St. Petersburg organizations that provide homelessness prevention and assistance services can now apply for up to $100,000 in city funding. The application portal is open until June 20. City officials will host an informational workshop May 14 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg will host a "Move with the Mayor" event Friday, May 9, to highlight the importance of staying active, raise awareness for mental health and encourage residents to work toward improving their overall wellness. The walk begins at 9 a.m. at City Hall, and Mayor Ken Welch will lead participants along a scenic route through downtown. Attendees will receive information on available support services after the walk, which is part of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention's Move More with the Mayor campaign. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
City Council members have unanimously approved event dates for the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The annual races will take over the downtown waterfront from Feb. 27 through March 1 and again kick off the NTT INDYCAR season. The dates align with the 2025 Grand Prix, which set new attendance records and garnered 1.4 million viewers on Fox.
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s playoff run came to an end Wednesday night with a first-round loss to the Florida Panthers. Despite a strong late-season push, the Lightning were unable to overcome the Panthers’ depth and physical play, marking their earliest postseason exit since 2019.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that a year-long operation netted 4.4 pounds of cocaine, six ounces of fentanyl, 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, two rifles, seven handguns, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition and $14,000 in drug money. Officers also arrested 19 people throughout Operation Snow Storm. Many of those arrested have extensive criminal histories and face a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison.
Clearwater Beach has a new 16-story, 680,000-square-foot luxury resort as the area continues recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Construction firm Moss announced Wednesday that the Opal Sol Luxury Resort & Spa is now welcoming guests. An elevated pedestrian bridge connects the 248-suite resort, which features four restaurants, a spa, four ballrooms and retail storefronts along the Beach Walk, to its sister property, Opal Sands.
The City of St. Petersburg and its Office of Supplier Diversity will host a two-day event to provide local businesses with purchasing and contracting opportunities. The St. Pete Supplier Summit combines elements from previous Supplier Diversity Day and Build St. Pete events. A Supplier Success Symposium is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. May 13 at The Coliseum. Al Lang Stadium will host a Supplier Connection Expo from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. May 14. For more information, visit the website here.
Pinellas County is now accepting applications for federal grants that help prevent crime, improve the criminal justice system and mitigate drug abuse. Officials anticipate distributing $270,837 to local governments, political or law enforcement agencies and nonprofits through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Countywide. Licensed substance abuse treatment providers can receive awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 through the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Trust Fund. For more information, visit the website here.
Cheeky's, a new neighborhood seafood restaurant and raw bar, will open May 7 at 2823 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg's Grand Central District. Owner Nate Siegel, co-founder of Tampa's award-winning Willa's and Willa's Provvisions, first announced the concept in 2023. Cheeky's was inspired by New England oyster bars and Southern fish shacks.
Clearwater-based KnowBe4, the world's first and largest cybersecurity awareness training platform, has appointed Bryan Palma as its next president and CEO. Palma, former CEO of cybersecurity firm Trellix, will replace Stu Sjouwerman on May 5. Sjouwerman, who founded KnowBe4, will serve as executive chairman and focus on artificial intelligence initiatives. In July 2024, the company admitted it had unwittingly hired a "fake IT worker from North Korea" who immediately attempted to download malware.
Busch Gardens has announced major upgrades totally nearly $40 million, including the debut of Wild Oasis at Jungala in May, described as "A new world of kid-friendly adventure," new animal encounters, elevated dining, enhanced guest experiences and a "major transformation of Adventure Island." Said Jeff Davis, new president of the Tampa theme park, in a prepared statement: “The additions and improvements will be made across our infrastructure, operations, staff recruiting, equipment, as well as adding to our aesthetics with more beautiful gardens and plant life. New animal arrivals are also in the plans."
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance has announced the winners of its MUSE Awards for 2025: Visual Arts Award Recipient - Creative Clay; Performance Arts Award Recipient - Nate Najar; Literary Arts Award Recipient - Peter Kageyama; Art & Technology Award Recipient - USF - College of Design, Art & Performance; Patron of the Arts Award Recipient - Milkey Family Foundation; Arts Ambassador Award Recipient - Daryl DeBerry. They will be honored at a May 14 event at Bayboro Brewing Co.
