Pinellas County Commission

In a preliminary 5-2 vote, county commission slashed about $1 million in funding for the nonprofit with plans to instead award about $500,000 in grants for arts tourism.

The county commission discussed the idea at a workshop last week, but came to the conclusion that there are other options.

Said Commissioner Vince Nowicki, who introduced the legislation: “I think we have a duty to look at this through the DOGE lens that this board passed 6 to 1 just a few weeks ago.”

In an interview with Chris Russo on SiriusXM, commissioner Rob Manfred reiterated that "we believe in the market" and remains hopeful the Trop will be ready for the Rays in 2026.

The county clarified how it plans to enforce quiet hours and other restrictions for short-term rentals.

There are several possible scenarios that could keep the team in the Tampa Bay area. Or they might seek greener fields elsewhere.

The museum was to be part of the Gas Plant District redevelopment surrounding a new Rays stadium. Woodson leaders cited uncertainty surrounding that project as a reason for pulling their request.

Pinellas County's beaches were flattened by the triple whammies of Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton last year. Now, a new ordinance may give what's left of its dunes a fighting chance.

The next move is up to the team as to whether it will honor an agreement to build a new stadium as the lynchpin to the biggest redevelopment plan in Pinellas County's history.

The federal grant will go toward building up prolonged hurricane resilience. The money is supposed to address residents' unmet needs. St. Petersburg was also awarded $159.9.

The next move is up to the Rays after two Pinellas County commissioners flipped their earlier opposition and voted in favor of allocating bed tax money to help build a new stadium.

The on-again, off-again quest to build a new baseball stadium as part of the massive Historic Gas Plant redevelopment is now in the hands of Pinellas County commissioners.