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  • NASA to conduct second wet dress rehearsal of Artemis II

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    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — After detecting a liquid hydrogen leak during its first wet dress rehearsal of the Artemis II moon rocket, NASA will attempt a second test of the launch vehicle that will take humans back to the moon.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. space agency is eyeing Thursday for a second wet dress rehearsal
    • If all goes well, March 6 might be the earliest chance for Artemis II launch
    • The first wet dress rehearsal found leaks; NASA replaced seals
    • RELATED coverage:

    The U.S. space agency is eyeing Thursday for a second wet dress rehearsal, as it will put more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic fuel into the Space Launch System rocket during a test of that and the Orion capsule. It will also simulate a launch countdown, the ability to recycle the countdown clock and drain the tanks to practice for possible scrubs.

    “Launch controllers will arrive to their consoles in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:40 p.m. EST on Feb. 17 to begin the nearly 50-hour countdown. The simulated launch time is 8:30 p.m., Feb. 19, with a four-hour window for the test. While the Artemis II crew is not participating in the test, a team of personnel will go to the launch pad to practice Orion closeout operations, including closing the spacecraft’s hatches,” NASA explained on Monday.

    NASA provided a bit more detail on the test.

    During the rehearsal, the team will execute a detailed countdown sequence. Operators will conduct two runs of the last ten minutes of the countdown, known as terminal count. They will pause at T-1 minute and 30 seconds for up to three minutes, then resume until T-33 seconds before launch and pause again. After that, they will recycle the clock back to T-10 minutes and conduct a second terminal countdown to just inside of T-30 seconds before ending the sequence. This process simulates real-world conditions, including scenarios where a launch might be scrubbed due to technical or weather issues.

    During the first wet dress rehearsal on Monday, Feb. 02, NASA teams found a liquid hydrogen leak in an interface that is used to route the fuel into the SLS’s core stage, as well as other issues.

    In fact, that was the same section where a liquid hydrogen leak was found during the Artemis I mission.

    While technicians replaced two seals in that area since the Artemis II first pretest, this past weekend, NASA made additional fixes to issues that were discovered during a different test.

    “Over the weekend, teams replaced a filter in ground support equipment that was suspected of reducing the flow of liquid hydrogen during a Feb. 12 partial fueling test. The test provided enough data to allow engineers to plan toward a second wet dress rehearsal this week. Engineers have reconnected the line with the new filter and are reestablishing proper environmental conditions,” NASA stated in a blog post.

    Because the leak and other issues were discovered during the first wet dress rehearsal, NASA had to push the launch of the Artemis II to early March. It was supposed to launch early February.

    Officials stated that if all goes well, NASA will be eyeing March 6 as the earliest chance to launch the historical mission.

    But officials stressed that it all depends on how the second test goes and its findings.

    Once the Artemis II stacked rocket is ready for launch, it will send NASA’s Cmdr. Gregory Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut mission specialist Jeremy Hansen to the moon in a flyby mission.

    Artemis II launch attempt dates

    [ad_2] Anthony Leone
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  • St. Pete Sunday Market returns at new location

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete’s Sunday Market is back. 

    After taking a short hiatus in January, the market opened Sunday morning at its new home at USF St. Pete downtown. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Pete Sunday Market returned after a short hiatus 

    • It opened at a new location at the St. Pete USF campus 

    • The market is open the third Sunday of every month

    • Kody Roussert, who started the market, said he expects it to remain at the spot through the end of the year


    Since starting in 2023, the market has built a reputation for giving local businesses a chance to thrive. 

    One of those businesses is CBbees, which is from Lake Placid. 

    Owner Joanne McDaniel said she’s been beekeeping for 12 years. 

    Without markets like this, she said, it would be difficult for customers to find them.

    “We don’t have a brick and mortar yet, and it also helps us educate consumers (about) the difference between pure raw honey and store-bought honey and stuff like that,” she said.  

    Providing that kind of exposure is why Kody Roussert started the market. 

    Sunday’s market has dozens of vendors.

    Roussert said the goal of the market is to support as many businesses as possible.

    “We went to Fergs at the beginning of last year, and then we moved into the Museum of History, which was another downscale,” he said. “So it’s really nice to be scaling back up, and again, have more space to give people the opportunity to get their goods out there, get known by everybody here, and show them why they’re super cool.” 

