According to multiple reports Monday, the College Football Playoff’s title game will return to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium in 2029. While an official announcement has yet to be made, Brett McMurphy of Action Sports wrote that Dallas could no longer host the game due to scheduling conflicts. Raymond James Stadium last hosted the national championship in January 2017, when the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway and Mayor Ken Welch will present checks totaling $82,235 Wednesday to 22 community-based programs that help improve neighborhood safety, promote crime prevention and prevent drug abuse. The money stems from the police department’s seizure of assets involved in criminal activity over the past year. Supporting programs that promote positive behavior in children and teens is a focus.
The City of St. Petersburg’s Parks and Recreation Department will host its 11th annual Raptor Fest from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Feb. 1 at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. The free event will feature live demonstrations of trained raptors in free flight, environmental exhibits and photo opportunities with birds of prey. The event attracts more than 5,00 visitors and raises over $10,000 annually to support the preserve’s 17 non-releasable raptors.
Pinellas County Government will hold a career fair Friday, Jan. 24, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Florida Botanical Gardens (Magnolia Room) in Largo. Hiring managers from several departments, the Sheriff’s Office and Pinellas County Schools will meet with applicants at the event. The agencies have open positions in accounting, administrative support, animal care, civil engineering, public works, permitting and records management. For more information, visit the website here.
WalletHub recently compared 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 31 employment-related metrics to determine its annual “Best Cities for Jobs” list. The personal finance platform ranked St. Petersburg 57th, one spot below Tampa. St. Pete placed 68th for job market strength and 52nd in WalletHub’s socioeconomics category. Orlando was the highest-ranked Florida city at No. 10.
The Homeless Leadership Alliance has announced that Pinellas County’s cold night shelters will open Monday and Tuesday nights as the National Weather Service expects “feels like” temperatures to drop below 40 degrees. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will begin providing free bus rides to and from shelters, which often serve a meal, at 5 p.m. Men and women who need a warm, safe place to stay in St. Petersburg can visit WestCare Turning Point, at 1801 5th Ave. N.; Unitarian Universalist Church, at 100 Mirror Lake Dr.; or the Salvation Army, at 1400 4th Street South from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.
Yara Lugo from the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg recently participated in the 2025 Advanced Seminar for Holocaust educators. The intensive two-day academic program, hosted by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, brought together Holocaust center staff from five states to explore critical topics related to the history of the Holocaust, as well as past and present antisemitism. Program coordinators said those who participated "gained an even deeper understanding of the history of the Holocaust, which will increase their effectiveness in the classroom and enable them to mentor other colleagues who teach the subject.”
Ellie Mental Health St. Petersburg is offering limited spots in a program that provides free therapy for local patients who are uninsured or underinsured. The program includes in-person or telehealth on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested can call 813-508-7866 for screening to see if they qualify.
St. Petersburg-based Raymond James Financial has notified the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it will soon launch four exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to its Jan. 14 filing, those include the RJ Chartwell Premium Income ETF, the RJ Eagle Municipal Income ETF, the RJ Eagle Vertical Income ETF and the RJ Eagle GCM Dividend Select Income ETF. Raymond James Investment Management manages over $100 billion, and the financial services behemoth employs more than 9,000 advisors.
P.J.’s Oyster Bar is the latest St. Pete Beach restaurant to close in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, its owners announced Friday on social media. According to the post, the seafood restaurant closed after 18 years when its lease was terminated. P.J.’s ownership said they would seek a new location but “the damage from the hurricanes was too much and there isn’t anything else we can do to save the restaurant.”
The City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation for the Connecting South St. Pete CRA (community redevelopment area) Study. The community-driven initiative will identify strategies to increase multi-modal access throughout South St. Pete neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Local leaders seek public feedback at three upcoming Mobility Workshops. For more information, visit the website here.
Overnight stays in St. Petersburg generated over $1 million in monthly tourist development taxes for the first time in November 2024. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater (VSPC) announced the milestone - which coincided with storm damage along the beaches - at a Tourist Development Council meeting Wednesday. However, a VSPC representative credited the Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown and The Galaxy Hotels opening for the city’s 36% year-over-year increase to $1.1 million.
