he Lost Pearl pirate ship sails on the bright green dyed Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa during the Mayor’s River O'Green St. Patrick's Day festival, with the University of Tampa minarets in the background.

Tampa will once again dye the Hillsborough River green, despite concerns from environmentalists

Tampa’s annual River O’Green Fest returns Saturday, March 14, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

by Kailey Aiken March 7, 2026March 7, 2026

Three Tampa Bay organizations building networks to support immigrants

As ICE presence grows, long-time Tampa organizers are protecting local immigrants by building networks of support and resistance.

By Sea Harder/The Sapphic Sun March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

Group portrait of Tampa City Council members

News & Views

Tampa Councilwoman Hurtak says Mayor Castor is limiting her ability to ride along with city departments

Council unanimously passed a motion asking the administration to rescind policy limiting open access to government.

by Ray Roa March 5, 2026March 10, 2026

Shelves of American-made beer in a grocery store cooler, including packs of Coors Light and Bud Light, highlighting Florida's new beer tax breaks.

News & Views

Florida House approves tax breaks for guns, camping gear and American beer

While fiscal impacts of parts of the House and Senate packages have yet to be estimated, the House package is projected to cut state and local revenue by $153.9 million in the next fiscal year.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

A young girl smiling while a healthcare professional applies a bandage to her arm after receiving a vaccination in a medical office.

News & Views

Florida’s ‘Medical freedom’ from vaccines bill is likely dead

The DeSantis administration announced last fall it wanted to eliminate every vaccine mandate from Florida statutes.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Hiba Rahim of CAIR Florida speaking at a podium during a "Florida Day at the Capitol" press conference, surrounded by supporters holding signs and a photo of a young man.

News & Views

Federal judge blocks DeSantis executive order declaring CAIR a ‘terrorist organization’

CAIR has never been declared a foreign terrorist organization by any federal agency.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

News & Views

Florida House passes bill allowing state to designate domestic terrorist organizations

Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, said the bill places “an extraordinary concentration of power” in the hands of just a few government officials.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 4, 2026March 4, 2026

Close-up of a child wearing a face mask being prepared for a vaccination by a person wearing white medical gloves, who is swabbing the child's upper arm with cotton.

News & Views

While measles outbreak spreads through Florida, Republicans advance vaccine exemption bill

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 4, 2026March 4, 2026

News & Views

Citing concerns over Black voting power, West Tampa leaders share redistricting preference

Michael Randolph with the West Tampa CDC said residents should support alternative two, which he said best protects the community.

By Leah Burdick/WMNF NewsMarch 4, 2026March 4, 2026

Aerial view of Mark Zuckerberg’s massive waterfront estate under construction on a golf course in Florida, featuring a modern mansion design, private dock, and views of the city skyline.

News & Views

Mark Zuckerberg just bought a $170 million Florida mega-mansion

by Colin Wolf March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Florida News

Florida places temporary ban on H-1B visas in university system

The measure prohibits universities from using the H-1B program to hire “new employees” until Jan. 5, 2027.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

News & Views

War in Iran will likely impact Florida gas prices

The size and duration of any uptick will depend in part on how long the military operations last.

by News Service of Florida March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Members of Florida Education Association march down a street.

News & Views

Florida Republican bill targeting public sector labor unions moves forward

The bill passed on an 11-7 vote, with Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, the only Republican voting against it.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw speaks at a podium during a press conference in Tampa, Florida. Standing behind him from left to right are City Council Chair Alan Clendenin, Mayor Jane Castor, and City Councilmembers Naya Young and Guido Maniscalco.

News & Views

Ybor City gets new pedestrian safety upgrades, following deadly police chase

Police Chief Lee Bercaw says TPD is still ‘eagerly waiting’ the end of an investigation into troopers’ actions before the crash.

by Colin Wolf and Ray Roa March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

A colorful traditional Chinese dragon puppet on display at a fair hosted by the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS). The large red and yellow dragon features a red pearl in its mouth and is positioned next to a decorative red lantern on a bamboo pole in an outdoor grassy field.

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete’s SPIFFS festival raises a glass to immigrants, year-after-year: ‘We are celebrating what they added to the fabric of our country’

The 50th St. Petersburg International Folk Fair happens this weekend in Pinellas Park.

by Valerie Smith March 2, 2026March 2, 2026

News & Views

Tampa Monitor: City Council to hear update to Land Development Code

There are 73 items on the agenda for Thursday, March 5.

by Michael Bishop and The Tampa Monitor March 2, 2026March 2, 2026

Aerial view of the Downtown Tampa skyline and the Hillsborough River on a clear, sunny day. The image shows high-rise office buildings, the University of Tampa, and a major highway interchange with cars crossing the river into the urban center.

News & Views

Tampa Monitor: City Council to hold special call Fiscal Year 27 workshop on Tuesday

The open discussion lets the body discuss budget priorities ahead of the mayor’s presentation.

by Michael Bishop and The Tampa Monitor March 2, 2026March 2, 2026

A protester in Tampa stands on a street corner, holding a handmade sign that reads "STOP THE MISSILE ATTACKS NOW." She is wearing a white medical mask and a patterned keffiyeh-style scarf, with out-of-focus cars and street background.

News & Views

Photos: Tampa protesters rally against Iran war and Cuban embargo

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker March 2, 2026March 2, 2026

Two cyclists ride along the paved Courtney Campbell Trail in Tampa Bay. The path follows the waterfront with lush green trees and the open bay in the background. Photo courtesy of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.

News & Views

Planned 420-mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail will connect Tampa Bay to Naples

It will link seven counties and 52 rural, urban and suburban communities, including Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to Lee and Collier counties.

by Vicki Parsons and Bay Soundings March 2, 2026March 2, 2026

ortrait of Taryn Sabia standing on a rooftop balcony with the Tampa city skyline in the background. She is wearing a professional black blazer and smiling, with modern high-rise buildings and clear daylight behind her.

News & Views

Urban designer and USF assistant dean Taryn Sabia enters Tampa mayoral race

She became the ninth person in the race.

by Ray Roa March 2, 2026March 9, 2026