    The plan is to be at the new location throughout the rest of the year. The market is open the third Sunday of every month.

    McDaniel said she has a good feeling about the spot.

    “I think this is going to be a great market,” she said. “Great atmosphere and looks like a lot of foot traffic, and I think everybody in the area is really happy to have a market here on Sundays.” 

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Night to Shine lights up Pinellas for third year

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was a Night to Shine at the St. Petersburg Coliseum Friday night. The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual prom for people with special needs there for the third year.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual Night to Shine on February 13 in St. Petersburg

    • It’s a prom-type event for people with special needs who are ages 14 and up

    • The coordinator said guests live with conditions ranging from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments

    • Guests told Spectrum News they enjoy the event because they can let loose without feeling self-conscious


    “Epic,” said Kimberly Nash, coordinator of the Pinellas County event, when asked to describe the night in one word. “It’s amazing, it’s beautiful, it’s fantastic. There’s not one word that can actually describe tonight.”

    Nash said registration filled to capacity within an hour-and-a-half of opening, and this year’s waitlist was longer than the actual guest list.

    Invitees arrived in limos and were greeted by a red carpet lined with volunteer “paparazzi.”

    “This is my third year doing it, and I love it,” said volunteer Kim Heffner.

    “You get to cheer them on, blow bubbles, give them high-fives,” said six-year-old Liv, another volunteer.

    At one point, volunteers took part in an impromptu sing-along when one guest started singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by one of his favorite artists, John Denver.

    “Seeing what they have to go through day by day, I mean, it’s just amazing to see everyone show up for them,” said Heffner.

    Guests attending Night to Shine. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

    Connor Deeb and Ashunti Teasley Dorsey said they wouldn’t have missed this year’s event for the world. It was the second time attending for both of them.

    “Honestly, I love it here,” said Deeb, 22. “It’s a great place to meet people, have some great music, dance.”

    “We get to be ourselves without having to worry about judging and things like that,” said Dorsey, 25.

    Dorsey told Spectrum News she has autism and chronic tic disorder. She said that means she makes movements that she can’t control.

    “I remember waking up one day, and I thought I was just having chills until it started progressing worse and worse until I found out it’s tics,” she said. “Even though I struggle, I continue to move on and live my life like no other.”

    Dorsey said tics aren’t something she has to be self-conscious of at Night to Shine, and that’s the point.

    “It’s a night that we invite those with special needs, and we remind them that it is not their disability that defines them, it is Christ,” said Nash.

    Nash said the 265 guests live with a range of conditions, from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments. This night is about giving them and their plus-ones a chance to feel like royalty.

    “Whether you leave here as an honored guest with a crown on your head and a smile on your face and probably some feet that hurt from all the dancing, or a parent who has seen your child celebrated and loved tonight, I think that everybody just leaves here with joy,” said Nash.

    A Night to Shine is a worldwide event held in more than 700 locations. Nash said this is the third year Central Christian Church hosted the Pinellas event.

    Nash said they hope to hold next year’s dance at the newly repaired Tropicana Field. If that works out, she said that they can expand to inviting 750 guests.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Oakland community to see revitalization to the area

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    HAINES CITY, Fla. — Haines City leaders are looking to revitalize the Oakland community as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is asking for public input on bringing back this once-bustling business district.

    What You Need To Know

    • Community Redevelopment Agency is set to host a meeting on Thursday to discuss plans for the former walk-in bar in the Oakland community
    • The meeting is taking place on Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Haines City Hall
    • The walk-in bar, located at 1711 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, is part of the first step to revitalizing the Oakland community


    The Community Redevelopment Agency is starting the process with the former walk-in bar along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

    No job is too small for Kenneth Gosha.

    “I like making the neighborhood look good,” he said.

    Gosha works in the community, helping keep his neighbors’ lawns in top shape. He grew up in the Oakland community and says it’s his way of giving back.

    It’s a place that he says has seen its fair share of change.

    “Some of the spaces around here, where there were empty lots, they’re building houses there, they’re putting sidewalks, they’re doing a lot of great things around here,” he says.

    But he also remembers what it was a place where business was alive and booming.

    Today, he says, it’s much different, and one of the reasons Gosha says he will have his voice heard at the upcoming Haines City Community Redevelopment Agency meeting.

