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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>

Tampa Bay Methodists paved way for LGBTQ acceptance

"My soul feels free," Clearwater pastor Rachel Hughes told Axios.

Rachel Hughes tried to tell her parents she was gay as a little girl, but knew she couldn&#x27;t. When she joined the Army, she followed &quot;don&#x27;t ask, don&#x27;t tell.&quot;<ul><li>And when she felt God&#x27;s calling to become a pastor, she knew the Methodist church would be more of the same.</li></ul>

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