you want to share this article with Pete Rising in this year\u2019s Best of the Bay Awards By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. 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Learn more Sales have launched for the Waldorf Astoria Residences in downtown St. Petersburg, a project that will become the city’s tallest tower and its first hotel-branded luxury condominium 539-foot-tall tower planned for 150 2nd Avenue South will include 163 condominiums 73,000 square feet of Class A office space and an extensive collection of high-end residential amenities Pricing for the luxury condominiums start at $2.5 million Petersburg has become one of Florida's premier residential destinations with an influx of new residents driving the demand for high caliber of exceptional properties,” PMG CEO and Founder Kevin Maloney said in an announcement this week “After the success we have witnessed across both Waldorf Astoria Residences in Miami and Denver Cherry Creek we are proud to once again join Hilton in bringing the Waldorf Astoria brand and its renowned world-class service to a new market forever elevating the standards of luxury in the area.” Designed by CUBE 3, with interiors curated by design firm BAMO the tower will be cantilevered over a 17-story podium The building design includes a double-height ground level and accommodations for both long-term and short-term bicycle parking Outdoor terrace at the Waldorf Astoria Residences St Each fully finished two- and three-bedroom residence will feature a private entry foyer and private balconies with bay views These residences will include custom-built closets Italian bathroom vanities with stone countertops and bespoke gourmet kitchens equipped with fully integrated Sub-Zero and Wolf appliance packages 10,000-square-foot rooftop penthouse with a private pool overlooking the bay Living room with expansive bay views at the Waldorf Astoria Residences St “Our goal with the project was to strike a seamless blend between the pinnacle of modern luxury and the effortless coastal sophistication Florida is known for,” BAMO Principal Anne Wilkinson said in a statement “Each texture and material was specifically chosen to pull the best of the property’s locale indoors creating a sense of place and familiarity and relaxation while also delivering the elevated design synonymous with the Waldorf Astoria brand.” resort-style pool deck will be situated on 18th floor featuring a 160-foot east pool with beautiful bay views Also on the 18th floor will be private massage rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness and movement studio There will also be a kids and teen entertainment club will be located on the 46th floor containing a sunset bar Bespoke gourmet kitchen equipped with fully integrated Sub-Zero and Wolf appliance packages Additional residential amenities include 24-hour access to a personal concierge “The introduction of the Waldorf Astoria brand into St Petersburg is a testament to the natural progression and extensive growth the city has undergone over the past few years,” Feldman Equities Larry Feldman said Pete’s incredible rise and are eager to deliver a product to this thriving area that meets the new elevated caliber of living desired by its residents I cannot wait to see all of the opportunities and incredible experiences the new development will contribute to this downtown.” A construction timeline for the project has not yet been announced but the development team anticipates starting work later this year Dining Room at the Waldorf Astoria Residences St Want to be the first to know what’s coming soon to the Sunshine City Sign up to receive the latest news straight to your inbox Contact - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy© 2024 St. Pete Rising, LLC PetersburgDíaz-Canel seeks to strengthen ties with Russia to increase tourism exploring direct flights between Havana and St The visit also addresses cooperation in biotechnology and energy By The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel met on Monday with the governor of St to discuss the launch of direct flights between Havana and that Russian city The parties discussed the increase in tourist exchange, which could be facilitated by the inauguration of new direct flights, reads a dispatch from the official TASS agency. Díaz-Canel also expressed gratitude in the meeting for Russia's support for his government and condemned the embargo. Conversely, he criticized the measures taken by the NATO bloc against Russia following the invasion of Putin in Ukraine “Pleased to reconnect with the esteemed friend Alexander Beglov, Governor of Saint Petersburg, and hold a productive meeting. We discussed the historic friendship between our nations and the progress in the economic-commercial and cooperation areas,” the leader wrote about the meeting on his X account. The account of the Presidency of Cuba also reported on the meeting. founder of the first socialist state and leader of the working class," he tweeted about it without mentioning the negotiations regarding the flights The Cuban leader arrived on Sunday in Saint Petersburg as part of an official visit to Russia The Cuban delegation is composed of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; Emilio Lozada García head of the Department of International Relations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba; and Oscar Pérez-Oliva Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment According to information from the Presidency of Cuba the visit's program includes tours of scientific centers linked to strategic sectors such as biotechnology with an agenda aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas for the development of the Island Russia is one of the main sources of tourists to the struggling Cuban economy Cuba received only 571,772 international visitors far below official targets and pre-pandemic levels Russia has been one of the few countries that has maintained a steady flow of tourists to Cuba although it has also reduced its numbers in recent months On Saturday, it was revealed that the Cuban regime has sealed a new agreement with the Russian agency Rus Cuba Dive to promote diving tourism in the Ciénaga de Zapata as announced during the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2025) Díaz-Canel seeks to open direct flights to increase tourist exchange between Cuba and Russia This measure could boost the arrival of Russian tourists to the island a vital flow for the Cuban economy that has seen a decline in international visitors in recent months The economic relationship between Cuba and Russia is crucial for the island due to its dependence on key sectors such as energy and tourism Russia has provided significant credits and technical assistance to help Cuba tackle its energy crisis and is an important trading partner in the region The Cuban regime strengthens its dependence on Russia through economic and political agreements which include the acceptance