News & Views

Sydney Gruters, wife of RNC Chair and state Sen. Joe Gruters, says she’s running for Florida congressional seat

Florida’s CD 16 seat that will be vacated by Republican Vern Buchanan later this year.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

A horizontal four-panel composite featuring St. Petersburg mayoral candidates: Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard at a dais, Mayor Ken Welch in a suit and yellow tie, Kevin Batdorf in a red tie, and former Fire Chief Jim Large in a dress uniform. Each panel shows the candidate smiling in a professional or official setting.

News & Views

Meet three candidates running to unseat St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch

Welch and his opponents claim St. Pete’s infrastructure is top-priority after the 2024 storms.

by Jasmin Parrado April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

News & Views

Mayoral candidate Kevin Batdorf says Ken Welch didn’t give St. Pete ‘true leadership’ during hurricane recovery

by Jasmin Parrado April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large smiling at a podium during the Heroes of St. Pete Fire Memorial groundbreaking ceremony. He is in his full dark blue dress uniform with gold captain's bars on the sleeves, standing beside a colorful City of St. Petersburg flag with the waterfront in the background.

News & Views

In pitch to become mayor, former fire chief Jim Large says St. Pete’s infrastructure has to catch up with the growth

Large told CL he would also immediately revamp the permitting process and make changes to storm prevention and recovery plans.

by Jasmin Parrado April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard sitting at the dais during a Committee of the Whole meeting. She is wearing a blue cardigan over a navy and white patterned blouse, with a wooden nameplate reading "Brandi Gabbard" in the foreground.

News & Views

In mayoral race, Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard said she’ll bring ‘proactive decision-making leadership’ to get St. Pete back on track

Gabbard and Mayor Welch do find common ground on their support for diversity, equity and inclusion.

by Jasmin Parrado April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch smiling and wearing glasses and a yellow tie while seated at a committee table. The "We Are St. Pete" branding is partially visible in the blurred foreground, with a professional city hall setting in the background.

News & Views

Facing reelection, Mayor Ken Welch believes his administration did well to help St. Pete recover after hurricanes

Welch told CL he’ll also continue his five-pillar plan for the city, known as ‘Pillars for Progress.’

by Jasmin Parrado April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during a press conference at the Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center.

News & Views

‘I was not involved at all in that race’: DeSantis distances himself from GOP’s Hillsborough special election loss

“I was very clear from the beginning that I was not going to be involved in that, and that’s just kind of the way that the cookie crumbles.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

A scattered pile of brightly colored, open plastic Easter eggs lying empty on a grey surface

News & Views

Keep Pinellas Beautiful collects un-recyclable plastic Easter Eggs

Curbside recycling won’t take plastic Easter eggs, but the St. Pete nonprofit will give them a second crack at life.

by Laura Troyer March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

A man with brown hair and sunglasses, circled in red, amidst a crowd of individuals clashing with police and using riot shields at a stone archway during the January 6 Capitol riot.

News & Views

Tampa Jan. 6 rioter files $18 million lawsuit, alleging police assaulted members of ‘peaceful’ crowd

Fischer was indicted on seven criminal charges for his Jan. 6 actions, including several violent felonies.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

A protester in Downtown Tampa holds a sign featuring a stylized image of a man in a "Vote for Pedro" shirt, edited to say "Vote for Ped*o," during a "No Kings" rally on March 28, 2026. Tall city buildings and a crowd of demonstrators are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

News & Views

‘Vote For Pedo’: At least 2,000 ‘No Kings’ protestors come to downtown Tampa

Many signs centered on Donald Trump’s appearances in the Epstein files.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

Protesters at the "No Kings" rally in Clymer Park, Gulfport, Florida, on March 28, 2026. Demonstrators hold handmade cardboard signs with slogans like "No One is Illegal on Stole Peace is Cheaper" and a caricature of Donald Trump with "Laws Off Bodies."

News & Views

Gulfport sees 2,000 demonstrators at ‘No Kings’ protest [PHOTOS]

Other local No Kings demonstrations drew large crowds in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Sarasota and elsewhere.

by Seán Kinane and WMNF News March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

Brian Nathan, a U.S. Navy veteran from Tampa, walks in a parade.

News & Views

No recount after Hillsborough Democrat flips Florida Senate seat, says division of elections

Brian Nathan beat Republican Josie Tomkow by 405 votes.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Aerial view of St. Pete Beach, Florida, showing turquoise Gulf waters, white sand coastline, and luxury beachfront resorts under a clear blue sky.

News & Views

New Census data shows Pinellas County witnessed second largest population decline in country

The third biggest loss in the country was Miami-Dade.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Investigative journalist Amy Goodman crouches in the street to interview a protester during a rally in Milwaukee. Goodman, wearing a navy blue long-sleeve shirt and a black baseball cap, holds a microphone up toward a person in a black t-shirt and jeans who is shouting through a blue megaphone. In the background, a diverse crowd of protesters holds signs, including one that reads 'No Justice, No Peace.' Other members of the media, including a camera operator in a lime green shirt, are visible in the busy urban setting.

