The St. Petersburg City Council recently approved two $3.5 million contracts with Wharton-Smith, Inc. to provide constructions services on the Northeast and Southwest Water Reclamation Facilities. The firm will complete vulnerability assessment implantation projects at the two facilities, which were shuttered during Hurricane Milton. The project’s are part of Mayor Ken Welch’s St. Pete Agile Resiliency Plan (SPAR).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will reopen the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Monarch butterflies live in the Tampa Bay region year-round, and their population has dropped precipitously. The 60-day public comment period opens March 19 and closes May 19. For more information on the monarch butterfly, the listing proposal and conservation efforts, visit the website here.
Tampa-based defense manufacturer Repkon USA has announced plans to acquire McCormick Stevenson, a munitions and missile and rocket system engineering firm headquartered in Clearwater. The U.S. Army awarded Repkon a $435 million contract in November 2024 to build and operate an explosives production facility in Graham, Kentucky. The acquisition should finalize in May, and McCormick Stevenson will operate as an independent division of Repkon.
A Germany-based, international tattoo studio chain has opened its first U.S. location in St. Petersburg. Ministry of Ink is now open from noon until 8 p.m. at 2700 Central Ave. in the city’s Historic Kenwood neighborhood. According to the studio’s website, the St. Pete shop boasts a “unique assembly of globally renowned tattoo artists.”
The Saturday Shoppes and St. Pete Paws, a city department, have partnered to host the 3rd annual Pets Day Out event Saturday, March 22, from noon until 5 p.m. at Tropicana Field’s Lot 1. Pets Day Out will feature over 100 vendors, live music and a “Rescue Row” highlighting local animal shelters and adoption opportunities. The Dog Training of Club of St. Petersburg will, for the first time, offer interactive training demonstrations. Stakeholders expect the free event to attract over 5,000 people.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have failed to score a point in their first two matches of the 2025 season. The latest shutout came Saturday night in a 1-0 loss to FC Tulsa at ONE OK Field. For the second consecutive week, the Rowdies held a significant edge in possession (60 to 40 minutes) but failed to convert the advantage into any goals. Tulsa hit its lone shot on frame late in the match to secure the win. Tampa Bay will now face Miami FC on the road Saturday, March 22.
WalletHub recently analyzed the nation’s 200 largest cities across 15 metrics, like the number of Irish pubs and restaurants per capita and the lowest price for a three-star hotel, to determine the best locations for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. St. Petersburg placed 38th overall and 13th for its St. Patrick’s Day traditions. The personal finance platform ranked Tampa 21st.
Dave Mason has canceled his spring tour dates, including an April 4 appearance in New Port Richey. A notice on the vintage rocker's website reads: "We want to share that Dave has been hospitalized due to a serious infection that developed quickly. The entire Dave Mason family, band, and crew deeply appreciate your love and prayers during this time. Tickets for all March, April & May shows will be refunded at the point of purchase. We’re all hoping for a swift recovery!" Mason canceled his fall tour in 2024 because of a heart condition.
The band Foreigner, known for a series of hits throughout the 1980s, will have 13 special guests join them on stage at the BayCare Sound tonight. St. Petersburg Collegiate High School students will perform alongside the band during the concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. The announcement credits Sherry Segall, science teacher and arts club advisor, and an ongoing partnership with Ruth Eckerd Hall for the opportunity.
Mayor Ken Welch recently joined 111 colleagues nationwide in signing a bipartisan letter urging Congress to protect and fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and similar initiatives that mitigate child hunger. The House passed a budget resolution that would cut $230 billion to U.S. Department of Agriculture-administered initiatives, including SNAP. “Cuts to SNAP would be catastrophic for families struggling to keep up with the rising prices of food and those going through economic hardship,” Welch wrote in a subsequent social media post.
The City of St. Petersburg will offer free virtual workshops to help residents conserve water, improve environmental sustainability and reduce utility bills. Participants will learn about whole-home water preservation, rain barrels, efficient irrigation, rain gardens and smart landscaping. The first “Rainwater Guardian” workshop is March 25 from 6-8 p.m. To register, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida customers can receive up to $141 in annual bill credits by enrolling in the voluntary EnergyWise Home program. Participation allows Duke to “temporarily cycle off” central air conditioning units, electric water heaters or pool pumps during “periods of high electricity demand.” For more information on EnergyWise Home, visit the website here.