of Russian credits and the granting of preferential conditions to Russian companies in strategic sectors such as transportation and energy Cuba has been criticized for not condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has supported Moscow in international organizations This stance has been viewed as a reflection of its dependence on Russia and its alignment with the Kremlin despite the sovereignty violations represented by the invasion A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis Sales have launched at the Waldorf Astoria Residences, a 50-story luxury condominium tower planned for downtown St. Petersburg. The project is backed by national real estate firm PMG and local developer Feldman Equities along with City Office REIT. Smith & Associates Real Estate will handle sales. Once completed, the Waldorf Astoria Residences will rise above the 46-story Residences at 400 Central, making it the tallest building in the city and St. Petersburg’s first first five-star branded condo. There are 163 condos available for purchase. The developer did not share a specific price range. But “we’ll probably be at the highest price per square foot in the market,” Kevin Maloney, Founder and CEO of PMG told the Tampa Bay Times. A rendering of one of the primary bedrooms at the forthcoming Waldorf Astoria Residences in St. Petersburg. At 50-stories, it will be the city's tallest building. [ ARX Creative ]PMG is building two other Waldorf Astoria-branded condos in Miami and Denver. Maloney said the level of service and amenities that come with the Waldorf name are unlike anything that’s available in the local market right now. Residents will have round-the-clock access to a personal concierge, valet parking, doorman and bellman services. “It’s going to change St. Pete, no question,” he said. “Once we get this up and kind of prove our price point and this luxury product, I think you’re going to see other luxury brands come into the city.” The building was designed by Cube3 and interiors were curated by Bamo. Each condo at the Waldorf Astoria Residences in St. Petersburg will have it's own private terrace. [ ARX Creative ]Each of the two- and three-bedroom units will have private outdoor terraces, custom closets and top of the line appliances. They range from 2,031 to 3,408 square feet. There’s also a two story, 10,000-square-foot penthouse with a private pool overlooking Tampa Bay. The 18th floor will be a dedicated amenity deck with private massage rooms, a his/her sauna, steam rooms, a fitness studio and an entertainment club for kids and teens. The 20,000-square-foot pool deck will have several pools and spas, including an infinity pool that wraps around the perimeter of the building. Residents will have access to a 46th-floor sky lounge complete with a sunset bar and outdoor terrace space. The lower floors will have 73,000 square feet of office space, a parking garage and about 10,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. A narrow podium will separate the amenity deck and residences from the lower floors, creating the illusion that the top part of the building is floating in mid air. Condo residents will have access to an infinity pool that wraps around the perimeter of the building. [ Courtesy of St. Petersburg City Council ]Located at 100 2nd Ave. S, the tower will replace the parking garage for the City Center office building. Due to its proximity to Albert Whitted Airport, the developers had to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. Maloney said the timeline for construction depends on how quickly the building sells. But ideally, “I’d like to be in the ground by fall,” he said. Rebecca Liebson is a reporter covering real estate and housing. She can be reached at rliebson@tampabay.com. Petersburg man survived an Interstate 275 crash early Saturday morning that threw him from the vehicle before it caught fire According to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) report was driving an Infinity G37 southbound on I-275 in Hillsborough County at about 3:10 a.m the driver lost control of the vehicle which crossed the median and collided with a guardrail The vehicle then caught fire and burned extensively The driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital Latest Hillsborough County News from ABC Action News Petersburg has been pursuing a major redevelopment of the city’s downtown marina since former Mayor Rick Kriseman’s administration Kriseman’s plan to work with a Tennessee-based developer failed to get City Council support in 2021 Many at the time wondered why the city couldn’t just handle the renovations and keep a city asset under public control While the complete transaction means Safe Harbor can now “direct greater focus toward the Marina redevelopment project,” Corbett wrote, the city will also “revisit the cost and process of redeveloping the marina independently.” “This dual-track approach ensures we are positioned to proceed with the redevelopment as quickly as possible following the appropriate City Council approval,” Corbett wrote. According to records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, city officials emailed a draft agreement to developers Feb. 14 and asked for feedback. The city’s manager of the marina and port, David Wirth, said the city would like to bring the contract to City Council in March. Wirth followed up again March 26. Jason Hogg, principal of Waterview Marinas, representing Safe Harbor, apologized for the delay because of “the overall transaction and transition with our new partner/owner to be.” Hogg said the two parties were better off putting together a “major issues list” before trading revisions of contracts “without a mutual understanding on any larger conceptual issues.” Corbett told council members in his Thursday email that his team received comments from Safe Harbor about the draft lease agreement Wednesday night. “While it is still too early to asses the full scope and impact of their feedback, our team is committed to a thorough and timely review over the next week,” he wrote. The deal in place gives Safe Harbor, which operates the Harborage Marina at Bayboro, a five-year lease to complete a $48 million overhaul of the marina by Oct. 1, 2029, in exchange for managing the marina and keeping that revenue. Because of the city charter‘s strong protections of the waterfront, the city can’t grant a longer timeframe without a voter referendum approving that contract. Safe Harbor must renovate all marina docks, slips, pilings, restrooms, comfort stations, lounge buildings, pump-out stations and all marina-related amenities. Safe Harbor would pay the city a 10% cut on slip and dock rents and 5% cut on retail and fuel sales. The city and Safe Harbor could work out another five-year extension or a longer lease with voter approval, or the city could buy out Safe Harbor for $48 million that can’t be paid for with property taxes. Safe Harbor would also repair and replace the marina’s seawalls with city reimbursement. Culture and leisure Industry Science and engineering Trade and Services Physical activity "�� �� ����� ������". ���������� ����������� ���������� � ��������� �������� � �����15.04.2025 19:32:23 "������": �������� �������� �������� ������ � ����������. ����26.11.2022 23:44:03 Motorists should use the posted detour route all northbound and southbound lanes of the Ft Lee Road overpass over I-85 will be closed Motorists should follow the posted detour route.  