    The topic is to discuss plans for the former walk-in bar located in the heart of the Oakland community.

    “The lower level of this old walk-in bar, we want to put retail back here, and the upper level we want to do apartments or condos,” says Haines City Mayor and board member of the Community Redevelopment Agency Morris West.

    He says this building means a lot to the community. Back in the day, the building was a walk-in bar and housed a barber shop that many residents frequented.

    “We want to start with this building, but the city commission and the CRA board members want to revitalize this whole district, bring it back to what it once was,” West comments.

    West says the goal is to bring back the business district, but local leaders need community input to make it happen.

    Gosha believes it’s the first step to breathing life back into a growing community.

    “It’ll just help make the community beautiful and better,” he says.

    It is a place he wants to continue to call his home and welcome new faces too.

    Haines City CRA will be discussing plans for the building at their meeting in City Hall on Thursday, Feb 5, at 5:30 p.m.

    Residents are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the property.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • St. Pete celebrates local businesses with Localtopia

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Thousands of people celebrated St. Petersburg’s local businesses on Saturday as the nonprofit Keep St. Petersburg Local hosted its annual Localtopia event in Williams Park. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Localtopia, St. Petersburg’s largest community celebration of all things local, returned to St. Pete

    • Thousands of people 300 businesses and thousands of people filled Willams Park

    • The St. Pete Chamber of Commerce said this event is crucial for local businesses

    • Businesses said the event was a great opportunity for exposure


    It’s considered St. Petersburg’s largest community celebration of all things local.

    It was a busy day for businesses.

    Gallons of locally brewed beer were on tap at Localtopia.

    “Today, we have on tap our Harold’s lager, which is a nice, light, easy-drinking beer and our orange, which is a nice, easy-drinking light beer as well,” said Dennis Decker, owner of Pinellas Ale Works.

    Pinellas Ale Works has been coming to Localtopia for about 10 years. Every year, Decker said they sell more beer. While Decker said they are pretty established, the event is still a great day for exposure.

    “For a lot of the smaller businesses that haven’t been around a long time or don’t have a big advertising budget, this is a great way to show people what you do and what you have to offer,” he said.

    There are more than 300 independent businesses and organizations at this year’s celebration of all things local. The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce said businesses need the help after spending most of last year recovering from 2024’s back-to-back hurricanes.

    “We love our locals, we know that has made the difference. When people come to St. Pete and they feel the buzz, it’s the buzz of the love we have for that entrepreneur who’s got the courage to open up that shop and take care of the rest of us,” said Chris Steinocher, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.

    Steinocher said that St. Pete is open for business and encouraged people to shop local, not only on Saturday, but throughout the year.

    “Now, our economy is back, and our tourism is back, and our community is back. This is a year we want everybody to realize, we can get back to that normal sense of we have a lot of people here and we’re going to do a lot of good things,” Steinocher said.

    And after Localtopia, Decker said people do just that, as the brewery usually sees some extra foot traffic.

    “I think this kind of event reminds people of their local businesses. They kind of forget with the ordering online and all that kind of stuff, they forget about local businesses, and I think this is a good showcase for local businesses,” Decker said.

    Localtopia started in 2014 to celebrate art, music, food, drinks, and culture that St. Pete has to offer.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Crew-12 docks with the International Space Station on Valentine’s Day

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — After a 34-hour commute from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the four members of the Crew-12 docked with the International Space Station on Valentine’s Day.

    And they will spend the next eight months conducting various experiments.

    What You Need To Know

    • Crew-12 will be spending the next eight months conducting various experiments

    Early Friday morning, NASA astronauts Cmdr. Jessica Meir and pilot Jack Hathaway, and mission specialists European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev took off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to both NASA and SpaceX.

    Taking off from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, they left the little round Earth at 5:15 a.m. ET.

    The quartet’s ride — SpaceX’s Dragon capsule called Freedom — docked with the International Space Station’s space-facing Harmony module at around 3:15 p.m. ET.

    The Dragon docked autonomously, but if needed to, Hathaway could have docked it manually.

    “The Crew-12 mission is the 20th human spaceflight mission that SpaceX has launched. Also, when the Dragon capsule docks with the International Space Station, it will be the 51st time a Dragon spacecraft has docked with ISS or has visited ISS, I should say,” explained Julianna Scheiman, SpaceX’s director of NASA Science and Dragon Programs, during the press conference after Friday’s launch.

