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St. Pete casting call: Extras needed for Paul Rudd film

"The Statement" is filming April 6-8 right here in the Sunshine City.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Pete" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/09/st-petersburg-luxury-roche-bobois-private-clubs-art" data-vars-content-id="1cba9173-5a73-4be0-86b1-87f3c04da041" data-vars-headline="St. Pete casting call: Extras needed for Paul Rudd film" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/09/st-petersburg-luxury-roche-bobois-private-clubs-art" target="_self">St. Pete</a> locals, it&#x27;s our time to shine.State of play: FrontRunner Casting Agency is seeking extras for &quot;The Statement,&quot; a new movie starring Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti and John Turturro that&#x27;s filming April 6-8 here in the Sunshine City.

When to watch NASA's Artemis II launch from Tampa Bay

It's set to launch no sooner than 6:24pm today.

It&#x27;s almost time for NASA&#x27;s moonshot to lift off — and here in Tampa Bay, you may be able to see it from your backyard.Why it matters: Artemis II, set to carry four astronauts around the moon on a 10-day mission, is the first crewed mission of its kind since Apollo.

What a Democrat's Tampa win means for November

Brian Nathan's win has raised questions and, for Florida Democrats, hope about the general election in November.

Politics

The state Division of Elections has certified Democrat <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Brian Nathan" data-vars-click-url="https://flsenate.gov/Senators/S14" data-vars-content-id="5ce4ea02-e1e4-4463-b6b7-1e538a67d59f" data-vars-headline="What a Democrat&#x27;s Tampa win means for November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://flsenate.gov/Senators/S14" target="_blank">Brian Nathan</a>&#x27;s narrow victory in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="special election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/25/democrat-leads-in-tampas-state-senate-election" data-vars-content-id="5ce4ea02-e1e4-4463-b6b7-1e538a67d59f" data-vars-headline="What a Democrat&#x27;s Tampa win means for November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/25/democrat-leads-in-tampas-state-senate-election" target="_self">special election</a> for Tampa&#x27;s Senate District 14.Why it matters: His win has raised questions and, for Florida Democrats, hope about the general election in November.

St. Pete council, residents don't want new high-rise. It's coming anyway

Even with majority opposition, City Council lacked the votes to block the high-rise.

Another <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="luxury high-rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/22/waldorf-astoria-st-petersburg-penthouse-sale-record-27-million" data-vars-content-id="cd9b3fdb-0c54-40a0-ba8f-113dc5683300" data-vars-headline="St. Pete council, residents don&#x27;t want new high-rise. It&#x27;s coming anyway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/22/waldorf-astoria-st-petersburg-penthouse-sale-record-27-million" target="_self">luxury high-rise</a> is coming to downtown St. Petersburg.Why it matters: Thursday&#x27;s hours-long City Council debate over the project laid bare angst over the city&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shifting identity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/09/st-petersburg-luxury-roche-bobois-private-clubs-art" data-vars-content-id="cd9b3fdb-0c54-40a0-ba8f-113dc5683300" data-vars-headline="St. Pete council, residents don&#x27;t want new high-rise. It&#x27;s coming anyway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/09/st-petersburg-luxury-roche-bobois-private-clubs-art" target="_self">shifting identity</a> — and raised questions about how much influence residents and policymakers have in shaping it.<ul><li>&quot;You have a problem when everybody is acknowledging this is not what we want to build, and yet we&#x27;re somehow powerless to stop it,&quot; Preserve the &#x27;Burg executive director Manny Leto told Axios.</li></ul>

What's next for St. Pete's Historic Gas Plant proposals

Mayor Welch's push comes after a majority of Council members urged him to pump the brakes.

St. Petersburg&#x27;s process for selecting a plan to redevelop <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tropicana Field" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/03/st-petersburg-gas-plant-proposals" data-vars-content-id="c87051e2-ed89-4e88-a557-9d25d02196e4" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for St. Pete&#x27;s Historic Gas Plant proposals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/03/st-petersburg-gas-plant-proposals" target="_self">Tropicana Field</a> is underway.Why it matters: Whichever developer the city picks will play a major role in the future of the Historic Gas Plant District, 86 acres of downtown real estate named after the Black neighborhood displaced by the ballpark. <ul><li>It will also speak to the legacy of Mayor Ken Welch, who has made the redevelopment central to his agenda and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="campaign" data-vars-click-url="https://kenwelch.com/progress/" data-vars-content-id="c87051e2-ed89-4e88-a557-9d25d02196e4" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for St. Pete&#x27;s Historic Gas Plant proposals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kenwelch.com/progress/" target="_blank">campaign</a> for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a second term" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2026/02/02/st-petersburg-mayor-race-ken-welch-files-reelection/" data-vars-content-id="c87051e2-ed89-4e88-a557-9d25d02196e4" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for St. Pete&#x27;s Historic Gas Plant proposals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2026/02/02/st-petersburg-mayor-race-ken-welch-files-reelection/" target="_blank">a second term</a>.</li></ul>

Hillsborough to hold workshop before vote on Rays stadium deal

The vote assures the public that a stadium deal won't be muscled through the county commission without transparency and scrutiny.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/19/can-hillsboroughs-half-cent-tax-fund-a-new-rays-stadium-heres-what-we-know" data-vars-content-id="006f85f1-e414-4fea-9805-3f5bd5ca550a" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough to hold workshop before vote on Rays stadium deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/19/can-hillsboroughs-half-cent-tax-fund-a-new-rays-stadium-heres-what-we-know" target="_self">Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners</a> voted on Wednesday to schedule a workshop — not a vote — once the Rays present a draft of an agreement to finance a new ballpark at Hillsborough College. Why it matters: The move assures that a stadium deal, which will undoubtedly involve a massive commitment of tax dollars, won&#x27;t be muscled through the commission without transparency and public scrutiny.

