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Sherriff office’s ‘Shop for Santa’ event benefits 700 children

Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office deputies, staffers and volunteers participated in a “Shop for Santa” event Tuesday that will benefit nearly 700 local children from 260 families registered with the Christmas Sharing Project. Money raised from the Dec. 2 “Ride & Run with the Stars” event at Fort DeSoto Park provided $71,000 in funding. Agency officials noted that necessities like underwear and school clothes rather than toys topped the wish lists.

Tampa uses new tech to eliminate ‘forever chemicals’

The City of Tampa will become the nation’s first to utilize a new technology that eliminates pervasive industrial chemicals commonly found in drinking water. The Suspended Ion Exchange (SIX) system will also save $1.4 million annually by reducing the amount of chemicals needed to treat the city’s drinking water. The Tampa Water Department’s treatment center will become the largest to use SIX technology.

Microfund applications open Thursday

City officials will open the second round of the South St. Petersburg CRA Microfund Program at 10 a.m. Thursday. The equitable economic development initiative provides funding for businesses located in the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area. Selected participants also receive coaching, mentoring and networking opportunities. For more information, visit the website here.

Three new murals to rise in South Pasadena

Creative Pinellas has announced a second call to artists for the ongoing city-beautification project in the City of South Pasadena. Three murals were completed in November; the new call is for three additional murals on Pasadena Avenue. Application deadline is Jan. 24; information is at this link.

Record number of Floridians expected to travel for the holidays

An estimated 6.6 million Floridians will travel 50 miles or more during the year-end holiday travel period between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1 — a new record, according to AAA Auto Club.

Tampa Bay luxury home sales soar 36%

Redfin recently reported that sales of the region’s costliest homes increased 36% throughout the third quarter - the nation’s largest increase. The online real estate platform’s chief economist said many affluent buyers have the resources to withstand high mortgage rates and costs. The study states that Tampa Bay’s non-luxury housing stock has decreased by 17% as less-affluent homeowners remain locked in place.

Wicked Cantina is coming to St. Petersburg

Anna Maria Island-based Wicked Cantina is opening a new location at 3650 Tyrone Blvd. N. in January. The Tex-Mex restaurant is taking over the former Sonny’s BBQ space near the El Dorado Furniture store. Company officials announced they are building a new patio and will offer daily happy hour specials and live music.

Poynter adds new category to journalism awards

As part of the Poynter Journalism Prizes, St. Petersburg's Poynter Institute has created a new category for 2024: The Roy Peter Clark Award for Excellence in Short Writing will recognize compelling writing, in any medium, with pieces of 800 or fewer words. Formerly operated by the News Leaders Association, the 45-year-old contest also honors overall writing excellence, local accountability reporting, column writing, social justice reporting, innovation, editorial writing, diversity, freedom of information and distinguished coverage that makes a difference to communities. Entry deadline is Feb. 16. 

WWE announces latest Royal Rumble event

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) officials have added to the local “Royal Rumble weekend” lineup as Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway will bring his one-man show to Clearwater. The Sunday, Jan. 28 event at the Bilheimer Capitol Theater follows the Jan. 27 Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field. Tickets for the “UNDERTAKER 1 deadMAN SHOW,” which features “never-before-heard stories” and a question-and-answer segment, go on sale Dec. 15.

Florida Ranked No. 1 for attracting and developing a skilled workforce

For the second year in a row, labor analytics company Lightcast ranked Florida as the No. 1 state in the nation for attracting and developing a talented workforce,in its 2023 Talent Attraction Scorecard. The Talent Attraction Scorecard evaluates states based on job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration data.

Public comment period open for Florida’s Digital Adoption and Use Plan

FloridaCommerce announced the opening of the official 30-day public comment period to seek input on the State of Florida’s Digital Adoption and Use Plan, the state’s plan to access and operationalize $2.75 billion in funding. The funding prioritizes digital literacy and ensures people in Florida have the tools at their disposal to participate fully in the workforce, achieve prosperity and live resiliently. Read more about the plan and submit comments here.

USF wins Emmy Awards for Portraits in Patriotism series

Six University of South Florida employees shared one of the biggest awards in video production at the 2023 Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Dec. 2, for the Portraits in Patriotism video series, which shares immigrant stories with Florida students.

The St. Pete Catalyst

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