Stories

Selena Ferrer works on a ceiling mural at Lector 85 in Ybor City

Selena Ferrer: Telling Ybor City’s story one mural at a time

Deborah Bostock-KelleyMonday, March 31, 2025

Tampa artist Selena Ferrer designs and creates vibrant mural art depicting the history and heritage of Ybor City. Her latest work, commissioned by Lector 85 apartments, brings Ybor’s rich history, cultural diversity, and creative spirit to a modern apartment complex.

For Good

Friends Sabeen Hasni, Naila Khan, and Sadia Farrukh with an Eid lunch complete with chicken biryani, haleem, and more

Tampa Bay Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan

Kiran Malik-KhanMonday, March 31, 2025

Eid-ul-Fitr, the three-day festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims around the world, began March 30th. It's a time for family and friends to gather over good food, tasty sweets, and time-honored traditions.

Feature Story

The Tampa Museum of Science and Industry's new Digital Dome Theatre and Saunders Planetarium is the country's second-largest planetarium

April arts: MOSI's planetarium, Ybor events, Mainsail, Tampa Bay Design Week

Monday, March 31, 2025

A busy April on the Tampa Bay arts scene offers MOSI's new planetarium, a slew of events and exhibits at the Kress Contemporary in Ybor, the 50th Mainsail Art Festival, Tampa Bay Design Week, and much more.

For Good

The opening reception for "The Essence of Spring," the Clearwater Arts Alliance's latest exhibition in the Clearwater Main Library, is 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on March 28th.

Opening reception for "The Essence of Spring" at Clearwater Main Library

Thursday, March 27, 2025

The opening reception for “The Essence of Spring,” the Clearwater Arts Alliance’s new exhibition in the first-floor gallery of the Clearwater Main Library, is 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28th.

For Good

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County's 2025 Family Guide is a comprehensive tool for helping families find valuable community resources and programs.

Children's Board of Hillsborough County 2025 Family Guide: A tool to find community resources

Philip MorganWednesday, March 26, 2025

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County 2025 Family Guide is a valuable tool to help families find a wide range of community resources

Development News

The new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge, shown here in early March, opened to traffic on March 25th after nearly five years of construction

Howard Frankland opens, streetcar stays free, Tampa Union Station busiest in Florida

Christopher CurryWednesday, March 26, 2025

Tampa Bay transportation roundup: the new Howard Frankland Bridge span opens; the TECO Line Streetcar stays fare-free through September; Tampa Union Station is Amtrak's busiest in Florida.

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Masthead gallery: Tour of the Arts in St. Pete's Historic Kenwood neighborhood

Carole DevillersWednesday, March 26, 2025

A photo gallery from the 8th annual Tour of the Arts in St. Pete's Historic Kenwood

Feature Story

"Embracing Our Differences," an exhibit of billboard-sized artwork exploring themes of kindness, inclusiveness, and understanding, is on display at Poynter Park in St. Petersburg through March 31st and Bayfront Park in Sarasota through April 13th.

"Embracing Our Differences": Billboard-sized artwork explores inclusion, kindness, understanding

Christopher CurryWednesday, March 26, 2025

"Embracing Our Differences," an exhibit of billboard-sized artwork exploring themes of kindness, inclusiveness, and understanding, is on display at Poynter Park in St. Petersburg through March 31st and Bayfront Park in Sarasota through April 13th.

For Good

The Tampa Bay area makes year-to-year improvement in approximately two-thirds of the 67 economic and quality of life indicators tracked in the 2025 State of the Region Regional Competitiveness Report.

Tampa Bay makes strides in 2025 State of the Region

Christopher CurryWednesday, March 19, 2025

Tampa Bay makes year-to-year improvement in approximately two-thirds of the 67 economic and quality of life indicators tracked in the 2025 State of the Region Regional Competitiveness Report.

Innovation News

Tudor Cay Condominiums in Town N' Country is the latest addition to the Tampa Bay Water Wise conservation and rebate program.

Tampa Bay Water program conserves water, saves money

Bob SimonWednesday, March 19, 2025

Tudor Cay Condominiums in Town N’ Country expects to cut its monthly water usage by 273,000 gallons thanks to high-efficiency, low-flow toilets and a smart irrigation system installed through the Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate program.

Innovation News

UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology Sriyanka Lahiri at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, where researchers found two UF-bred strawberry varieties are more resistent to the pest the chilli thrip

UF/IFAS Wimauma facility finds "game changer" for state's strawberry crop

Philip MorganWednesday, March 19, 2025

Researchers at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma say two UF-bred strawberries are more resistant to the crop-threatening pest the chilli thrip.

Partner Content

The Clearwater City Council’s “Reimagine Clearwater Main Library: A Cultural Destination” plan seeks to activate the downtown library building, an underused asset in a prime location adjacent to Coachman Park, as an arts or cultural destination.

Clearwater reimagines downtown library as arts, cultural destination

Philip MorganWednesday, March 19, 2025

Clearwater's "Reimagine Clearwater Main Library: A Cultural Destination" invites museums, planetariums, and performing arts organizations to submit concepts for activating the downtown library as an arts or culture destination.

Feature Story

Masthead gallery: Lakeland, "Swan City"

Carole DevillersWednesday, March 19, 2025

A photo gallery of the iconic swans of Lakeland, aka "Swan City."

Development News

Entrepreneur Chris Cunningham was looking for property in North Tampa for his water restoration business. He ended up buying a city block on Nebraska Avenue, opening a hardware store, and planning more ways to revitalize the neighborhood.

Chris Cunningham: A born entrepreneur

Pamela VarkonyWednesday, March 12, 2025

Entrepreneur Chris Cunningham was looking to purchase property in North Tampa for his water restoration business. He ended up buying a city block on Nebraska Avenue, opening a hardware store, and working to revitalize the area.

Buzz

ConnectWise founder Arnie Bellini and wife Lauren Bellini's record $40 million gift to USF establishes the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing

Buzz: Record $40 million gift establishes AI, cybersecurity college and USF

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Arnie and Lauren Bellini's record $40 million gift to USF establishes the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing

Innovation News

With a $17 million federal grant, the USF Center for Urban Transportation is leading a consortium working on comprehensive solutions to the rail industry's workforce shortage.

USF Center for Urban Transportation Research leads national initiative on rail industry careers

Kiran Malik-KhanWednesday, March 12, 2025

With a $17 million federal grant, the USF Center for Urban Transportation is leading a group of partner organizations working on comprehensive solutions to the rail industry's workforce shortage.

Feature Story

The Gasparilla International Film Festival opens March 25th at the Tampa Theatre

March arts: Gasparilla International Film Fest, Ouroboros, much more

Christopher CurryWednesday, March 12, 2025

Tampa Bay's March arts scene has the Gasparilla International Film Festival, Nejla Yatkin’s Ouroboros at Stageworks, the Tampa Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Festival, and exhibits aplenty.

Feature Story