31): Lane closure of the southbound lane of the Fort Lee Road overpass over I-85 will proceed on Monday the closure of the southbound lane of the Fort Lee Road overpass over I-85 has been delayed Motorists should follow the posted weight limit restrictions the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will close the southbound lane of the Fort Lee Road overpass over I-85 in Petersburg The closure is a safety measure following damage caused by a vehicle striking the overpass Construction on the bridge is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025 Motorists should follow the posted detour routes: Southbound traffic on Fort Lee Road will be allowed to cross the bridge through a lane closure operation Northbound traffic approaching from the east: Continue west on Boydton Plank Road to Dupuy Road Turn right on Dupuy Road and travel north to Fort Lee Road Northbound traffic approaching from the west: Continue east on Boydton Plank Road to Youngs Road Turn left on Youngs Road and travel north to Dupuy Road Turn left on Dupuy Road and travel south to Fort Lee Road Northbound TRUCK traffic approaching from the west: Continue east on Boydton Plank Road and travel straight onto Halifax Street Travel North on Halifax Street to West Washington Street Turn left on West Washington Street and travel west to McKenney Street Turn left on McKenney Street and travel south to Dupuy Road Turn right on Dupuy Road and travel south to Ft Anyone with questions about the project can call VDOT’s customer service center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) For the latest traffic information or road conditions, call 511 or visit 511.vdot.virginia.gov Please note that this file is not ADA compliant the Cuban head of State started his activities honoring the defenders of the city of Leningrad (today St chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St held official talks to discuss the prospects for bilateral cooperation in economy the Cuban president will also visit scientific and artificial intelligence development centers in the capital of northern Russia In the second stage of his official visit to this nation the Cuban leader will travel to Moscow where he will take part in the commemorative acts and parade at the Red Square for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany He will also participate in the celebrations organized on the 65th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Russia and Cuba | Text SMS to 8100 with content PLReceive 4 mesages x 25 cup © 2016-2021 Prensa Latina Latin American News Agency Radio – Publications  – Videos – News by the minute.All Rigts Reserved Web Site developed by IT Division  Prensa Latina Nurses unions reported understaffing and equipment shortages that reportedly had led to high infection rates and unnecessary deaths The 480-bed hospital had a D ranking for safety Five years on, hospital leaders are celebrating Bayfront’s first ever A grade in new rankings released by Leapfrog a nonprofit that rates hospitals nationwide on number of infections and medical errors They gathered at the hospital at midnight Wednesday to celebrate with night shift workers “The team has been working so hard for a number of years,” said Jim Tucker “People are thrilled to be celebrating today Most of the region’s other larger hospitals Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater and St [ TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL | Tampa General Hospital ]Hospital officials point to the hospital’s improved performance in a new ranking that placed it in the top 30% of academic medical centers in the nation It was ranked in the 81st percentile of its peers in 2017 is more significant since it compares Tampa General to hospitals of similar size and complexity Mass General Brigham and Vanderbilt University Tampa General is continuously working to elevate quality enhance safety and improve patient outcomes,” John Couris Ten of 11 BayCare Health System hospitals that were rated received an A But the grade for HCA Florida Brandon Regional hospital dropped to a B with MRSA infections and the number of collapsed lungs flagged as areas of concern Eighteen of AdventhHealth’s 26 Florida hospitals received an A grade the nonprofit’s largest hospital in the Tampa Bay region slipped from a B to a C after scoring below average for the number of blood and urinary tract infections Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter the labor and delivery department and the baby unit has also been upgraded Surgical equipment used for neuro and orthopedic surgery has been replaced new imaging equipment was purchased and sterile processing equipment improved The company also had to change the culture who joined shortly before Orlando Health took over including the number of infections in patients who had vascular catheters there is an increased focus on minimizing the time that a patient is catheterized to reduce the likelihood of infections The hospital has also been more successful at retaining nurses and surveys staff for ideas on how to keep improving safety “It’s a never ending journey,” Tucker said “It’s an infusion into the organization that has really helped us and will continue.” Leapfrog has been rating and assessing hospitals for more than a decade in an effort to reduce deaths and injuries from hospital errors by publicly recognizing safety and exposing harm Twice a year it grades more than 3,000 acute-care hospitals across the U.S on how well they keep patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors using more than 30 performance measures that hospitals report to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services But the nonprofit has been accused by a Palm Beach hospital operator of running a “brazen pay-to-play scheme” publishing rankings that are “false and defamatory.” Leapfrog charges hospitals between $6,700 and $29,900 per year to advertise their safety grade In a lawsuit filed this week in federal court Palm Beach Health Network claimed that the grades awarded for 20% of hospitals that refuse to participate with Leapfrog are inaccurate and that the rating system punishes hospitals who decline to provide Leapfrog’s safety survey The legal challenge names five of its hospitals — Delray Medical Center Mary’s Medical Center — as victims of the rating system: Leapfrog officials defended their rating system and said they provide important information that the public deserves to know Christopher O’Donnell is the health and medicine reporter. He can be reached at codonnell@tampabay.com. as part of an official visit to the Russian Federation Author: | internet@granma.cu Russian Federation.