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Scoop: Mahaffey Theater's future unclear as Bill Edwards exits

St. Pete officials were underwhelmed by the lone pitch to take over management of the theater.

News

Developer and philanthropist Bill Edwards&#x27; 15-year tenure running the Mahaffey Theater will conclude in May, Axios has learned.Why it matters: It marks the end of an era during which Edwards poured millions of dollars of his own money into revamping the city-owned venue and its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="programming" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/05/2026-concerts-tampa-st-petersburg-clearwater" data-vars-content-id="0d943519-b0e4-41c2-b133-6d88a794a6c5" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Mahaffey Theater&#x27;s future unclear as Bill Edwards exits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/05/2026-concerts-tampa-st-petersburg-clearwater" target="_self">programming</a>.

Florida AG wants TPD to share victims' immigration statuses. Here's what that means

Research has consistently found that fear of immigration consequences can discourage undocumented victims and witnesses from cooperating with police.

Politics

At the center of a clash between Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is a question: Should police agencies share the immigration statuses of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="crime victims and witnesses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/02/25/deportation-undocumented-crime-victims-florida-law" data-vars-content-id="93536c0d-037a-4a4c-b90a-64a82fbb4c16" data-vars-headline="Florida AG wants TPD to share victims&#x27; immigration statuses. Here&#x27;s what that means" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/02/25/deportation-undocumented-crime-victims-florida-law" target="_self">crime victims and witnesses</a> with federal authorities?<ul><li>Uthmeier thinks so — and at least in Tampa, he may get his way. </li></ul>Why it matters: Research <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has consistently found" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legalmomentum.org/sites/default/files/reports/vawa-symposium-local.pdf" data-vars-content-id="93536c0d-037a-4a4c-b90a-64a82fbb4c16" data-vars-headline="Florida AG wants TPD to share victims&#x27; immigration statuses. Here&#x27;s what that means" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legalmomentum.org/sites/default/files/reports/vawa-symposium-local.pdf" target="_blank">has consistently found</a> that fear of immigration consequences can discourage undocumented victims and witnesses from cooperating with police, which can undermine public safety.

HOA fees climb in Florida as more homes list with dues

Roughly 64% of Florida homes listed for sale on Realtor.com in 2025 had HOA dues.

Real Estate

The majority of homes for sale in Florida last year came with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeowners&#x27; association" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" data-vars-content-id="9ce57830-8925-45ae-950a-8f380b5715d2" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb in Florida as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" target="_self">homeowners&#x27; association</a> fees, according to data from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" data-vars-content-id="9ce57830-8925-45ae-950a-8f380b5715d2" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb in Florida as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a>.Why it matters: The Sunshine State has more homeowner associations than any state except California — and the cost of belonging to one has risen.

St. Petersburg's Williams Park set for revamp

Upgrades to the bandshell, facilities and programming aim to revive the city's oldest park.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Petersburg" 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="19e8cc64-8186-42f9-898b-be348eaa7ba5" data-vars-headline="St. Petersburg&#x27;s Williams Park set for revamp" 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. Petersburg</a>&#x27;s oldest park is on the verge of a revamp.Why it matters: It&#x27;s long overdue for Williams Park, which spans a city block in the heart of downtown and serves as a venue for events like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Localtopia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/02/20/things-to-do-weekend-tampa-bay-localtopia" data-vars-content-id="19e8cc64-8186-42f9-898b-be348eaa7ba5" data-vars-headline="St. Petersburg&#x27;s Williams Park set for revamp" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/02/20/things-to-do-weekend-tampa-bay-localtopia" target="_self">Localtopia</a> and, during the summer, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Saturday Morning Market" data-vars-click-url="https://saturdaymorningmarket.com/" data-vars-content-id="19e8cc64-8186-42f9-898b-be348eaa7ba5" data-vars-headline="St. Petersburg&#x27;s Williams Park set for revamp" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://saturdaymorningmarket.com/" target="_blank">Saturday Morning Market</a>.

No Valentine's plans? Try these off-beat options

Even the mundane is beautiful when you live in paradise.

Dating

Looking for love in all the right places? Let us point you in the wrong direction.Why it matters: If you&#x27;re still in need of a plan for that traditional romantic Valentine&#x27;s Day date … you&#x27;re probably about two weeks too late to book one.

Last-minute Valentine's Day date ideas in Tampa and St. Pete

Things to Do

Love week is almost upon us, and if you&#x27;re in the market for some last-minute (and affordable) plans, we&#x27;ve got you covered.<ul><li>Here&#x27;s a roundup of romantic ideas for you and your special someone.</li></ul>

How to land the perfect wedding venue in Tampa Bay

It's a race against time — and your competition.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="I proposed to my fiancée Maya" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/10/11/tampa-reporter-proposal-hurricane-milton" data-vars-content-id="8f275045-5835-4394-b51e-676d54a73acd" data-vars-headline="How to land the perfect wedding venue in Tampa Bay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/10/11/tampa-reporter-proposal-hurricane-milton" target="_self">I proposed to my fiancée Maya</a> in October, and once news of our engagement spread, congratulations came pouring in, along with one big question: When&#x27;s the wedding?<ul><li>Fair! But I couldn&#x27;t answer it until last week.</li></ul>Why it matters: Finding the perfect venue in Tampa Bay is a race against time — and your competition. As I learned, plan on booking 12 to 18 months in advance.

