Word around the tree-lighting ceremony at Williams Park last night was that Rick Kriseman has decided to remain in the Florida House and will not run for Mayor of St. Petersburg. Still unclear is if this decision was made to clear the way for County Commissioner Ken Welch to make his own bid for Mayor. [...]

As we wait with bated breath for Ken Welch’s decision on his political future, I have just learned from a high-level source that Mr. Welch did, in fact, meet with Representative Kriseman today for lunch. This source revealed that they dined at the Wave at the Epicenter in Largo. Was the decision to meet in [...]

The Poynter Institute, owner of the Times Publishing Company, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times is looking to sell what has become a Washington, DC institution – CQ or Congressional Quarterly. CQ is an inside the beltway publication that is heavily relied upon by Congressional offices, lobbyists and trade associations for update information on what [...]

Being rather familiar with election law violations, I can’t help but wonder whether Kathleen Ford has already violated the rules governing campaign advertising. There is a post on the Bay Buzz stating “she sent a letter to the Times earlier this week signed ‘candidate for mayor.’” When she sent that letter, she was, by definition, [...]

Being, the eclectic home furnishings store that has called BayWalk home for seven years, is moving to the Old Northeast neighborhood March 1. – Owner Amy Bromley, who is not renewing her lease at BayWalk, said the reason for the move wasn’t so much about the shopping complex’s rough times, but rather her own aspirations [...]

Sam Kass, a private chef for the Obamas while they were living in Chicago, is now working in the White House, Marian Burros writes on The Caucus. A spokeswoman for Michelle Obama said Mr. Kass has a particular interest in healthy food and local food. – Mr. Kass’s appointment should please chefs like Alice Waters, [...]

After I learned that Hook had passed away, I called over to his restaurant on MLK to find out if they would still be open. You could hear the sadness in the hostess’ voice when she said ‘yes’. – I headed over to the restaurant, if nothing else than to pay homage to man whose [...]

He is the popular mayor of the fourth largest city in the fourth largest state with a proven record of achievement and yet Rick Baker may have hit the ceiling as far as his political career is concerned. With Bill McCollum announcing that he will not run for the US Senate – thereby guaranteeing a [...]

Here’s news about a hiring that doesn’t involve me. Evidently Scott “The Half-Million Dollar Man” Wagman has hired Toni Molinaro, the former chair of the Pinellas Democratic Executive Party, to serve as his field director for his campaign to be mayor of St. Petersburg. “Many credit Molinaro and her allies with taking a circus of [...]

ST. PETERSBURG — Hook Atsavinh, a popular area sushi chief and owner of Hook’s Sushi Bar and Thai Food, has died of unknown causes, his family said. – Atsavinh, 44, is a well known Pinellas fixture, having worked at 9 Bangkok Restaurant and Sushi Rock Grill before opening his own restaurant at 1210 Dr. Martin [...]