- In compliance with an invitation from President Vladimir Putin the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic arrived in this city-port on Sunday afternoon for an official visit to the Russian Federation.At the Pulkovo International Airport the dignitary was received by Alexander Dmitrievich Beglov "I feel at home," Diaz-Canel told his hosts.The chords of the two national anthems and the emblematic song Guantanamera could be heard in the cold air young Russian girls offered the head of state bread and salt in a traditional gesture of fine hospitality The Cuban head of state arrives in the Eurasian nation at a time marked by important anniversaries: May 8 will mark 65 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the island and Russia; and May 9 will be the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory against Fascism in the Great Patriotic War which is why the historic parade will take place to celebrate and remember a defining triumph in the history of mankind.Díaz-Canel's visit to St Petersburg is an expression of the excellent political and diplomatic ties between Cuba and the Russian Federation and of the joint efforts to also strengthen ties with the Russian regions; in particular Both countries share the interest in expanding the presence of Russian businessmen in Cuba so the implementation of the Bilateral Economic Agenda for economic-commercial and scientific-technical collaboration between the two governments is promoted as well as the Framework Agreement to encourage the participation of investors from the Russian Federation in Russian-Cuban projects in the largest of the Antilles with its Road Map; and also the Development Plan of the key lines of bilateral collaboration for the period from 2023 to 2030.The high-level delegation that has arrived in the Eurasian giant is also integrated by the member of the Political Bureau and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla; as well as by the member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and head of its International Relations Department Emilio Lozada Garcia; and by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga; among other representatives of the Caribbean nation The demand for the exclusion of Cuba from the arbitrary list was also evident in the session of the Standing Committee recently stressed that his country is cooperating with Cuban authorities to support the development of renewable energies in the Caribbean nation Full text of the presentation by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz Ja’quavius Corde Daniels turned himself in to authorities on Thursday night in connection with the shooting, which occurred April 16 in the 3400 block of 40th Street North. Ja’quavius Corde Daniels faces a felony murder charge in connection with a fatal home invasion robbery in St. Petersburg. [ Pinellas County Jail ]Police say two men committed the home invasion. The homeowner shot one of the suspects, Marcel James Williams, 20, who later died at a hospital. The second suspect fled the scene. Police now say Daniels is that second suspect. Police have not released the name of the homeowner. Daniels is facing a charge of felony murder. Under state law, someone can be charged with murder if another person dies while they are committing certain crimes, such as home invasion robbery. The charge can be applied even if they didn’t pull the trigger and even if the person who died was an accomplice in the crime. An arrest affidavit for Daniels was sealed in court records Friday and was not available. Bond information also hadn’t been posted by Friday afternoon. Chris Tisch is the senior news editor overseeing breaking news, criminal justice, weather and environment. Reach him at tisch@tampabay.com. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Stay up to speed on the latest INDYCAR news exclusive offers and more — delivered straight to your inbox 2025 INDYCAR® is a registered trademark of Brickyard Trademarks — A woman was arrested after she drove a vehicle into the water outside of the St Petersburg Yacht Club early Monday morning Petersburg Police Department said the vehicle traveled east through the intersection of Central Avenue and Bayshore Drive NE before going into the water around 2:30 a.m later identified as 29-year-old Cassandra Kaiser and she was charged with driving under the influence There are no other details available at this time Petersburg was far from the hotspot it is today The arrival of the downtown Major League ballpark changed that and today the waterfront area is humming with activity day and night and Central Cigars remains a key part of the neighborhood fabric It sits on one of the busiest corners in the city three blocks from the water and just one from the popular James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art Today there are several cigar venues on Central Avenue but none have a bigger selection than Central Cigars Central Cigars can allow smoking inside and out you are greeted by more than two dozen cushioned seats Inside the front door there are a couple of floor-to-ceiling humidors on the right and a counter with cigar accessories and cash register classic bar like you’d find in an Irish pub running the length of the deep but narrow space and the left wall is lined all the way back with more humidors containing more than 650 different bands from more than 60 producers Central’s size and long history gives it a lot of industry clout, and you will find dozens of rare cigars. That includes allocated offerings from Arturo Fuente, including the Fuente Fuente OpusX ForbiddenX, the Fuente Fuente OpusX 2020, better known as the “OpusX Dubai,” the Don Carlos Eye of the Shark (the 2017 Cigar of the Year) an impressive lineup of Liga Privada by Drew Estate (Feral Flying Pig a huge Davidoff selection and a large amount of cigars from local cigarmaker J.C Prices range from the quite reasonable to the considerably expensive A Zino Nicaragua Robusto can be had for $8 the Opus X Dubai Viento is $110 and the Davidoff Royal Robusto sells for $130 it’s bigger than you might remember: 15 years ago when the storefront next door became available turning it into live music venue Ruby’s Elixir with non-stop live music seven nights a week (reggae It has become one of the region’s premier performance venues and has its own large outdoor patio for about 30 allowing guests to smoke and buy from the Central offerings (the two are also connected inside) some bar guests with a still lit cigar move over at closing Both have very well stocked bars with a large whiskey list and craft cocktails Central attracts avid cigar lovers and the live music at Ruby’s draws many newcomers many of whom didn’t even know until they came that it was connected to a cigar bar,” says founder Greg Haddad “So we sell a lot of