    Freedom has participated in four other crewed missions:

    Crew-12 will be welcomed by NASA astronaut Christopher Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev.

    Williams pressurized a small section where Crew-12 docked with the space station and leak checks were being conducted. Once that area was ready, then procedures took place for the Dragon crewmembers to board the station.

    Before Crew-12 boarded the space station, Adenot requested a private medical conference call between the Dragon members and NASA. The U.S. space agency did not reveal the nature of the call.

    They were to be greeted by Crew-11, but the mission was cut short after one of the crew members suffered a medical episode. The medical issue and the name of the person have not been disclosed.

    The Crew-12 will join Expedition 74; an expedition is the current crew onboard the International Space Station.

    During their eight-month stay, the Crew-12 will be conducting a variety of health-related experiments, as well as a study to simulate moon landings.  

     

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    Anthony Leone

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  • Manatee and Sarasota residents compete in the Gulf Coast Games for Life

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — For Janet Rumig of Sarasota, the bowling alley is a second home.

    She is so comfortable walking up to the lane that it is hard to tell this is a competition, specifically the Gulf Coast Games for Life.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gulf Coast Games for Life is a program that encourages seniors to train and exercise year-round

    • Now through February 21, seniors will compete in sixteen different sports
    • Winners of the matches can qualify for the Florida Senior Games State Championships

    • Research from the National Institutes of Health reports that both men and women can add at least a decade to their life expectancy by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle


    “I think I am the only person in my age group, so I should win,” said Rumig.

    This is the qualifying match for the Florida Senior Games State Championships. Andrea King with Sarasota County Parks and Recreation says it has been a tradition for nearly 40 years, and the primary goal is not to necessarily come home with a medal.

    “They get to be together with other people. There is a social component which is as important as the physical side,” King explained.

    Whether it is bowling or another sport, the purpose of the Gulf Coast Games for Life is to incentivize seniors to train and exercise year-round.

    Research from the National Institutes of Health reports that both men and women can add at least a decade to their life expectancy by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle.

    For Rumig, bowling has always been a part of her routine.

    “As kids, we could go bowling, one game for a quarter. But if we were willing to set pins for somebody else, then we could bowl for free,” Rumig added.

    Competing, however, Rumig did not start until her golden years.

    “I would have done more competitive bowling, except we had kids,” she mentioned.

    She does not hide her age or her secret to staying in shape.

    “Just did it for fun. Being healthier is just a benefit,” said Rumig.

    Her true motivation for bowling multiple times a week is sharing the lane with her friends and husband, Mike.

    Bowling better than the boys is something her husband says she has done for the past 42 years of marriage.

    Just like getting a strike again and again, bowling is like taking her daily medication for life — a daily dose of life.

    The Gulf Coast Games for Life are far from over. Now through February 21, seniors will compete in sixteen different sports. Those who come home with a medal will qualify for the Florida Senior Games state championships, competing again against other amateur and aging athletes across the state this December.

    [ad_2] Claire Alfree
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  • Polk County limits number of speakers for general public comment

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — New changes are coming to Polk County commission meetings.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County commissioners voted unanimously to limit general public comment on non-agenda items to 15 speakers per meeting
    • Animal welfare advocates argue the change is an attempt to silence community voices, especially after public comment was previously moved to the end of meetings

    • A law professor says municipalities are legally allowed to limit speakers, but residents could challenge the Florida statute


    Commissioners recently voted to limit the number of people who can speak during public comment for non-agenda items. The resolution passed unanimously on a consent agenda, without public input.

    Being a voice for change has become Angie Lorio and Shannon Medina’s life’s work. The two first started the Polk County Bully Project in 2019 to help improve adoption rates for pit bulls. Since then, they’ve advocated for animal welfare across Polk County, often joining other groups to speak at county commission meetings.

    “They tell us you’re wasting your time,” Lorio said. “’You need to talk to the sheriff. This has nothing to do with us.’ And when some stand up to speak about the animals, they’re looking down, they’re looking around. One gets up to leave the room.”

    Lorio said it became even more clear when county commissioners moved general public comment to the end of meetings. Now, they’re limiting the number of speakers on non-agenda items to 15 people, which Medina believes is another attempt to censor the community.