Rays loom over Hillsborough commission meeting

Question about public transparency and how to finance the new ballpark could soon be answered.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/19/can-hillsboroughs-half-cent-tax-fund-a-new-rays-stadium-heres-what-we-know" data-vars-content-id="1d8ef967-63f0-437a-9376-3d86be1b025f" data-vars-headline="Rays loom over Hillsborough commission meeting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/19/can-hillsboroughs-half-cent-tax-fund-a-new-rays-stadium-heres-what-we-know" target="_self">Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners</a> won&#x27;t vote on a new Rays stadium at Wednesday&#x27;s meeting — but two items on the agenda could help clear the way. Why it matters: Questions swirling about public transparency and how to finance the new ballpark could soon be answered.

Rocca's Bryce Bonsack named James Beard finalist

That makes Bonsack eligible to win the entire Best Chef: South category during the awards ceremony in June.

Food and Drink

Chef <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bryce Bonsack" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/21/james-beard-awards-chef-bryce-bonsack-rocca" data-vars-content-id="14a87bb9-280a-4e8c-9ace-09880694c4ce" data-vars-headline="Rocca&#x27;s Bryce Bonsack named James Beard finalist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/21/james-beard-awards-chef-bryce-bonsack-rocca" target="_self">Bryce Bonsack</a> broke Tampa Bay&#x27;s years-long drought of James Beard Awards recognition when he was named a semifinalist in January.Why it matters: On Tuesday, he took the Oscars for the American hospitality industry to the next level:

Hurricane-damaged Dunedin pier, marina gets funding boost

More than $800,000 in federal money will go toward rebuilding a permanent dock for the Clearwater Ferry.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dunedin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/10/01/dunedin-things-to-do-eat-drink-bars" data-vars-content-id="804d731e-cd03-492b-ac64-460ab4813c4e" data-vars-headline="Hurricane-damaged Dunedin pier, marina gets funding boost" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/10/01/dunedin-things-to-do-eat-drink-bars" target="_self">Dunedin</a>&#x27;s ongoing effort to repair its hurricane-damaged fishing pier and marina recently got a big funding boost.Why it matters: More than $800,000 in federal money will go toward rebuilding a permanent dock for the Clearwater Ferry that connects downtown Dunedin to Clearwater Beach.

Tampa Bay tightens water restrictions as drought persists

Despite a few recent bouts of rain, the region remains in its worst drought in 15 years.

Despite a few recent bouts of rain, Tampa Bay remains in its worst <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drought" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/10/florida-drought-2026-watering-restrictions" data-vars-content-id="2afc27f9-aaf6-43db-a6b2-833d1c02cede" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay tightens water restrictions as drought persists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/10/florida-drought-2026-watering-restrictions" target="_self">drought</a> in 15 years and its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most severe water shortage in decades" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2026/03/05/florida-drought-watering-restrictions-shortage/" data-vars-content-id="2afc27f9-aaf6-43db-a6b2-833d1c02cede" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay tightens water restrictions as drought persists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2026/03/05/florida-drought-watering-restrictions-shortage/" target="_blank">most severe water shortage in decades</a>.Why it matters: Tighter watering restrictions are set to go into effect next weekend as the dry season stretches on.

Tampa Bay to join No Kings protests set for Saturday

Events are planned in St. Petersburg, Tampa, as far north as Brooksville and as far south as Venice.

More No Kings protests will hit Tampa Bay streets this weekend as part of a nationwide Day of Nonviolent Action. The big picture: Progressive political groups, labor unions, and human and civil rights organizations expect Saturday&#x27;s more than 3,000 demonstrations to surpass last year&#x27;s No Kings rallies in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="June" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/14/photos-no-kings-protests-downtown-chicago-trump" data-vars-content-id="b17598d8-76df-4271-b6b5-390f77e02d50" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay to join No Kings protests set for Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/14/photos-no-kings-protests-downtown-chicago-trump" target="_self">June</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="October." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/17/trump-no-kings-protest-safety-tips" data-vars-content-id="b17598d8-76df-4271-b6b5-390f77e02d50" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay to join No Kings protests set for Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/17/trump-no-kings-protest-safety-tips" target="_self">October.</a>

News 🗞

What's next for St. Pete's Historic Gas Plant proposals

Hillsborough to hold workshop before vote on Rays stadium deal

Tampa weekend events: Blueberry festival, Easter egg hunt and more

Rays loom over Hillsborough commission meeting

When to watch NASA's Artemis II launch from Tampa Bay