people their very first cigar and then they become part of our community.” Central also has 60 locker members and hosts about one social event with cigar brand ambassadors monthly in Ruby’s before it opens for the evening They also offer occasional curated whiskey events Read Next: Wisconsin May Open Doors To New Cigar Bars Looking for a place to smoke? Check out our updated Where To Smoke portal. The upscale and outdoorsy alpine town of Val d’Isère anchors the second largest ski resort on the … The Ariston offers a refined respite from boot-stomping revelers Tampa Bay’s Ybor City is the historic and spiritual cigar capital of the United States The environment there is cool enough to attract celebrities all formed by satisfied men enjoying cigars … Petersburg College plays a vital role in the Tampa Bay region not only through its educational offerings but also through its significant economic contributions The College added $3.2 billion in income to the Tampa Bay region a value approximately equal to 1.4% of the region’s total gross regional product in fiscal year 2022-23 according to an independent economic impact study SPC adds value by boosting the employability of its students and supplying skilled workers to local industries The College also makes an impact in Pinellas County and the state of Florida The college plays a key role in helping students increase their employability and achieve their individual potential The college draws students to the Tampa Bay region while generating new dollars and opportunities The independent study was created by Lightcast a leading provider of economic impact studies and labor market data to educational institutions the study measures the economic impacts created by SPC on the business community and the benefits the college generates in return for the investments made by its key stakeholder groups—students SPC added $3.2 billion in income to the Tampa Bay* economy a value approximately equal to 1.4% of the region’s total gross regional product (GRP) the activities of SPC and its students support one out of every 62 jobs in Tampa Bay SPC added $1.8 billion in income to the Pinellas County economy a value approximately equal to 2.7% of the county’s total gross regional product (GRP) the activities of SPC and its students support one out of every 31 jobs in Pinellas County SPC added $4.5 billion in income to the Florida economy St. Petersburg College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information visit www.spcollege.edu/eaeo Use this link to report accessibility issues on this page. has announced that owner Jeffry Knight is “stepping down” and is no longer affiliated with the company The 37-foot boat Knight was operating Sunday night in Clearwater Harbor struck the slow-moving Clearwater Ferry killing one passenger and injuring eight others Jeff Knight is stepping down from his position at Jannus Live and will no longer have any affiliation with the venue.” It went on to say that the decision was made “out of respect for the victims of the recent Clearwater Ferry tragedy.” has been the registered owner of Jannus Live since 2010 Knight is also the owner of Knight Enterprises The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission home surveillance or cell phones in the vicinity of the Municipal Causeway MORE ON THE STORY: Victim, boat operator’s names released in fatal Clearwater accident MORE ON THE STORY: More questions than answers in deadly ferry collision How is Knight “stepping down” showing respect for the family you can see that Knight Global Entertainment 2025 with the Secretary of State of Florida and lists their mailing address as 200 1st Ave North Suite 206 Jeffery Knight signs the document as “owner” You can’t buy your way out of culpability Wow 😦😳 they’re going to sue the pants off of him..he better lawyer up. cause they’re coming for his money 🤑💰!! Left to right: Managing Director Brian Caper Eckerd College and the City of St. Petersburg have for the last three years brought together a pair of unique programs designed to help small-business owners in South St. Petersburg. The City’s Community Redevelopment Area Microfund Program offers fully funded grants of up to $10,000 more than $1.4 million has been awarded to small businesses in South St Folded into the Microfund Program is Eckerd’s contribution: the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile®—an online assessment that examines the skills and capabilities small-business owners need to compete in today’s economic environment Since the pilot Microfund Program began in 2023, four cohorts, each containing between 45 and 55 small-business owners, have taken the EMP and completed the program. And on April 8, with the mayor of St. Petersburg looking on participants in all four cohorts graduated Petersburg CRA Microfund Program Celebration at Fox Hall on the Eckerd College campus It was billed by the City as a “celebration honoring the dedication and hard work of our esteemed Microfund clients in successfully completing the South St There were 56 businesses represented—including brick-and-mortar, home-based, childcare, shared space/food trucks, and start-ups. They all had received grants in varying amounts. The event was hosted by the City’s Economic and Workforce Development Department and The Greenhouse a city-directed initiative that offers business development services EMP product director at the Leadership Development Institute at Eckerd College explains that the EMP helps corporate leaders students and entrepreneurs assess the degree to which they are utilizing an entrepreneurial mindset and provides resources to leverage that competitive edge It is an assessment that helps individuals identify their strengths and areas for potential development and can be taken online for $80 or through an EMP-certified practitioner Revenue generated from the EMP goes to the College to support student scholarships He also is certified as an EMP practitioner and has been working with the City to build relationships in underserved communities There are currently more than 470 EMP practitioners in 41 countries “How wonderful that our city is helping to grow our economic ecosystem using this assessment that Eckerd College’s Leadership Development Institute created,” Conrad says it equips citizens to better understand where they have entrepreneurial strengths that they can leverage and helps them move the needle to think and act more entrepreneurially.” The target audience for the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile isn’t limited to corporate clients but also includes the government small-business development centers and nonprofits Among the businesses that have received grants are Lat & Sons Family Hair “The EMP is a key component of the Microfund Program,” says Tracey Smith small business liaison and Greenhouse co-manager for the City CRA Microfund participants stand with Mayor Ken Welch “Using the EMP allows business owners to immediately see the impact of