Community Corner

đŸŒ± Patch AM: St. Pete Mayor’s Former Treasurer Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud: U.S. DOJ

Coming up on the St. Petersburg Patch calendar: Treasure Your Health

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Saturday September 26th Patch AM
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Hello St. Petersburg! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Mayor Welch's ex-treasurer admits stealing campaign funds in federal case
  • How will the Azalea Cay project reshape housing on St. Pete's Raytheon site?
  • Two prominent St. Pete leaders just joined the USF St. Petersburg board

Also on today's calendar: Treasure Your Health and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Riddle: David's parents have three sons: Snap, Crackle, and what's the name of the third son? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 85 and low of 72 degrees.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny and delightful, temps: high: 86, low: 75. 🌶 Hot!
  • Monday: Sunny and delightful, with a high of 86 and low of 75 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. St. Pete Mayor's Former Treasurer Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud: U.S. DOJ (patch.com) — St. Petersburg readers learn that Mayor Ken Welch's former campaign treasurer has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud after stealing more than $1 million from clients, including substantial funds from his reelection effort. The case, handled in Philadelphia, details how she diverted campaign money for personal use over several years and now faces up to 20 years in prison.
   

2. Hundreds of Apartments Are Coming to a Former Raytheon Site in St. Petersburg (tbbwmag.com) — Hundreds of new apartments, including 102 workforce and affordable units, are about to rise on the former Raytheon site at 1501 72nd St. N. in St. Petersburg. Backed by $11.25 million in city and Pinellas County support, the Azalea Cay project breaks ground Monday with local officials on hand. Details on rents and timelines aren't out yet, but the development could significantly expand local housing options.
   

3. Addition of community leaders strengthen USF St. Petersburg Campus Board (usf.edu) — USF St. Petersburg has added former state representative Ben Diamond and local attorney Paul Gross to its campus board, strengthening ties between the university and the broader St. Petersburg community. Both longtime civic leaders will serve four-year terms overseeing campus operations and advocating for the institution. Their appointments reflect a push to deepen regional impact and community engagement.
   

4. Hurricane Helene recovery: Tampa Bay area marks two years since storm (fox13news.com) — St. Petersburg businesses are still rebuilding their customer base two years after Hurricane Helene's storm surge disrupted beachside commerce across Tampa Bay. Local leaders say the storm permanently changed how residents think about evacuations, while USF researchers are redesigning beaches and dunes to better protect coastal communities from future storms. Safety, they stress, must now outweigh any attachment to property.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Buffalo Wild Wings posted a job opening for Kitchen Team Member/Cook in Pinellas Park. Apply here.
  • Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Cashier Associate - Part Time in Seminole. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near St. Petersburg here.

Ok St. Petersburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: David (Thank you Thomas F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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