News & Views

Amy Goodman is bringing ‘Democracy Now!’ documentary to Tampa this summer

The new, approximately 100-minute, film explores the life and career of Goodman, her countless stints on the frontlines of history, and a tenacious pursuit of truth-telling still unrivaled in mainstream journalism.

by Ray Roa March 26, 2026March 27, 2026

News & Views

St. Pete home of Florence Robinson, owner of historic Floronton Hotel, is now for sale

The Floronton Hotel was a big deal for St. Petersburg.

by Colin Wolf March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

News & Views

The South Tampa home of award-winning architect Rick Rados is now for sale

Some of Rados’ schools include Jefferson High School and Plant City High School.

by Colin Wolf March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

A portrait of Brian Nathan, candidate for Florida State Senate District 14. They are a bald person with a salt-and-pepper beard and glasses, smiling warmly at the camera. They are wearing a light blue button-down shirt and standing in a room with blue walls. In the background, there is a wooden door, a window looking into another room, and a bulletin board with various papers pinned to it.

News & Views

Democrat Brian Nathan wins special election for Hillsborough Senate seat

He beat Republican Josie Tomkow by just over 400 votes, but is not safe from a recount.

by Ray Roa March 24, 2026March 25, 2026

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor wearing a rainbow "mayor" sash at Tampa Pride 2024

News & Views

This could be the last LGBTQ+ Pride season for Florida’s government officials

A bill banning DEI in government awaits DeSantis’ signature.

by Selene San Felice March 24, 2026March 24, 2026

A protester holds a large rectangular sign in Downtown Tampa during a 'No Kings' demonstration. The sign features a stylized, four-color illustration of Donald Trump in the iconic blue and red 'HOPE' poster style, but with a black toothbrush mustache added. The word 'NOPE' is written in bold blue letters at the bottom. In the background, a crowd of people, palm trees, and city buildings are visible under a bright, sunny sky.

News & Views

No Kings protests are scheduled across Tampa Bay on Saturday

Based on past turnout, thousands are expected to attend.

by Ray Roa March 23, 2026March 24, 2026

Boston Dynamics Spot robot B69 with mounted sensors standing on a concrete path outside a modern industrial building

News & Views

Tampa Police Department wants taxpayers to pay $2 million for new guns and a robot dog

St. Petersburg police purchased its robot dog with a private donation.

by Michael Bishop and The Tampa Monitor March 23, 2026March 23, 2026

Meet The Chefs - Now in St. Pete & Tampa - Save & Get Your Tickets Now!

Tampa Bay News

Sydney Gruters, wife of RNC Chair and state Sen. Joe Gruters, says she’s running for Florida congressional seat

Meet three candidates running to unseat St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch

Mayoral candidate Kevin Batdorf says Ken Welch didn’t give St. Pete ‘true leadership’ during hurricane recovery

In pitch to become mayor, former fire chief Jim Large says St. Pete’s infrastructure has to catch up with the growth

In mayoral race, Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard said she’ll bring ‘proactive decision-making leadership’ to get St. Pete back on track

Facing reelection, Mayor Ken Welch believes his administration did well to help St. Pete recover after hurricanes

‘I was not involved at all in that race’: DeSantis distances himself from GOP’s Hillsborough special election loss

Keep Pinellas Beautiful collects un-recyclable plastic Easter Eggs

Tampa Jan. 6 rioter files $18 million lawsuit, alleging police assaulted members of ‘peaceful’ crowd

‘Vote For Pedo’: At least 2,000 ‘No Kings’ protestors come to downtown Tampa

Gulfport sees 2,000 demonstrators at ‘No Kings’ protest [PHOTOS]

No recount after Hillsborough Democrat flips Florida Senate seat, says division of elections

New Census data shows Pinellas County witnessed second largest population decline in country

Amy Goodman is bringing ‘Democracy Now!’ documentary to Tampa this summer

St. Pete home of Florence Robinson, owner of historic Floronton Hotel, is now for sale

The South Tampa home of award-winning architect Rick Rados is now for sale

Democrat Brian Nathan wins special election for Hillsborough Senate seat

This could be the last LGBTQ+ Pride season for Florida’s government officials

No Kings protests are scheduled across Tampa Bay on Saturday

Tampa Police Department wants taxpayers to pay $2 million for new guns and a robot dog

Florida’s historic Burgess Island, a massive private estate developed by a 1920s inventor, hits the market for $89 million

Photos: In front of Tampa Tiger Bay Club, Uthmeier draws mix of boos and cheers for comments about LGBTQ community

Bucs Super Bowl champ Devin White is selling his massive Tampa area compound

Everything we saw at the 2026 Tampa Pro [Photos]