The owner of Ahi Sushi in downtown St. Petersburg stabbed a man to death with a screwdriver outside the restaurant at 364 1st Ave. N. shortly before 6 p.m. Friday, likely in self-defense. Police say that Dustin Hedenberg, 41, was behaving erratically and punched someone at the nearby Scientology Center moments before the stabbing. Hedenberg then engaged in a "heated confrontation" with business owner Fayun Zhang, who was knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched. Zhang grabbed a screwdriver and stabbed Hedenberg, who was pronounced dead at Bayfront Hospital. Police have yet to charge Zhang with a crime.
St. Petersburg's Learn to Swim program returns to all city pool locations in June. The initiative, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, teaches children six months and older and adults essential water safety skills in a supportive environment. The city will offer five sessions, each consisting of eight 30-to-45-minute classes led by American Red Cross instructors, throughout the summer. The cost is $39 per session, and financial assistance is available for qualifying families. For more information, visit the website here.
According to Corcoran Dwellings, the median sales price of a single-family home in Pinellas County was $465,000 in April, a 4.1% year-over-year decrease. The median sales price of townhomes and condominiums dropped 8.2%, to $280,000. The number of sales decreased by 9.8% and 17.6%, respectively. Single-family home inventory soared by 51.5%. Townhome and condominium inventory spiked by 43.3%.
Thirsty First will soon reopen at 515 Central Avenue after eight years at 119 1st Ave. N. The sports bar closed in late 2023, and owner Greg Mikurak has extensively renovated the new space, formerly home to Acropolis Greek Taverna. A soft launch will take place from Monday through Wednesday, May 28. The new location boasts a 1,400-square-foot kitchen, 69 TVs and a VIP lounge.
Detective Cory Pope has been named the 2024 St. Petersburg Police Officer of the Year by the Exchange Club of St. Petersburg. A member of the Auto Theft Unit, Pope made 108 arrests this year and led cross-agency efforts that helped reduce crime and streamline warrant processing across the department.
The Common Thread, a new fiber arts cafe and creative community space, will open at 2462 5th Ave. S. in the late summer. The storefront in St. Petersburg's Warehouse Arts District was formerly home to the Chelsea Cafe and is undergoing renovations. The Common Thread will offer crafting material and space, books and a full espresso bar.
Certain St. Petersburg City facilities and services, including City Hall and the Municipal Services Center, will be closed Monday (May 26) in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Residential trash and recycling collection regularly scheduled for Monday will be made on Tuesday. Tuesday collections will be made on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday collections remain the same.
St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch and others will raise the Pride flag May 29, at 9 a.m. outside of City Hall (175 5th St. N). June is Pride Month. The event, which will include remarks by Welch, Pride President Byron Green-Calisch and others, is free and open to the public.
The Trust for Public Land has ranked St. Petersburg 14th in its latest list of the top 50 municipal park systems. The organization analyzes cities across five key factors - park access, equity, acreage, investment and amenities. According to the report, 78% of St. Pete residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, and the city invests $213 per resident into its network.
A sixth grader from St. Petersburg is among 12 Florida contestants who will head to Washington, D.C., for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Vlada Kozhevnikova, 12, attends the Pinellas Academy of Math & Science and will face off against 242 other participants starting May 27. The finals are from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. May 29, and the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund sponsored Kozhevnikova's trip.
WalletHub compared over 180 cities across 21 metrics related to employment outlook, affordability and "downtime-friendliness" to determine the best places for summer jobs in 2025. St. Petersburg ranked 25th. Scottsdale, Arizona, took the top spot, while Tampa ranked 44th.
The Tampa Bay Rays announced Wednesday that Evan Longoria will enter the team's Hall of Fame in 2026 when they return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Longoria will sign a one-day contract before a June 7 game against the Miami Marlins at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and officially retire as a Ray. A longtime fan-favorite, Longoria earned the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Award, three All-Star appearances, a Silver Slugger award and a bronze statue outside of the Trop. The Rays will release additional information regarding his induction ceremony before the 2026 season.
