Starting Jan. 19, Florida Arbor Day, St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy will give away 900 sweetbay magnolia, bald cypress and crape myrtle trees to customers. Program officials will ship the one-gallon trees directly to homes with planting and care instructions in time for National Arbor Day on April 26. The company depleted its supply within days in 2023 and has distributed nearly 12,000 free trees since 2017. For more information, visit the website here.
Michael Igel, board chairman of the Florida Holocaust Museum, recently received the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Community Hero Award. Igel received recognition during a game and $50,000 on behalf of the museum. The donation will help fund events and new programming designed to engage “learners of all ages" at the St. Petersburg institution.
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is hosting a free Inflation Reduction Act Workshop for commercial property owners, including businesses, nonprofits, places of worship, municipalities and contractors who are members of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association. Attendees will explore solar energy tax credit benefits, hear case studies and connect with industry experts. The event takes place Jan. 24 at the USF St. Petersburg Student Center. For more information and to register, visit the website here.
According to a recently released report from real estate blog RealtyHop, Tampa Bay residents must save their earnings for 6.36 years to afford purchasing a home. The region placed 35th out of 100 metro areas, just ahead of Dallas. Los Angeles ranked first, as RealtyHop wrote that it would take 15.74 years for a family to save for a home.
Feeding Tampa Bay released its 2023 annual report, showing the nonprofit distributed 91 million pounds of food in 2023, providing 87,164,346 meals to those in need. The report is published here.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the returning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in a 32-9 wild-card playoff win Monday night at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay’s defense made several key plays, including forcing a third-quarter safety, and quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns. The Bucs will now travel to Detroit to face the Lions in a divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m.
Personal finance platform WalletHub recently released its “Cities with the Biggest Inflation Problems” report and the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area placed sixth. While consumer prices fell by 0.40% over the previous two months, the local index increased 5.2% year-over-year. Dallas ranked first among 23 major metropolitan statistical areas, followed by Miami.
Palm Beach Gardens-based CyberFuels, Inc. plans to transform 71 acres near MacDill Air Force Base into a “green energy campus” after purchasing the land for $33.5 million. If approved, the company would sell its fuel additives at the site and store and distribute green hydrogen and methanol. Former International Ship Repair CEO George Lorton previously owned the properties.
The State of Florida recently awarded the City of St. Petersburg $600,000 to assist homeowners impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Applicants earning less than 120% of the area median income can receive a 0% interest loan of up to $100,000 to cover hurricane-related expenses through the city’s Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program. For more information, visit the website here.
Pinellas County officials have found a potentially deadly dog virus at the Fort De Soto Park campground. Tests confirmed the presence of canine distemper, a disease that attacks a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. The virus is more severe in puppies and unvaccinated dogs, with symptoms including discharge from the eyes and nose, a lack of coordination, walking in circles and convulsions with jaw-chewing movement. Officials warn people not to leave food or water outside and call 727-582-2100 if they see a sick animal.
Ticketing technology company Logitix released data Friday showing what fans are paying for this weekend’s Wild Card games on the secondary market. The average price to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Philadelphia Eagles is $238, the second cheapest among the six games. The Los Angeles Rams at the Detroit Lions is by far the most expensive at $722. Tickets to watch the Kansas City Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins are just $175 for those willing to brave sub-zero temperatures.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s administration has announced that his second annual State of the City address will occur Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m. The Palladium Theater at 253 5th Ave. N. will host this year’s event. The State of the City provides an opportunity for the public to celebrate milestones achieved during Welch’s second year at the helm and hear his plans for the future. To register, visit the website here.
