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TV’s Robin Roberts is Poynter’s Lifetime Achievement awardee

 "Good Morning America" cohost Robin Roberts will be the 2024 honoree at the Poynter Institute's Bowtie Ball Nov. 16. The author of several bestselling books will receive the institute's Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. Tickets are available at this link.  

St. Pete Civil Rights history trolley tour is Saturday

The St. Petersburg Museum of History explores the city's Civil Rights history Saturday (Aug. 21) with a two-hour narrated trolley tour, including the South Mole Beach and Spa Pool,lunch counter sit-ins and a legendary act of civil disobedience at City Hall. All details are available here.

Local restauranteur to open new Turkish concept

Bora Caliskan, the head chef and owner of Mio's Grill & Cafe, announced on social media plans to open a new restaurant called Turkish Flame Mediterranean Restaurant in Indian Rocks Beach this fall. Mio’s Grill & Cafe has locations in downtown St. Petersburg and Clearwater and was recently one of three restaurants in the Tampa Bay area that made the 100 Places to Eat in 2024 list by Yelp, a website that publishes crowd-sourced reviews about businesses throughout the U.S.

New cafe opens in St. Pete’s Edge District

Café Copa has officially opened at 1043 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg’s growing Edge District. It offers in-house coffee and espresso, breakfast sandwiches, a lunch menu and a full bar. The café, adjacent to COPA, features extended evening hours, live entertainment and event space.

St. Pete ranks among world’s best October travel spots

Travel + Leisure Magazine has named St. Petersburg one of the world’s “15 best places to travel in October,” alongside cities like Florence, Italy, and Phuket, Thailand. The publication highlighted St. Petersburg’s water-based activities, the SHINE Mural Festival and the Dali Museum. View the full list here.

Report: Tampa’s housing market outpaces St. Pete

WalletHub recently compared 300 cities of various sizes across 17 metrics to determine 2024’s “best real estate markets.” The personal finance platform ranked Tampa seventh among large cities, while St. Petersburg placed 34th in the midsize category. To compile its list, WalletHub measured housing market attractiveness and economic strength indicators, like home value appreciation, affordability and job growth.

Tampa Internation Airport will remain tax-exempt

The Florida Supreme Court recently denied Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez’s request to review a five-year-old ruling stating that Hillsborough County Aviation Authority properties are tax-exempt. The aviation authority oversees Tampa International Airport and three general aviation facilities. The agency and at least 15 tenant businesses could have been liable for millions of dollars in unplanned property tax bills.

Tampa Bay tops list of ‘best places to live’

Clever Real Estate surveyed 1,000 people nationwide to determine the nation’s most and least desirable places to live according to crime rates, housing costs, weather, taxes and amenities. Tampa Bay ranked first among large metropolitan areas as “it checks many of the boxes that make a place desirable.” Nearly a quarter (23%) of all respondents placed Tampa Bay in their top five.

Couple who lost houseboat in Debby receive new vessel

A Polk County resident has donated his 32-foot sailboat to a Gulfport couple who lost their houseboat during Hurricane Debby. Tom McLaulin planned to sell his vessel until he watched a WTVT segment on Kaylee Walker and Ian Wylie, who put their life savings into restoring a live-aboard sailboat that crashed into a Gulfport seawall during the storm. McLaulin subsequently gave his 1998 Endeavor sailboat to the couple with WTVT’s assistance.

Duke receives rate agreement approval

The Florida Public Service Commission approved St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida’s multiyear rate agreement compromise Wednesday. While customers will see their base rates continue rising over the next two years, Duke projects them to receive a 5% year-over-year overall reduction in January due to previous charges expiring. The investor-owned corporation initially sought an $820 million revenue increase over three years; it received approval for $262 million.

Forbes ranks USF among Florida’s ‘best employers’

The University of South Florida paced first among Florida’s 12 public universities and 30th overall in Forbes Magazine’s recently released list of “America’s Best Employers by State.” USF employs roughly 16,000 people throughout three campuses and its health system. To compile its list, Forbes partnered with research firm Statista to survey over 160,000 employees who work for companies with at least 500 people.

St. Pete man wins $1m on $5 scratch-off ticket

The Florida Lottery announced Wednesday that a St. Petersburg man won $1 million from a $5 Gold Rush Doubler scratch-off ticket purchased at a local butcher shop. The man bought his winning ticket from Wildwood Meat Market at 1228 28th St. S. He opted to receive a lump-sum payment of $685,000, and the shop’s owner will receive $2,000.

The St. Pete Catalyst

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