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

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

News

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.

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 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.

Rays return to Tropicana Field: Where to eat

There are tons of food and drink options within walking distance of the ballpark.

Food and Drink

Air-conditioning has to be the biggest perk of returning to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tropicana Field" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/01/st-petersburg-historic-gas-plant-whats-next-ken-welch" data-vars-content-id="e40fadb6-bc9c-4154-8f04-b00c331f99ca" data-vars-headline="Rays return to Tropicana Field: Where to eat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/01/st-petersburg-historic-gas-plant-whats-next-ken-welch" target="_self">Tropicana Field</a>.<ul><li>But a close second is all of the food and drink options within walking distance of the ballpark.</li></ul>

Grady Judd doubles down on "path forward" for some undocumented immigrants

Judd said noncriminal immigrants who work and integrate could stay.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Polk County" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/04/18/lakeland-florida-fastest-growing-metro" data-vars-content-id="a3980e1d-954f-4578-ac67-64d323149abf" data-vars-headline="Grady Judd doubles down on &quot;path forward&quot; for some undocumented immigrants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/04/18/lakeland-florida-fastest-growing-metro" target="_self">Polk County</a> Sheriff Grady Judd doubled down Tuesday on comments that certain undocumented immigrants who haven&#x27;t committed crimes should be given &quot;a path forward&quot; to staying in the U.S.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a stunning position for the sheriff, a strong ally of President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis who is typically viewed as a GOP hardliner.

Ybor City will narrow street and add bollards after deadly crash

Changes are focused on "keeping the cars where the cars belong and protecting the pedestrians," a city official said.

Street narrowing and car barriers are among new safety features coming to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ybor City" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/12/08/ybor-bradleys-crash-lgbtq-community" data-vars-content-id="e7a104f1-a722-4777-b188-999192178ee4" data-vars-headline="Ybor City will narrow street and add bollards after deadly crash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/12/08/ybor-bradleys-crash-lgbtq-community" target="_self">Ybor City</a>. Why it matters: Tampa city officials are enacting the changes in response to the November <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="police chase and car crash" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/11/10/ybor-city-reels-after-driver-crashes-into-popular-bar" data-vars-content-id="e7a104f1-a722-4777-b188-999192178ee4" data-vars-headline="Ybor City will narrow street and add bollards after deadly crash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/11/10/ybor-city-reels-after-driver-crashes-into-popular-bar" target="_self">police chase and car crash</a> that killed four people and hurt more than a dozen.

Why Tampa Bay's LGBTQ+ community is reeling from the Ybor crash

"They crashed into an open wound," one patron said.

Groggy and away from Tampa for the weekend, Trevor Rosine didn&#x27;t understand why his friends were blowing up his phone that Saturday morning.<ul><li>Then, he saw the news: A car had rammed into Bradley&#x27;s on 7th, a gay bar in Ybor City where Rosine often rang in the weekend with Friday happy hours on the patio.</li></ul>

Exclusive: Bradley's on 7th owner talks Ybor City crash, safety

Bar owner Bradley Nelson spoke with Axios over email.

If you hadn&#x27;t heard of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bradley&#x27;s on 7th" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/12/08/ybor-bradleys-crash-lgbtq-community" data-vars-content-id="5417038d-491d-4c89-8cf3-91959706f38c" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Bradley&#x27;s on 7th owner talks Ybor City crash, safety" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/12/08/ybor-bradleys-crash-lgbtq-community" target="_self">Bradley&#x27;s on 7th</a>, you probably have now. <ul><li>The Ybor City gay bar was the site of a car crash that killed four people and injured 13 others.</li></ul>

Florida leads nation in executing military veterans

A new report from the Death Penalty Information Center highlights the troubling trend.

A third of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="record" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/28/desantis-florida-execution-record-death-penalty" data-vars-content-id="b587361e-31d9-41f9-a3b0-365ace6e08d1" data-vars-headline="Florida leads nation in executing military veterans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/28/desantis-florida-execution-record-death-penalty" target="_self">record</a> 15 people put to death this year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were military veterans, according to a new report. Why it matters: Veterans are overrepresented on death rows across the country, with their military service and psychological and physical trauma often minimized or not mentioned at all to jurors.

What to know about the cheating scandal at the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office

An internal investigation spurred the departures of six top brass.