It takes nearly 19 years for singles to save for a starter home in Tampa Bay

Having a partner in Tampa Bay can shave off more than a decade of saving.

It takes single people in Tampa Bay 16 more years to save for a starter home than couples, according to a recent Point2 study.Why it matters: Tampa Bay isn&#x27;t the most expensive market for singles, but that doesn&#x27;t mean it&#x27;s particularly cheap — and having a partner can shave off more than a decade of saving.<ul><li>The time it would take for a single person to afford a starter home in Tampa Bay is more than double the U.S. average.</li></ul>Zoom in: Tampa Bay&#x27;s median income for singles is about $40,000, compared to $91,000 for couples, per the Point2 data.<ul><li>The median starter home costs $249,562, leaving couples with $49,912 to save up for, which takes them about two years.</li><li>Those without dual incomes must save $151,137 for a starter home, setting them back 18.7 years.</li></ul>The fine print: The study assumes people are saving 20% of their income for a downpayment.<ul><li>A starter home is defined as the median price of the cheaper third of listings in the region.</li><li>This calculation assumes a 6.6% mortgage rate. Current mortgage rates are hovering above 7%.</li></ul>The big picture: Saving for a starter home in the U.S. takes single people four times longer than couples.<ul><li>In some places, like in California, it would take people an entire lifetime to save for a house.</li></ul>The bottom line: The timeline for comfortably buying a house largely depends on where you live — and, in most areas, your relationship status.

Love in the Bay: A sad girl finds love

Axios Tampa Bay's Kathryn Varn shares her love story for our ongoing series.

The beginning was unremarkable. Another guy from a dating app, another first date. I tied my sneakers and posted on Instagram, &quot;Still out here tryin!&quot;Flashback: I&#x27;d been trying for a while. Years. My dating woes had <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="become part of my personality" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/life-of-the-party-podcast-why-online-dating-apps-are-the-real-black-hole-20190412/" data-vars-content-id="54cbf749-456b-473c-a285-8497fe7d3719" data-vars-headline="Love in the Bay: A sad girl finds love" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/life-of-the-party-podcast-why-online-dating-apps-are-the-real-black-hole-20190412/" target="_blank">become part of my personality</a>. I made playlists full of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sad girl music" data-vars-click-url="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a38647867/the-joy-of-sad-girl-music-february-2022/" data-vars-content-id="54cbf749-456b-473c-a285-8497fe7d3719" data-vars-headline="Love in the Bay: A sad girl finds love" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a38647867/the-joy-of-sad-girl-music-february-2022/" target="_blank">sad girl music</a> and texted my mom stuff like, &quot;What if it doesn&#x27;t happen for me?&quot;And so, with the baggage of a scorned woman, I walked into Black Crow Grand Central that January afternoon and met Winston for the first time.<ul><li>I was immediately drawn to his easy smile and thrifted jacket — a man with style!</li><li>First we were buzzing from the coffee, and then from the conversation that took us all the way to dinner, then a kiss by my car. I smiled all the way home.</li></ul>Yes, but: Determined not to pin all my hopes on one person, as I&#x27;d done so many times in the past, I stayed on the apps, dating around, trying to be casual, trying to be chill, trying to protect myself.Friends ask me now, a year into our relationship, if there was a moment that changed things for me.<ul><li>Maybe it was that journal entry: &quot;I feel safe with him; it feels easy.&quot;</li><li>Maybe it was the care package he left on my patio after a reporting trip to cover an execution, with chocolate cake and a note that made me feel seen.</li><li>Maybe it was the trip to New Orleans, me stuck in the weeds of travel anxiety, him cutting through the noise with his first, &quot;I love you.&quot; (And yes, I did say it back.)</li></ul>But really, I don&#x27;t think there was a moment. It&#x27;s more of a series of moments, a pattern that&#x27;s still playing out today as we wake up and choose each other, again and again, baggage be damned.Editor&#x27;s note: This story is part of Axios&#x27; new feature, Love in the Bay, which spotlights love stories that unfolded in our region.<ul><li>If you found love here and you&#x27;d like to see your story featured, email <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="yacob.reyes@axios.com" data-vars-click-url="mailto:yacob.reyes@axios.com" data-vars-content-id="54cbf749-456b-473c-a285-8497fe7d3719" data-vars-headline="Love in the Bay: A sad girl finds love" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="mailto:yacob.reyes@axios.com" target="_blank">yacob.reyes@axios.com</a>.</li></ul>

Love in the Bay: A be-spoke love story

From Tinder, to cycling, to love. How an Axios Tampa Bay writer found her person.

Maria and I almost didn&#x27;t fall in love.When I saw her on Tinder, I loved how her eyes crinkled in a photo of her laughing. I wanted to kiss her apple cheeks and run my fingers through her hair. I admired how badass she looked in her speed cycling uniform.<ul><li>&quot;There&#x27;s no way we&#x27;ll match,&quot; I thought.</li></ul>

Love in the Bay: Beneath the beverage fridge

Axios Tampa Bay's Yacob fell in love in October 2020 — at Lowe's.

I fell in love in October 2020, at Lowe&#x27;s, under the fluorescent glow of a beverage fridge.<ul><li>I had spent most of the year at home, in quarantine. I hadn&#x27;t seen a college campus in months. I hadn&#x27;t eaten out, either. By July, I&#x27;d saved enough for my first car.</li></ul>

💕 Love in the Bay: Because the night

Love in the Bay: Because the night