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Axios Tampa Bay
U.S. Supreme Court won't hear Florida sports betting case
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case that challenged the Seminole Tribe's exclusive rights to online sports betting in Florida.Why it matters: The decision all but guarantees that Florida sports fans can continue to place online bets for the foreseeable future, the Associated Press reports.Catch up quick: The Seminole Tribe of Florida launched sports betting at its casinos and on the Hard Rock Bet mobile app late last year after a two-year delay due to legal challenges.Casino operators West Flagler Associates and the Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. have argued in a series of lawsuits that a 2021 deal the...
St. Pete City Council gives first approval to Rays stadium plan
St. Pete City Council members last week gave an initial blessing to the Tampa Bay Rays stadium redevelopment plan.Why it matters: The preliminary approval at Thursday's Council meeting signals where members stand before the next votes which are scheduled for July 11, the Tampa Bay Times reported.The deal is also subject to approval by Pinellas County commissioners. Those votes haven't been scheduled yet, a county spokesperson told Axios on Friday.State of play: Council members voted 5-3 to approve a development agreement for a new stadium and mixed-use project that will make up the Historic Gas Plant District — a nod...
Who's Tampa Bay's best pro athlete? Vote in our bracket
Picture Tampa Bay's greatest sports moment. What do you see?Is it Jon Gruden hoisting the Lombardi Trophy back in 2002? Or maybe Tom Brady playing catch with it 18 years later?Or maybe it's Lightning captain Steven Stamkos being handed the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season in 2021.State of play: Tampa Bay's teams are known for their idiosyncrasies, from the Rays' bargain-shopping, to the Bucs' reliance on defense, and a region-wide penchant for extracting those final good years from aging veterans.Yes, but: Local teams have also fielded bona fide hall-of-famers and beloved contributors who'd have been heroes in any city.Now, it's time to decide — who's the greatest pro athlete in Tampa Bay's history? This week, we'll host a bracket-style competition.Vote here to help us pick. We'll reveal the winner next week.Sign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.
Hillsborough, Pinellas elections are set. Here are 5 takeaways
Friday's candidate qualifying deadline set up a competitive election season for Tampa Bay.Why it matters: Local and state elected officials shape everything from housing, to transit and roads, law enforcement, funding for community projects, and election administration.Here are five of our biggest takeaways:GOP vs. Dem. battles in every legislative raceState of play: Florida Democrats fielded a candidate in every state House and Senate district for the first time in decades.While Republicans sat out 22 races across Florida, none are in Tampa Bay, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has said is no longer a "swing region."All incumbent state representatives and senators in...
Vintage clothing shop Ingrid's opens in St. Pete
Tucked in a nondescript shopping plaza on Gandy Boulevard, a new vintage resale shop bills itself as a "2024 thrift store with 2014 prices."Why it matters: Thanks to Gen-Z, the secondhand clothing market is booming. But with more sellers flipping thrifted clothing at shops, flea markets and online with vendors like Depop and Poshmark, finding a good deal can be tricky.Driving the news: That's what led Ingrid Bridges to open Ingrid's St. Pete with the help of her 26-year-old son and his on-trend friends.👋 Kathryn here. I went by the shop's grand opening over the weekend to check out the...
Florida's 988 crisis centers pick up fewer calls than other states
Data: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAlmost two years after the debut of a revamped national suicide hotline, its promise of a quicker, more seamless crisis response is still a work in progress.Why it matters: Congress gave states $1 billion to build out the 988 hotline, with the expectation that states would establish their own long-term funding to operate crisis services.But those efforts have been slow in Florida — and its in-state response rate lags behind other states that have secured funds for 988.State of play: Though Florida uses surcharges on cellphone bills to fund 911 services, it...
Florida's 988 crisis centers pick up fewer calls than other states
Data: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAlmost two years after the debut of a revamped national suicide hotline, its promise of a quicker, more seamless crisis response is still a work in progress.Why it matters: Congress gave states $1 billion to build out the 988 hotline, with the expectation that states would establish their own long-term funding to operate crisis services.But those efforts have been slow in Florida — and its in-state response rate lags behind other states that have secured funds for 988.State of play: Though Florida uses surcharges on cellphone bills to fund 911 services, it...