their efforts and the knowledge they’ve gained Most of them are impressed with the gains that are reflected in their skills and personality scales.” especially those who went through back-to-back hurricanes last [fall] They were able to get that buy-in and remain committed to the program.” the navigators … And when the business owners were honored with the ceremony on campus They learned things that will be really valuable St. Petersburg, Florida 33711800.456.9009 or 727.867.1166 Hundreds of jovial, excited fans filed into the school's auditorium as White stepped to the mic and ignited a frenzy with four simple words: "It's our turn now!" Why did everyone from the mayor to countless city officials to the sheriff to 40-plus-year alums show up to the introductory news conference for a local high school coach three hours after school had been dismissed on a Monday? The answer is White is one of five major coaching moves this offseason who could shift the power dynamic nationally in boys' high school hoops as teams jockey for potential berths at Chipotle Nationals next year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SportsCenter NEXT (@sportscenternext) we were in contention for state championships," White said "But even bigger than that we want to compete in Chipotle Nationals That's the ultimate goal we're working toward." Here are the top five coaching power moves in boys' high school basketball thus far a six-time Virginia High School League Coach of the Year won seven state titles at John Marshall High School (Virginia) and 2023 Naismith Coach of the Year honors But perhaps even more impressive are his ties to Adidas as founder and director of one of its flagship programs in the 3SSB White's squad has been home to countless NBA stars over the years and as a major coach on the circuit he'll have unlimited resources and access to some of the country's top prospects Kevin Boyle brings a lot of legendary experience to SPIRE after spending 14 years at Montverde Academy. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesBoyle came to SPIRE from Montverde Academy (Florida) where he cemented his legacy as a legend winning eight of the past 12 Chipotle Nationals titles Boyle always has his pick of the litter nationally has countless resources at SPIRE and will likely join the Nike EYBL Scholastic Expect SPIRE to land top-tier prospects and be a mainstay in the upper echelon of the ESPN 25 basketball rankings for the 2025-26 season Richardson has deep ties nationally in both the Nike EYBL he served as an assistant coach for the Arizona Wildcats where he helped lead them to five Sweet 16 appearances two Pac-12 tournament titles and six NCAA tournament appearances James in contention nationally from day one Zito was handpicked by Oak Hill's newly appointed co-general managers of basketball operations Carmelo Anthony and Bay Frazier Anthony's involvement alone adds an element for the Warriors that no other program can claim and will undoubtedly bring elevated resources to an already loaded and storied program serving as an assistant at Fairfield University for eight years before coaching at the John Carroll School (Maryland) Frances Academy (Maryland) and most recently with Team Melo in the Nike EYBL That experience with Anthony helping to guide the ship should have the Warriors competing for the Nike EYBL Scholastic title and a berth in Chipotle Nationals Turner is one of the most accomplished coaches in the country as a six-time WCAC Coach of the Year while leading Gonzaga (Washington he compiled a 497-176 record in arguably the second toughest high school basketball league in the country it's Turner's deep connections in the Nike EYBL plus serving as coach at the Nike Hoop Summit and USA Basketball's Junior National team that will keep the talent level elite in Florida Montverde's unlimited resources and Turner's experience and relationships will have the Eagles contending for both the Nike EYBL Scholastic title and a Chipotle Nationals title and Virginia Harrison; and was also preceded in death by his devoted wife Bobby and Maggie Holleman; and his beloved Cat Fletcher's two greatest loves were baseball and racing He was a pitcher for several Minor League baseball teams before returning to Virginia and opening F Fletcher was a skilled machinist and spent many happy hours building and racing cars Fletcher spent countless hours with his grandchildren; he could never tell them no Fletcher would take on the world for his family and friends finding beauty in all of His creation and joy in everything around him and will be so greatly missed by all who knew him The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Butterwood Methodist Church Cemetery the family request you take time to remember Fletcher by taking your car for a run A healthy dose of nautical nostalgia is sprinkled throughout Cheeky’s, a new seafood restaurant and oyster bar opening May 7 in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District. It’s a love letter of sorts to seaside shacks throughout New England and the Southeast. Proprietor Nate Siegel said he fondly remembers summers spent at oyster and fish houses in Martha’s Vineyard but also drew inspiration from newer spots across the country, like Leon’s in Charleston, and Penny in New York. “The oyster bar is definitely back,” Siegel said. Cheeky’s marks the first solo endeavor for Siegel, who runs the popular restaurant Willa’s in Tampa with co-owner Merrin Jenkins. Cheeky’s has a more casual approach than Willa’s, a concept that will try to bridge the gap between the area’s younger crowd and local families. Who says mom and dad can’t enjoy a few dozen oysters washed back with banana daiquiris while the kids battle it out at video games? The restaurant has been a long time coming: First announced in 2023, Cheeky’s was slated to open last summer, but permitting and construction delays stymied the process. Siegel said the wait has been worth it for a coveted parcel of real estate in the city’s red hot Grand Central District. “This neighborhood is everything,” Siegel said. “There are some of my favorite places to go and everyone has been so nice.” Helming the kitchen is chef Philip Cleary, who worked at restaurants in Omaha, Nebraska, before relocating to Tampa where he worked at Willa’s and celebrated Hyde Park restaurant On Swann. Subscribe to our free Do & Dine newsletter Siegel said the emphasis will be on sourcing fish from the Gulf and Atlantic, including multiple varieties of grouper and snapper, but also fish like pompano, tripletail, cobia and porgy. The restaurant features a large, open air dining room outfitted with fans and plenty of nostalgic nautical decor. [ Courtesy of Cheeky's ]The restaurant is no longer a fried chicken concept, which was part of the original pitch, but there are a few chicken dishes on the menu, include a fried chicken schnitzel and smoked wings. Bar consultant Jacob Cicero is overseeing the beverage program, which is anchored by