    “The community still needs their county commissioners to listen to what they have to say, whether or not they agree with it. They still need to listen,” Medina said.

    Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the county several times about the change, but commissioners were unavailable for comment. While it may be controversial, Cooley Law School professor Jeffrey Swartz said that as of 2024, municipalities are allowed to limit the number of speakers at meetings.

    “The problem with this statute is that it allows a commission to basically limit debate and limit dissent, depending upon who the first 15 people are that have signed up to speak to the commission,” Swartz said.

    Swartz said residents have the option to challenge the Florida statute if they feel it denies them their First Amendment rights. As for Lorio and Medina, they’re unsure if that’s a route they’ll take. But they said what they know for sure is that they won’t be silent.

    “Whether we’re number 15 walking in or 16, we deserve the right to have our voices heard,” Medina said.

    Moving forward, people will be required to submit speaker cards and will be called in the order they are received. Anyone not heard will get the chance to speak at the next meeting.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • SpaceX’s Falcon 9 successfully launches and lands after Crew-12 liftoff

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — For the first time ever in Florida, SpaceX was able to land one of its Falcon 9 rockets just minutes after lifting off from an adjacent launch pad.

    It also means that NASA’s four Crew-12 members are on their long commute to the International Space Station.

    What You Need To Know

    • For the first time in Florida, a SpaceX rocket returned near the launch site
    • Learn more about the four astronauts as they will spend eight months on the ISS
    • They will be doing various experiments to learn more about the human body in space as well as moon-landing simulations


    During the early morning hours on Friday, NASA astronauts Cmdr. Jessica Meir and pilot Jack Hathaway, and mission specialists European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev climbed into the Falcon 9 to take off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to both NASA and SpaceX.

    The instantaneous launch took place at 5:15 a.m. ET.

    The Falcon 9 jumped off the launch pad and screamed into the early morning sky as space fans cheered and then were in awe as a jellyfish was seen.

    The jellyfish effect is when the Falcon 9 rocket’s (or any rocket’s) exhaust plume grows and creates a jellyfish-like “cloud” from the exhaust that has a glowing appearance if the launch is near dawn and dusk.

    After the launch, NASA officials held a press conference, where Spectrum News asked Admin. Jared Isaacman about his thoughts on seeing the first crewed launch as the U.S. space agency’s new administrator.

    The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 90% chance of favorable launch conditions, with the only concerns being the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation.

    The forecast was higher than the original 85% the squadron gave for Friday’s launch. 

    If the launch was a scrub, the next attempt would have been Sunday, Feb. 15.

    Originally, the launch was set for Wednesday at 6:01 a.m. ET and then it was pushed to 5:38 a.m. ET, Thursday, until finally settled on Friday.

    The reason for this was due to the upper-level winds.

    The commute to the ISS and a historical landing

    This is the first crewed launch of 2026 and SpaceX’s Dragon capsule called Freedom was moving around 17,500 mph (28,164 kph) as it went into the black of space.

    Freedom has had an impressive resume, having been used for four crewed missions.

    For the first-stage Falcon 9 rocket booster B1101, this will be its second mission. Its first mission was last month and it was the first launch of 2026: Starlink 6-88 mission.

    And it will be a long commute to work for them. The astronauts are expected to arrive at the International Space Station at around 3:15 p.m. ET on Valentine’s Day.

    And this was a historical landing for the Sunshine State. Because the Crew-12 mission has four people onboard, the first-stage booster must land at the brand new Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is adjacent to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40, as seen in this embedded Facebook post.

    A sonic boom cracked across the early morning sky as the Falcon 9 rocket came down for a landing.

    Landing Zone 40 is at the top right of the photo.  

    SpaceX’s lease on Landing Zone 1 and 2, located at Space Launch Complex (SLC) 13 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) ended in July 2025, after the Space Launch Delta (SLD) 45 decided to allow new, incoming Commercial Launch Service Providers (CLPS), to perform launch operations out at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station under their new Launch Pad Allocation Strategy (LPAS).

    Back in May 2023, Space Launch Delta 45 issued a press release, stating that Space Launch Complex (SLC) 15 would go to ABL Space Systems, SLC 14 to Stoke Space, and SLC 13 to Phantom Space and Vaya Space.