These Tampa Bay projects were just vetoed from Florida's budget
Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto pen crossed out millions of dollars earmarked for Tampa Bay from the state budget.Why it matters: The region lost money for programs that aim to tackle road repairs, environmental issues, affordable housing and more as DeSantis slashed almost $1 billion from next year's budget.Zoom in: Bradenton had Tampa Bay's largest cut, with $5 million vetoed for transportation safety improvements. The city planned to use the funds to construct roundabouts at three intersections where there have been dozens of crashes.Tampa's Palmetto Beach saw a $1 million cut for shoreline revitalization, while St. Pete's North Shore Park lost...
Here's how to celebrate Juneteenth in Tampa Bay
America's second independence day is coming up next week, but related events in Tampa Bay begin this weekend.Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed.Here's a round-up of some of the biggest events leading up to Emancipation Day.You can find even more at WUSF.🗣️ Juneteenth Celebration — A free, daytime celebration at USF's Gibbons Alumni Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Hosted by the USF Black Alumni Society.Food vendors, jazz music, panels and dancers.Saturday, 11am-6pm.🥳 Juneteenth Festival — The city of Tampa is hosting the fourth edition of this free annual event...
Florida frequently targeted by dark money news outlets, report finds
Florida is one of the states most frequently targeted by dark money news sites — partisan-backed outlets made to look like impartial news sources.Why it matters: The sites are designed to influence politics and deceive readers, and there are now more of them than real, local daily newspapers in the country.That's according to a new report from NewsGuard, a misinformation tracking company.How it works: These websites are often referred to as "pink slime," a term that originated in the ground beef industry.In media, it describes politically motivated websites masquerading as independent local news outlets.Zoom in: An investigation by the Orlando...
Florida has most expensive coffee in the South
Data: Toast; Map: Axios VisualsThe average cup of joe will run you $3.38 in Florida, per a new analysis by restaurant tech company Toast.The big picture: That's 30 cents higher than the national average and more expensive than any other state in the South. On the East Coast, only Massachusetts' coffee is more expensive than Florida's.Why it matters: Inflation can seem most frustrating when it hits our everyday staples.Between the lines: Prices get crazier if you want a fancier drink.The average Florida latte is $5.67 and a cold brew clocks in at $5.56.Our reader-favorite Blind Tiger charges $3.25 for a cup of coffee, $5.00 for a latte and $4.75 for a cold brew.Zoom out: You'll find the cheapest coffee in Nebraska, at $2.12.Sign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.
Inside Disney World's newest ride, Tiana's Bayou Adventure
As my raft wound through the Louisiana bayou, the jazzy serenade of animatronic musical critters almost lulled me into forgetting where this ride was headed.But soon, there it was: That familiar 50-foot drop — and the splash.The big picture: This week, I got a sneak peek at Disney World's latest attraction, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, based on the 2009 film "The Princess and the Frog."The New Orleans-themed log flume ride replaces Splash Mountain, though the bones of the Magic Kingdom mainstay remain. What's old is new again.The vibe: Imagineers conferred with New Orleans-based artists and the family of famed NOLA chef Leah...
Review: Yuengling's better bar food
Maya and I returned to our old stomping ground near the University of South Florida to give Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen a try. Dig in: Tampa Magazine listed the pub as a runner-up for the city's "best new restaurants." The place is massive, with five bars and a gift shop. Best bites: We began with the nosh plate for two, the pub's take on a charcuterie board. It features a soft pretzel, pimento cheese, beef-based bologna and more. The assortment is pungent and downright delicious. I went for the "chicken fried" cauliflower steak as my entrée, while Maya chose the Gulf snapper. The plant-based steak is crusted over with buffalo-drenched bread crumbs and sits on top of mashed red potatoes and mustard butter. The snapper is well-seasoned, smokey and paired with buttery potatoes. The "chicken Fried" cauliflower steak. Photo: Yacob Reyes/AxiosThe verdict: There are more than a few reasons to be skeptical about the food at what, for all intents and purposes, is a bar. But Yuengling Draft Haus & kitchen doesn't disappoint — and its prices won't break the bank. Sign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.
