Local News
Community news from our local sources
“We Run These Streets” 5K initiative aims to get community moving towards health
BY DR. KANIKA TOMALIN | President & CEO, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg ST. PETERSBURG — When we think about our health and all the factors that shape it, access for emergencies and preventative care quickly comes to mind. Our health, however, begins much closer to home…
Art, mental health, and wellness – how you can help support our youth and families right now (OPINION)
By J.A. Jones | Contributor “The devastating impact of youth mental health concerns is increasingly evident on a global scale. This crisis calls for innovative solutions that are sufficiently accessible, scalable, and cost-effective to support diverse communities around the…
Mordecai Walker: A life well-lived
Mordecai Walker’s wake will take place on Friday, Sept. 5, from 6-7 p.m. at Sanchez Rehoboth Funeral Home, 6501 25th Way S, St. Petersburg. The funeral will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion Progressive, 955 20th St. S, St. Petersburg. BY RAVEN JOY SHONEL |…
We’re all in the Projects now (OPINION)
By Geveryl Robinson | Contributor Many of us grew up with people assuming that all Black people at one point in their lives lived in “the projects.” Because racism and ignorance run rampant in our society, many still believe that most Black people grew up in poverty or were from…
Self-Perfection is Just an Unreachable Dream
Self-Perfection is Just an Unreachable Dream A poem by Santiago De Mora Is perfection ever reached? Your dreams, desires, and thoughts create an illusion— An illusion of what you wanna be, but not what you truly are, Causing you not to improve, but to elaborate on that perfect…
Garcia’s touch: The transformation of Hollywood High
Lakewood High School celebrated its 60th anniversary with students of yesteryear, current scholars, and incoming freshmen at its Diamond Celebration on Friday, Aug. 1. BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D. | Contributor ST. PETERSBURG — Principal Connisheia Garcia and her team are…
To those who really care about our youth (OPINION)
At the beginning of this summer 2025, STORY 727 became aware of an alarming situation at our local library involving an excessive number of unsupervised children. We witnessed library staff members approach city council with serious concerns about safety, requesting additional…
Purses for Purpose, fundraiser for A Mother’s Arms, Inc, Sat. July 26
By J.A. Jones | Contributor Chantala Davis founded the nonprofit A Mother’s Arms (AMA) in response to the incidents leading up to the 2018 death of two-year-old Jordan Belliveau at the hands of his 21-year-old mother, Charisse Stinson. A Clearwater native who was once a teenaged…
Loud and right! My response to the mayor’s ‘Plan for progress at St. Petersburg Fire Rescue’
‘My review of the mayor’s plan leaves me wondering why he is assuming so much responsibility for what Watts didn’t do,’ questions Dr. Goliath Davis. BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D. | Contributor ST. PETERSBURG — I read Mayor Welch’s plan with great interest and take this…
The plan for progress at St. Petersburg Fire Rescue
‘The people of St. Petersburg elected me to move our city forward, and that is my focus,’ expressed Mayor Ken Welch. The mayor and Fire Chief Keith Watts at Fire Station 9 in Lake Pasadena. BY KENNETH T. WELCH | Mayor of St. Petersburg ST. PETERSBURG — I’ve been blessed to serve…
In ‘7000 volts, Living an Electrified Life’ local businessman recounts living beyond electrocution and trauma
By J.A. Jones | Contributor CLEARWATER — LJ Tucker grew up in North Greenwood, Clearwater; today, he is an established family man and a certified arborist with more than two decades of experience, operating the successful tree maintenance company Tucker Enterprises in Oldsmar.…