    The relocation of landing zone 1 & 2 from SLC 13 to Landing Zone 40 at SLC 40 allows SpaceX the opportunity to process and refurbish the returned flight proven Falcon 9 booster quicker to keep pace with their launch manifest. The move also maximizes the launch capacity along the Eastern Range, but also minimizing the impacts that CLSPs create for other CLSPs or government programs across CCSFS, because instead of the Falcon booster landing 7 miles to the south, it now returns only 1,000 feet away from where it launched from.

    “Commercial Launch Service Providers with landing operations can submit a request to SLD 45 for consideration of landing capability at their complex, which will then go through an extensive evaluation process” said Erin White, Delta planning specialist, stated in a press release in 2023.  “Requests for landing operations will be evaluated for safety implications and their impacts to other programs on CCSFS.”

    So, going forward, crewed SpaceX launches in Florida will see the first-stage rocket returning on a landing pad near the launch site, which does not pose a higher safety risk. 

    However, Landing Zone 2 will still be available for Falcon Heavy launches. Since a Falcon Heavy has three boosters, one would go on a droneship (or be expended), the next one would land on Landing Zone 40 and the third would land on Landing Zone 2, since each landing zone can only handle one booster at a time.

    Understanding the Crew-12 mission

    The quartet is not going to the International Space Station empty-handed and checking out the views of Earth from space.

    They will be busy little beavers as they conduct medical experiments during their eight-month stay.

    “The experiments, led by NASA’s Human Research Program, include astronauts performing ultrasounds of their blood vessels to study altered circulation and completing simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions, among other tasks,” NASA stated.

    NASA Public Affairs specialist Steven Siceloff shared about some of the experiments that the Crew-12 will be doing. 

    Another experiment is called Venous Flow, which will look at how time on the floating laboratory may increase the chance of astronauts developing blood clots.

    “In weightlessness, blood and other bodily fluids can move toward the head, potentially altering circulation. Any resulting blood clots could pose serious health risks, including strokes,” the U.S. space agency explained.

    For the experiment, the astronauts will undergo preflight and postflight MRIs, ultrasound scans, blood draws and blood pressure readings so scientists can compare the findings.

    But it is not all medical experiments. During the Manual Piloting study, certain crew members will conduct simulated moon landings before, during and after this mission.

    “Designed to assess their piloting and decision-making skills, participants attempt to fly a virtual spacecraft toward the lunar South Pole region — the same area future Artemis crews plan to explore,” NASA explained.

    Other experiments will be conducted.

    Meet Crew-12

    Crew-12 will not have a traditional welcome

    Usually, a crewed mission will have a welcome party, where the previous mission (in this case, Crew-11), welcomes the new arrivals.

    Pleasantries and workload are exchanged during this transition. 

    However, Crew-11 was cut short after one of its members suffered a medical episode.

    The crewmember has not been named and his or her medical issue was not disclosed.

    The event happened days before a planned spacewalk for NASA astronauts Cmdr. Zena Cardman and pilot Michael Fincke.

    NASA officials decided to cut the mission short and return Cardman, Fincke and mission specialists Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov to Earth.

    It was the first medical evacuation in the space station’s 25 years of full service. Originally, the mission was going to end in February.

    NASA officials stressed that the person was in stable condition and the four Crew-11 members appeared together in a press conference nearly a week after returning to Earth in a splashdown.

    [ad_2] Anthony Leone, Jon Shaban
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  • Crew-12 will see first landing of Falcon 9 at Space Coast launch site

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — As NASA and SpaceX prepare for the Crew-12 mission, it will mark the first time a SpaceX rocket will land near its launch site in Florida.

    What You Need To Know

    • For the first time in Florida, a SpaceX rocket will return near the launch site
    • Learn more about the four astronauts as they will spend eight months on the ISS
    • They will be doing various experiments to learn more about the human body in space as well as moon-landing simulations

    During the early morning hours on Friday, NASA astronauts Cmdr. Jessica Meir and pilot Jack Hathaway, and mission specialists European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will climb into the Falcon 9 to take off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, stated both NASA and SpaceX.

    The instantaneous launch is set to take place at 5:15 a.m. ET.

    The 45th Weather Squadron is giving a 90% chance of favorable launch conditions, with the only concerns being the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation.

    The forecast is an increase compared to the original 85% the squadron gave for Friday’s launch. 

    If the launch is a scrub, the next attempt will be Sunday, Feb. 15.