four giant frozen drink machines that will churn out a number of frozen alcoholic drinks, including an espresso martini, margarita, banana daiquiri and a Transfusion made with vodka, ginger ale, grape and lime juice. There’s a selection of oyster shooters, served with accompaniments ranging from mezcal with Bloody Mary mix and vodka with cucumber. Siegel said he envisions the spot attracting a decent daytime crowd, and will eventually keep the restaurant open throughout the day to serve coffee from local roasters Look Alive Coffee. Once open, Cheeky’s will be open for dinner daily and eventually launch lunch and weekend brunch service. Helen Freund is the food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay. Reach her at hfreund@tampabay.com. By Matthew Cimitile Return to article listing Community Partnerships, Sustainability Faculty, Matthew Cimitile events and initiatives that make us distinct From groundbreaking research to inspiring student profiles we are dedicated to telling our campus' story and promoting its value to the greater Tampa Bay community and beyond research updates and public events in our Harbor Notes News and Harbor Notes Events newsletters Sign Up Copyright © 2025, University of South Florida. All rights reserved This website is maintained by Communications & Marketing The accreditation of this USF branch campus is a part of and depends on the continued accreditation of the University of South Florida One of the big questions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field entering the 2025 season was how to halt the title march of three-time and two-time defending series champion Alex Palou They’re still searching for that answer even after the first race of the season Sunday on the sunny streets of St SEE: Race Results Palou opened his quest for a third consecutive Astor Challenge Cup as series champion in the best way possible Petersburg presented by RP Funding in a master class of strategy 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a 2.8669-second victory over teammate and six-time series champion Scott Dixon who said afterward he contested the last 90 laps of the 100-lap race without radio communication in the No “What an amazing job by everybody,” Palou said “They gave me everything we needed this weekend to win “Our strategy changed a lot during that first yellow It’s been 138 days since Nashville (2024 season finale) and I’ve been dreaming about this every single night.” earned his 12th career victory in the series The Ganassi team secured its first 1-2 finish since July 2023 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden rounded out the podium finishers in the No 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet after Dixon passed him for second on the final lap NTT P1 Award winner Scott McLaughlin finished fourth in the No as Team Penske joined Chip Ganassi Racing with two drivers in the top four McLaughlin was one of seven drivers out front today Florida native and resident Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top five finishers at his home race in the No 27 Chili’s Honda fielded by Andretti Global Palou took the lead for good on Lap 75 when Felix Rosenqvist made his final pit stop in the No It was the culmination of a race of split strategies less durable Firestone Firehawk alternate tires – including Palou Dixon and Newgarden – jumped into the pits on Lap 3 during the only caution period to shed the alternates for Firestone primary tires yet Palou didn’t just inherit the lead at the race’s three-quarter mark and cruise to Victory Lane He produced blazing in and out laps surrounding his final pit stop at the end of Lap 72 who couldn’t discuss strategy with his team and reacted to Palou’s pit move by stopping one lap later after being slowed by thick traffic Dixon exited the pits behind a charging Palou “We were just kind of flying blind out there,” Dixon said of his radio problems I think they were trying to call me in because on that last lap we had before we pitted That’s where the 10 car got us.” Said Palou: “I think he (Dixon) got trapped in traffic a little bit That’s why the 10 stand decided to pit a little bit early could run fast and just opened a gap from there.” Palou was 4.502 seconds ahead of Newgarden on Lap 75 Newgarden sliced that margin to 2.4 seconds by Lap 88 as Palou coped with turbulent air from the car ahead of him 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet of Sting Ray Robb Newgarden took advantage and continued to stalk Palou pulling to within .8186 of a second after Lap 95 But a potential logjam of three cars battling for the checkered flag was scattered when Palou finally lapped Robb in Turn 1 on Lap 96 Newgarden and Dixon squirted past Robb on the same lap but the traffic-free clean air allowed Palou to pull away immediately Palou expanded his gap to 1.1959 seconds after Lap 97 and 1.6938 seconds at the white flag at the end of Lap 99 His lead grew even more during the final trip around the 14-turn 1.8-mile street circuit as Dixon and Newgarden dueled for second Dixon got past fellow Indianapolis 500 winner and series champion Newgarden in Turn 10 on the final lap “I felt like our car today certainly was capable of winning,” Newgarden said “Just didn’t quite get there for a couple of reasons and we had a shift at the end that we didn’t realize so we kind of had to give up that second place.” Petersburg winner Pato O’Ward used a mix of strategy and speed to climb from the 23rd starting spot to finish 11th in the No That was the biggest climb from start to finish by any of the 27 drivers in the field The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on Sunday Gearing Up: Indy Roars to Life This Week with Sonsio Grand Prix Instant Recall: Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Paddock Buzz: Lundgaard Continues Breakout Year with Second Peerless Alex Palou Marches into May with Cruise to Barber Victory Pole Winner Alex Palou Stays on Top in Warmup; Race at 1:30 p.m Petersburg officials and casino developers gather to break ground on the $1.4 billion project Petersburg city officials and a group of developers officially broke ground on the city’s $1.4 billion casino resort Construction is now underway for the multiphase project which will span 92 acres near the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate 95 The project is co-developed by Baltimore-based Cordish Cos and Virginia Beach’s Bruce Smith Enterprise Petersburg city officials were joined by the developers state representatives and local partners to dig shovels into a pile of dirt covered with red pairs of dice and poker chips signifying the beginning of construction for the casino hosted a program that included speeches from Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham Bruce Smith of Bruce Smith Enterprise and others The project is set to include more than 450,000 square feet of gaming hotel and dining space and over 75,000 square feet of meeting and convention space Also planned are a 200-room hotel complete with 20 suites table areas including a 22-table poker room The casino resort is slated to bring $2.8 billion in economic stimulus for the region and over 6,100 construction jobs and 1,400 permanent jobs in its first decade being open The company said hiring preference for new jobs will be given to local residents first A concept design for the Petersburg casino and resort exterior Petersburg and casino officials touted the benefits the casino would bring to Petersburg and the region at Wednesday’s event Casino and Hotel in Virginia will be that transformative moment for the City of Petersburg,” said Cordish Cos “This $1.4 billion transformational project marks the beginning of a new chapter for Petersburg “Its impact goes far beyond bricks and mortar.”  