U.S. News & World Report has released its annual rankings of nearly 18,000 public high schools at the state and national levels. St. Petersburg High School ranked No. 47 in Florida and No. 770 nationally. The report recognizes schools “whose students demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores on an array of college-level exams and graduated in high proportions.” Plant High School in Tampa ranked No. 36 in the state and No. 478 nationally.
The Tampa Bay Lightning avoided playoff elimination Saturday with a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Game Five in the best-of-seven series begins at 7 p.m. Monday in South Florida, with the Panthers leading 3-1. The Tampa Bay Rowdies also picked up another victory Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. The 3-0 win over New Mexico United extends the Rowdies' unbeaten start to the season to seven matches.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium recently welcomed a new species – an octopus. The facility will provide puzzle toys that foster the animal's advanced problem-solving skills and “mimic natural hunting scenarios.” Aquarium guests will have an opportunity to help name the octopus once it becomes acclimated to the new habitat.
Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Pinellas County Environmental Management seeks volunteers to help beautify the Cross Bayou Canal and Joe’s Creek as part of the Great American Cleanup campaign. The organizations will provide canoes, lifejackets, trash grabbers, bags, gloves and drinking water. The events are Saturday, May 4, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit the website here.
The City of St. Petersburg and the St. Pete Greenhouse will host several events from April 28 until May 4 in celebration of National Small Business Week. Programming includes an open house networking event for business owners, workshops, a food truck rally and multiple pop-up displays throughout the city that provide information on the Greenhouse’s resources. For more information, visit the website here.
Pinellas County Government is hiring a new housing and community development director to “become the driving force behind our journey towards vibrant, sustainable communities.” The position pays between $122,429 and $191,090 annually. County officials seek a visionary leader, a strategic thinker and someone who can foster collaboration. For more information, visit the website here.
Seventeen-year-old Tampa Bay resident Ryan Moralevitz is an author and ocean conservationist who takes beach-found trash and turns it into works of art. His artwork is on display at the Tampa International Airport (TPA) through this weekend as part of TPA's Sustainability Showcase.
The Tampa Bay Lightning dropped a third straight game in the first round of the NHL playoffs Thursday night to the Florida Panthers. The 5-3 loss at Amalie Arena sets up an elimination game at home Saturday night. The Lightning, who led the NHL in power play points during the regular season, went 0 for 4 with the advantage Thursday night.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected offensive lineman Graham Barton with the 26th pick in the NFL draft. Barton played tackle at Duke University but will move to center and fill the void left by Ryan Jensen’s retirement. Several analysts praised the selection Thursday night, and the Bucs still have five picks remaining in the three-day draft.
The owners of Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine have leased a 5,000-square-foot space inside the Edge Collective, a mixed-use development at 1246 Central Ave. The establishment will also feature an outdoor dining garden between the building and the adjacent Moxy by Marriott hotel. Bosphorous opened in 2005 and has locations in Winter Park, Orlando and Lake Nona, and plans to open another Tampa Bay area restaurant in Wesley Chapel.
Josef Newgarden is no longer the winner of the March 10 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. IndyCar officials recently discovered that Newgarden and Team Penske manipulated a “push-to-pass” system that provides additional horsepower. Runner-up Pato O’Ward is now considered the victor despite never leading a lap.
St. Pete Beach City Commissioners approved the TradeWinds Island Resort’s expansion in a 3-2 vote just after midnight Wednesday morning following an over six-hour meeting. Mayor Adrian Petrila and Commissioner Betty Rzewnicki dissented. The four-phased project will add 629 rooms and several public amenities to the 25-acre beachfront site.
