Kathryn Varn

Florida

@Axios Tampa Bay reporter // Past ✍️ @USATODAY @TB_Times @A24's 'Florida!' book // @UF @TheAlligator alum 🐊 // she/her // Subscribe to our FREE newsletter ⬇️

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Articles

St. Pete boosts Tropicana Field repair funds

2 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn |Yacob Reyes

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios⚾️ The St. Pete City Council agreed to allocate more money to repair Tropicana Field — fixes that include the roof that Hurricane Milton tore off eight months ago, and preserving the inside of the stadium. (WFTS)🚕 The Florida Supreme Court ruled against dozens of taxi companies in Hillsborough County, who argued that a 2017 state law resulted in an unconstitutional "taking" of their property. (News Service of Florida)Subscribe for more Axios Tampa Bay in your inbox.
Flooding alarms South Tampa after quick storm

3 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn |Yacob Reyes

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axiosπ€ Anastasios Kamoutsas, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, was named Florida's education commissioner yesterday on the governor's recommendation. (Bay News 9)π½οΈ A Wimauma resident's Yelp review led to a legal battle with a popular Asian eatery, Hales Blackbrick, which has raised questions about how a restaurant can respond to reviews it finds unfair.
Tampa Bay mornings sizzle in record heat

3 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn |Yacob Reyes

It really was that hot last month — especially in the mornings. Tampa broke the record for the warmest May morning temperature several times, per WFLA chief meteorologist Jeff Berardelli. Several mornings hit 80 degrees and, one morning, 81 degrees, he said. The previous record was 79 degrees.
Weekend events: Celebrate Juneteenth, Largo Central Park and Caribbean culture

3 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn

Largo Central Park. Photo: Kathryn Varn/AxiosComing right up: A fresh batch of weekend events. π Wish Largo Central Park a happy 30th birthday with live music, food and merch vendors, and activities like a tree giveaway (while supplies last), birds of prey exhibition, and, of course, train rides on the beloved Largo Central Railroad. 10-1pm Sunday at Largo Central Park. Free.
Pinellas Job Corps Center to close amid nationwide pause

4 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn |Yacob Reyes

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios🏫 The state board overseeingFlorida's university system yesterday rejected Santa Ono as the next president of the University of Florida. (Tampa Bay Times)The 10-6 vote came after intense conservative criticism of Ono's past stances on diversity, equity and inclusion. UF's Board of Trustees last week unanimously approved Ono as president. Yesterday's vote marks the first time in its 22-year history the state board has overturned a university's presidential pick.
No one's buying Tampa Bay vacation homes

4 days ago | axios.com | Sami Sparber |Kathryn Varn

Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios VisualsDemand for second homes is at its lowest in data going back to 2018, Redfin reports — even in vacation destination Tampa Bay. What's happening: Homeownership costs have soared,and cities are cracking down on short-term rentals. Plus, fewer people can work remotely from their beach house or ski chalet these days. By the numbers: U.S. homebuyers took out around 86,600 mortgages for second homes last year, per Redfin's analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.
WUSF launches Tampa Bay local news podcast, "The Wake Up Call"

4 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn

Photo: WUSFTampa Bay's NPRaffiliate this week launched a local news podcast. Why it matters: WUSF's "The Wake Up Call" fills a need in the Tampa Bay market for a quick-hit, conversational podcast with local happenings and things to do, news director Mary Shedden told Axios. Zoom in: Each episode is about five minutes and includes three sections: news headlines, local events and a feature highlighting interesting voices in the community, drawing on reporting from WUSF reporters.
What Cycle Brewing's closure in St. Petersburg says about the craft beer industry

4 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn

Cycle Brewing's downtown St. Pete taproom. Photo: Kathryn Varn/AxiosOnce upon a time, busloads of beer lovers descended on Cycle Brewing's annual Barrel-Aged Day to taste brewmaster Doug Dozark's latest creation. It was the pre-pandemic heyday of craft beer, when new breweries were popping up everywhere and enthusiasts collected limited releases like trading cards.
Hail hits East Tampa during thunderstorms

5 days ago | axios.com | Kathryn Varn |Yacob Reyes

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios🧊 Hail rained down on parts of East Tampa during thunderstorms that blew through the region yesterday. (WFLA)⛳️ Plans to transform downtown St. Petersburg's historic Tramor building into a club with golf simulators and a high-end restaurant are dead. The project became too expensive, the developer said. (Tampa Bay Times)The building has sat vacant since Hofbräuhaus closed in 2020.
"Stanley Pup" returns: Meet the beagle repping Tampa Bay

5 days ago | axios.com | Maxwell Millington |Kathryn Varn

Photo: Courtesy of the NHLThirty-two of the cutest hockey players, including one repping the Lightning, will compete during the 2025 Stanley Cup between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. State of play: The "Stanley Pup," a friendly competition featuring adoptable rescue dogs, is returning for the second year. The show will premiere at 5:30pm ET June 6 on TruTV. Zoom in: Donning a Bolts jersey will be Brayden Pointer, a 9-week-old beagle mix who can smell a treat from 3.8 miles away.