The project also promises $240 million in tax revenue in its first decade to the City of Petersburg alone which Norton announced to cheers from the crowd the latter run by NFL Hall of Famer and Virginia Tech legend Bruce Smith plan to concurrently construct a temporary 75,000-square-foot casino facility on the site to open by the end of 2025 “That’s allowing us to move those economic benefits forward start the flow of income to the community faster,” Norton said The temporary casino would create about 500 jobs and would have around 900 slot machines The official casino resort is slated to open in 2027 at which point the temporary casino would be demolished Norton also announced at the groundbreaking that the Virginia Live Casino Resort has reached an agreement with nearby Richard Bland College to host an educational program to train students in casino dealing at the school “This dealer’s institute is going to put students through who are going to get high-paying jobs in our community,” said Richard Bland College President Debbie Sydow about 80% of Petersburg residents voted yes in a referendum to allow the casino in the city The vote was the highest support for a casino referendum in Virginia history Petersburg was not the first option for a new casino in central Virginia The Virginia General Assembly previously gave five “economically distressed” localities permission to work on casino projects in 2020 whose residents ultimately turned down the project twice The General Assembly passed legislation last April making Petersburg eligible to host a casino Petersburg City Council then selected Cordish as the developer Bruce Smith expressed his excitement for the future of Petersburg and the Virginia Live “No longer will people drive past Petersburg,” Smith said they will make plans to drive to Petersburg.” Jackie joined Richmond BizSense in January 2025. She covers startups, nonprofits, public companies, local government and more. Reach her at jackie@richmondbizsense.com or (703) 789-7628 it isn’t like investing in triple A bonds or Treasury bills But a Casino like this in this location will not only have a local monopoly but also it is a better location than Portsmouth or Bristol or Danville — people can go there on a sudden impulse as they are driving by though a bit sinister to tap into people’s dopamine reward as they are just driving by will be good for Petersburg’s finances I voted against the casino referendum both times in Richmond because the numbers just don’t add up Most of the jobs created will be dead end jobs in the service industry Even with the better jobs as card dealers or managers the pay is not stellar and the work is very demanding Petersburg has had success attracting pharma manufacturers The voters in Petersburg strongly supported the idea of a casino I disagree with the “dead end jobs” comment being a college professor or a corporate executive is a “dead end job” in that you often have to MOVE to a new institution to level-up — take the same job at a more prestigious outfit then maybe level up back at your old one “Clarence has returned to Sliipery Rock U to head the _________ Dept after spending time developing the _________ at Penn” Likewise the current CEO of Walmart used to work the floor of a Walmart There are entire hotel management schools out their (Cornell… Read more » Thanks for taking it upon yourself (although you apparently have company) to decide what types of jobs people without jobs should have available to them Lots of reasonable arguments exist for not supporting casinos but this surely isn’t one of them I think it might’ve been more apt for Smith to say “People won’t just drive past but will STOP in Petersburg.” The location is great when/if they build the entertainment component there will be a lot of people who drive to Petersburg I am not a connoisseur of casinos (never went to one unless the accompanying hotel was the best deal in a town and the pools and stuff are often better) so I don’t know which ones people would drive to for that experience I just hope that a recession… Read more » Luckily there are plenty of wig shops if have to go incognito the city welcomes a businesses that is designed to drain resources from surrounding communities and play into natural addictive tendencies of human beings Gambling is America’s new favorite pastime Which makes sense considering all of the poorly thought out choices and knee-jerk reactions that are the traditions of this country played a leading role in helping Richmond dodged that bullet. There will be no honest government in any place that has a strong gaming industry and gaming lobby Do you say this when people go to restaurants These casinos are for many people simply another form of entertainment that they’re willing to pay for with some percentage (below 50%) of breaking even or even ahead I have a modest proposal. Petersburg is missing out on some real revenue opportunities here. The casinos are a good start but I propose placing the casinos in the zone where laws against drug use do not apply. Also given high rates of unemployment in Petersburg the public schools there should begin sex worker training to open up job opportunities at the new casino. Why stop at gambling? Let’s get our revenue thinking out of the 19th century Does that translate into taxable real estate Because every piece of Petersburg’s real estate combined assesses at ~$2.5b Even if the projections are significantly off this is going to have a huge impact on Petersburg’s revenue The immediate impact will be some one time things but the recurring will be a big chunk of change — unfortunately the projected 1.4 B$ will come in stages — as the article says the permanent casino won’t open until 2027 — I am confident that they have every intention to build that and the Hotel since others have followed the same model — open the doors as fast as possible while building the permanent site — and not only have they followed through this is a better location than all of those other places I don’t know… Read more » © 2025 Richmond BizSense - All Rights Reserved Update your browser to view this website correctly. 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