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☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 86 and a low of 68.

Sounds like: "Strange Magic," Electric Light Orchestra.

🗳️ Situational awareness: St. Petersburg mayoral candidates Ken Welch and Charlie Crist are set to debate tonight at 7pm on Spectrum Bay News 9.

• That's channel 9 in Tampa Bay, or you can stream it on Bay News 9's website, on YouTube or on the Spectrum News App. We'll also have a recap in tomorrow's newsletter.

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Today’s newsletter is 1,095 words — a 4-minute read.

A lobbyist for the Rays met with six of the seven Hillsborough County commissioners in late 2025, county records show.

• Within weeks, the team's owners and their businesses were pouring tens of thousands of dollars into several of those commissioners' reelection efforts.

Why it matters: Much of the money went to commissioners who ultimately supported the team's plans for a new ballpark — and a candidate who defeated one of the deal's opponents.

Driving the news: Commissioners Gwen Myers, Harry Cohen and Joshua Wostal, all up for reelection, have received at least $140,000 combined from Rays owners and their companies since the sale.

• Most of it came before the board's May 20 vote on a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the Rays, which Myers and Cohen supported and Wostal opposed.
• After Commissioner Donna Cameron-Cepeda spoke out against investing in the new Rays stadium at an April 16 workshop, more than $40,000 flowed to her primary opponent, Stacy Hahn.

Between the lines: The Rays' ownership group includes several prominent homebuilders and developers with business in Tampa Bay and a history of giving to state and local politicians.

• Two of the donors had given to Wostal's committee more than a year before the sale. Willy Nunn's Homes by WestBay gave it $50,000 on Oct. 2, months after he voted against the deal.

Yes, but: Donations from companies owned by Rays limited partners Nunn, Chris LaFace and Jeff Hills often arrived the same day, or sometimes just weeks before a stadium vote.

• Commissioner Harry Cohen's political committee, Hillsborough Together, received a combined $13,000 from Homes by WestBay, Ripa & Associates and Eisenhower Management on March 31.
• Commissioner Gwen Myers' political committee received $25,000 from the same three companies a week before she voted "yes" on a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the Rays.

Zoom out: The most money to any local candidate, however, went to a political committee backing former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn's comeback bid.

• St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch's campaign also received $1,000 from Rays CEO Ken Babby. Political committees affiliated with Welch have received $50,000 from the team.
• A political committee backing his rival, former Gov. Charlie Crist, got about $10,000 from the team and one of its limited partners.

The other side: The Rays declined to comment. Myers, Cohen and Hahn did not respond to Axios' requests for comment.

• Wostal told Axios that some of the businesses that donated to him began doing so before their owners became involved with the Rays. "I am very proud to have bipartisan financial support."

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Tampa's skyline has a luxe new addition.

Why it matters: Pendry Tampa wrapped vertical construction last week, marking a major milestone for yet another luxury high-rise in Tampa Bay.

By the numbers: The 38-story building will have 218 hotel rooms, 190 condos and ground-floor dining off the Riverwalk when it opens next year.

• Residences range from one to three bedrooms and start at $1.7 million. More than 80% of the units have been sold, representing about $400 million in sales, per a news release.
• Amenities include a rooftop pool and an entire floor devoted to a fitness center, spa and more.

What they're saying: "This is an incredible addition to Tampa's skyline, Mayor Jane Castor said at a ceremony Friday commemorating the construction milestone.

• "It is going to be one of the premier hotels in our city," she said, noting that Tampa sells out 80-90% of its hotel rooms on weekend nights.

The big picture: This is the boutique hotel and residential brand's first property in Florida.

• It joins The Ritz-Carlton Residences Tampa and, soon, the Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg as luxury-branded projects betting on Tampa Bay.

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⚾️ After an early lead by the Rays, the Cleveland Guardians rallied in the final four innings to win 7-3 in game one of the American League Championship Series. (Tampa Bay Times)

🏗️ Developer Kolter Urban is planning to build two 44-story condo towers to replace the Hilton Bayfront St. Petersburg downtown. (St. Pete Rising)

🩺 For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Department of Health and AdventHealth are offering free mammograms to low-income, uninsured patients aged 40-64. (WTSP)

Early signs suggest flu season is starting sooner than in recent years.

Why it matters: If you're thinking about getting your flu shot, health experts suggest it's time to roll up your sleeve.

By the numbers: About 3.6% of flu tests came back positive in early October, compared with just 0.6% at the same point last year, according to CDC data.

• The fine print: CDC's published methodology shows no change in flu test positivity calculations.

Zoom in: Florida is showing very low levels of flu activity as of the week ending Oct. 3, per CDC surveillance measures.

Yes, but: Additional data, including outpatient reports, suggest flu activity is on the rise.

• The highest percentages of medical visits for flu-like illness are in children.

What they're saying: "'Get your flu shot now' is my best advice," Trish Perl, a professor of infectious diseases and epidemiology at UT Southwestern, tells Axios.

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With Halloween around the corner, we're looking for local stories that don't necessarily make it into the guidebooks.

• These tales can range from the supposedly haunted house on your block to the ghost story everyone in the neighborhood seems to know or the piece of strange local lore you heard once and never forgot.

👻 What's the creepiest Tampa Bay legend more people should know about?

• Tell us the story, where it comes from and how you first heard about it.

📩 Hit reply and tell us. We might feature your submission in an upcoming newsletter.

📆 Kathryn is back in the wedding-planning grind. Five more months!

🍂 Yacob is putting together his itinerary for an anniversary trip to Savannah, Georgia, later this week.

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This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.