We’ve (maybe) made our peace with a chaotic 2024 . Now, let’s look toward the year ahead.
- Here are four stories we’re watching in 2025.
Hurricane recovery
This could be a make-or-break year for business owners and residents still grappling with hurricane damage.
- We’ll be keeping an eye on which restaurants, shops, hotels and other businesses make it through this transition or close up shop altogether.
- We’ll also be watching how widespread damage could change vulnerable communities like Gulfport , Tampa’s University neighborhood and St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres .
1 big question: Whether Pinellas County will get new sand to widen its battered beaches and better protect homes and businesses along the barrier islands.
- A years-long stalemate between county and federal officials has put much-needed renourishment projects on hold.
- County leaders have been designing their own project in the meantime, but without federal help, it’ll be expensive.
Rays stadium
After weeks of finger-pointing and political posturing, the deal to build a $1.3 billion ballpark on the site of Tropicana Field appeared to be back on track — except for one big thing.