What "The Mango Tree" author has to say about mango etiquette
Each summer, as branches across southwest Florida begin to sag with mangos, Annabelle Tometich feels her nerves kick in.Why it matters: As mango season gets underway, the Fort Myers author has some valuable rules of engagement, drawing from her experience with just how chaotic a fruit dispute can get.Flashback: Not quite a decade ago, Tometich got a phone call from the Lee County jail, her then-64-year-old mother on the other end of the line.Someone had stolen mangos from her yard, mother told daughter, despite her warnings to leave.So she grabbed a BB gun and shot at their car, aiming for...
Margaritaville-inspired cruise set to sail from Tampa
Margaritaville at Sea's latest cruise ship docked at Port Tampa Bay Monday as it readies for its maiden voyage.The Jimmy Buffett-inspired boat — The Islander — sails Thursday from its home port in Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico. Prices start at $229. The Islander has 12 passenger decks and over 1,100 staterooms. You can find more information here. Sign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.
Hot Publix summer: Grocer rolls out 8 limited-edition ice cream flavors
Reader Deborah Green sent in a sweet tip for how to make the summer heat a little more bearable.The scoop: "Try every one of the eight new limited-time flavors Publix is rolling out for summer!" Green wrote in."I'm starting with Cold Brew Cookies and Crème," she added.Intrigued? Here are all eight flavors, per a Publix news release:Chocolate Cookie QuarryCold Brew Cookies and CrèmeLemon Berry BlissMarry Me StrawberryCoffee Almond FudgeCaramel Turtle CheesecakeHula Hula MacadamiaBuckeyes & FudgeSign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.
Hot Publix summer: Grocer rolls out 8 limited-edition ice cream flavors
Reader Deborah Green sent in a sweet tip for how to make the summer heat a little more bearable.The scoop: "Try every one of the eight new limited-time flavors Publix is rolling out for summer!" Green wrote in."I'm starting with Cold Brew Cookies and Crème," she added.Intrigued? Here are all eight flavors, per a Publix news release:Chocolate Cookie QuarryCold Brew Cookies and CrèmeLemon Berry BlissMarry Me StrawberryCoffee Almond FudgeCaramel Turtle CheesecakeHula Hula MacadamiaBuckeyes & FudgeSign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.
Detwiler's Farm Market could be coming to St. Pete
A development group planning apartments and a grocer for a long-vacant plaza in southern St. Petersburg is in talks with Detwiler's Farm Market.Why it matters: The city-owned Tangerine Plaza has struggled to keep a grocer, with its last tenant, Walmart Neighborhood Market, closing seven years ago.Meantime, the area around the plaza at 22nd Street South and 18th Avenue has been designated as a federal food desert.State of play: Per the Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg City Council members on Thursday approved a redevelopment plan for the shopping center that also includes at least 115 affordable housing units.Representatives from Sugar Hill...
How to not question all your life decisions this summer in Florida
It's so hot.It's so hot the Gulf of Mexico already feels like a bathtub.It's so hot daily temperatures are smashing 40-year-old records.Why it matters: Step outside and you'll know — the misery of summer heat has arrived early this year, rendering outdoor activities somewhere between uncomfortable and dangerous.The bad news: The extreme temperatures are likely here to stay. Forecasters project everywhere in the contiguous U.S. except North Dakota to be hotter than average, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports.Meanwhile, the rainy season so far has taken a rain check. Per the National Weather Service Tampa Bay, a lack of rainfall has meant...
Treasure Island bans fireworks before July 4
Treasure Island is skirting state law to all but ban fireworks on its beaches ahead of Independence Day.Why it matters: The city says personal fireworks threaten the safety of its residents and visitors — and also leave behind debris that has a "horrible impact" on its environment.Between the lines: Florida is one of the few states with "firework holidays." Anyone over 18 has the legal right to set off fireworks in Florida on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Independence Day.Treasure Island is not issuing an all-out ban on fireworks. Instead, the city is ramping up the enforcement of...
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Axios Tampa Bay, anchored by Ben Montgomery and Selene San Felice, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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