A months-long academic cheating investigation has roiled the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hillsborough County Sheriff&#x27;s Office" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/12/09/chad-chronister-dea-trump-covid" data-vars-content-id="01d3826b-552e-4819-988c-e63011a66379" data-vars-headline="What to know about the cheating scandal at the Hillsborough Sheriff&#x27;s Office" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/12/09/chad-chronister-dea-trump-covid" target="_self">Hillsborough County Sheriff&#x27;s Office</a>, prompting the departures of six top brass.Why it matters: &quot;The public&#x27;s trust depends on the confidence that we are honest, transparent and willing to hold ourselves accountable when we fall short,&quot; Sheriff Chad Chronister <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said Monday during a news conference" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/live/4jVxmZ0qqtU" data-vars-content-id="01d3826b-552e-4819-988c-e63011a66379" data-vars-headline="What to know about the cheating scandal at the Hillsborough Sheriff&#x27;s Office" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/live/4jVxmZ0qqtU" target="_blank">said Monday during a news conference</a>.

Prosecutors decline to pursue charges against pastors who protested mural removal

They each still owe $62.50 for the civil violation of obstructing a roadway.

Prosecutors declined to pursue charges against two pastors who were arrested protesting the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="removal of the former &quot;Black History Matters&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/08/30/st-pete-street-mural-removal-pastors-arrested" data-vars-content-id="63a9b85b-fae8-4cca-ac16-ff6bfdf9335f" data-vars-headline="Prosecutors decline to pursue charges against pastors who protested mural removal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/08/30/st-pete-street-mural-removal-pastors-arrested" target="_self">removal of the former &quot;Black History Matters&quot;</a> street mural.State of play: The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney&#x27;s Office last week filed notice it would not bring charges in the cases of Rev. Andy Oliver and Rev. Benedict Atherton-Zeman, court records show.

Open carry is "the law of the state," Florida's top cop says

Interpretation of a recent court decision has varied among local sheriffs.

Public Safety

The open carry of firearms is now legal in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/09/02/st-pete-rainbow-pride-intersection-covered" data-vars-content-id="169413eb-867c-471e-994e-2af3b36294a3" data-vars-headline="Open carry is &quot;the law of the state,&quot; Florida&#x27;s top cop says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/09/02/st-pete-rainbow-pride-intersection-covered" target="_self">Florida</a> thanks to a recent court decision deeming the state&#x27;s ban on the practice unconstitutional, Attorney General James Uthmeier <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1967601917686636843" data-vars-content-id="169413eb-867c-471e-994e-2af3b36294a3" data-vars-headline="Open carry is &quot;the law of the state,&quot; Florida&#x27;s top cop says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1967601917686636843" target="_blank">announced Monday</a>.Why it matters: His guidance provides a statewide read of the appellate court decision amid differing interpretations by local law enforcement leaders.

Tampa drivers aren't as bad as you think

Our drivers average 10 years between crashes, per Allstate data.

Tampa drivers go 10 years between reported <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="collisions" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/40461778.116/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDQvMDkvZGlzdHJhY3RlZC1kcml2aW5nLWNyYXNoZXMtdHJhZmZpYy1kZWF0aHM_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/647f4069741ec9aad903c383B3e038df9" data-vars-content-id="c69bfbe5-3d07-4541-ba6d-6a222db75ff1" data-vars-headline="Tampa drivers aren&#x27;t as bad as you think" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/40461778.116/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDQvMDkvZGlzdHJhY3RlZC1kcml2aW5nLWNyYXNoZXMtdHJhZmZpYy1kZWF0aHM_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/647f4069741ec9aad903c383B3e038df9" target="_self">collisions</a>, per Allstate claims data on motorists from the 200 biggest U.S. cities.Why it matters: The findings put a little quantitative weight behind some people&#x27;s strongly held beliefs about the quality — or lack thereof — of their neighbors&#x27; driving skills.

One dead after recreational boat strikes Clearwater Ferry

Investigators had made no arrests and hadn't taken anyone into custody as of Monday afternoon.

Authorities urged patience Monday afternoon as they continued to investigate a boat crash that killed a Clearwater Ferry passenger and hurt 10 other people.Zoom in: A 37-foot recreational boat slammed into the ferry from behind at about 8:40pm Sunday just south of the Memorial Causeway, according to video of the incident captured on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city cameras stationed at Coachman Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.myclearwater.com/Visit-Coachman-Park/View-Coachman-Park-Imagine-Clearwater-Project-Page" data-vars-content-id="ae893a6d-fb0c-4621-8132-a00109e0b92d" data-vars-headline="One dead after recreational boat strikes Clearwater Ferry" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.myclearwater.com/Visit-Coachman-Park/View-Coachman-Park-Imagine-Clearwater-Project-Page" target="_blank">city cameras stationed at Coachman Park</a>.