The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual legislative preview Feb. 26, providing local business leaders an opportunity to hear from and engage with state lawmakers ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

The panel featured Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-18), Senator Darryl Rouson (D-16), Representative Lindsay Cross (D-60) and Representative Michele Rayner (D-62). The group discussed policy priorities, regional challenges and legislative goals. Topics included hurricane recovery, infrastructure, permitting delays, behavioral health funding, transportation and property insurance reform. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

Long-term recovery is ongoing, and those who stood up to make a difference are continuing to be honored, nearly five months after back-to-back hurricanes rocked the Tampa Bay area last fall.

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) and local officials gathered at the St. Petersburg Police Department Friday to honor seven citizens as “Hurricane Heroes.”

“Even as I was doing press conferences in this room, I did not know that some of our team leaders who were in the press conference were dealing with four feet of water in their home at the time,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch. “They didn’t know if they had a home to go back home to, yet they were doing the best thing for our community.” Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

The resurrection and revitalization of St. Petersburg’s Science Center (1966-2019) came that much closer to reality Tuesday, as Florida legislators handed the education center’s prospective new proprietor a state-signed check for $2.5 million.

It was one-tenth of the projected cost for the reimagined facility, nestled on 3.9 acres in western St. Pete’s Azalea neighborhood, but it upped the collected total to $9 million. And there’s more in the pipeline, which to organizers and supporters means the $25 million project is really going to come to fruition. Read more at www.stpetecatalyst.com.

On February 26th, 2025, the Shirley Proctor Puller M.A.S.T.R. Kids scholars will present a living wax museum with the theme: Rich in History – We Are St. Pete!

February 26, 4:30 pm -5:30 pm, at John Hopkins Middle School, 701 16th St S., Building 7, St. Petersburg, FL 33705

Participants will walk into history, seeing and hearing about the significant accomplishments of prominent local black Americans in politics, business, medicine, science, entertainment, and more from the students who admire them! Read more at www.theweeklychallenger.com.