    Originally, the launch was set for Wednesday at 6:01 a.m. ET and then it was pushed to 5:38 a.m. ET, Thursday, until finally settling on Friday.

    The reason for this was due to the upper-level winds.

    The commute to the ISS and a historical landing

    This is the first crewed launch of 2026 and SpaceX’s Dragon capsule called Freedom is expected to be screaming at about 17,500 mph (28,164 kph) as it goes into the black of space.

    Freedom has had an impressive resume, having been used for four crewed missions.

    For the first-stage Falcon 9 rocket booster B1101, this will be its second mission. Its first mission was last month and it was the first launch of 2026: Starlink 6-88 mission.

    And it will be a long commute to work for them. The astronauts are expected to arrive at the International Space Station at around 3:15 p.m. ET on Valentine’s Day.

    And this is going to be a historical landing for the Sunshine State. Because the Crew-12 mission will have four people onboard, the first-stage booster must land at Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is adjacent to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40, as seen in this embedded Facebook post. Landing Zone 40 is at the top right of the photo. 

    This will be the first time a Falcon 9 rocket will land near its launch site in Florida. The first-stage boosters usually land on a droneship out in the Atlantic Ocean or at a landing zone on land but away from the launch site.

    However, SpaceX’s lease on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ended in July 2025.

    Back in May 2023, Space Launch Delta 45 issued a press release, stating, “SLC 13, currently Landing Zone 1 and 2, is also moving forward with Phantom Space and Vaya Space.”

    It means that the existing launch complex property agreements for landing operations were discontinued after the agreements expired.

    So, going forward, crewed SpaceX launches in Florida will see the first-stage rocket returning on a landing pad near the launch site.

    Understanding the Crew-12 mission

    The quartet is not going to the International Space Station empty-handed and checking out the views of Earth from space.

    They will be busy little beavers as they will be conducting medical experiments during their eight-month stay.

    “The experiments, led by NASA’s Human Research Program, include astronauts performing ultrasounds of their blood vessels to study altered circulation and completing simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions, among other tasks,” NASA stated.

    Another experiment is called Venous Flow, which will look at how time on the floating laboratory may increase the chance of astronauts developing blood clots.

    “In weightlessness, blood and other bodily fluids can move toward the head, potentially altering circulation. Any resulting blood clots could pose serious health risks, including strokes,” the U.S. space agency explained.

    For the experiment, the astronauts will undergo preflight and postflight MRIs, ultrasound scans, blood draws and blood pressure readings so scientists can compare the findings.

    But it is not all medical experiments. During the Manual Piloting study, certain crew members will be conducting simulated moon landings before, during and after this mission.

    “Designed to assess their piloting and decision-making skills, participants attempt to fly a virtual spacecraft toward the lunar South Pole region — the same area future Artemis crews plan to explore,” NASA explained.

    Other experiments will be conducted.

    Meet Crew-12

    Crew-12 will not have a traditional welcome

    Usually, a crewed mission will have a welcome party, where the previous mission (in this case, Crew-11), welcomes the new arrivals.

    Pleasantries and workload are exchanged during this transition.

    However, Crew-11 was cut short after one of its members suffered a medical episode.

    The crewmember has not been named and his or her medical issue was not disclosed.

    The event happened days before a planned spacewalk for NASA astronauts Cmdr. Zena Cardman and pilot Michael Fincke.

    NASA officials decided to cut the mission short and return Cardman, Fincke and mission specialists Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov to Earth.

    It was the first medical evacuation in the space station’s 25 years of full service. Originally, the mission was going to end in February.

    NASA officials stressed that the person was in stable condition and the four Crew-11 members appeared together in a press conference nearly a week after returning to Earth in a splashdown.

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  • The Deuces: Where Black community thrived, barred from other parts of St. Pete

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before the end of segregation, there were two St. Petes: a white one and a Black one. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Segregation and Jim Crow laws restricted where the Black community could go in St. Pete 

    • The Black community created a mostly self-contained community around 22nd Street South 

    •  It offered houses, businesses, schools, healthcare and entertainment

    • Groups now strive to preserve the history of that area 


    Laws restricted Black residents from going to certain portions of the city except for work, limiting them to designated areas and neighborhoods.

    The most famous of those neighborhoods is the one centered around 22nd Street South, often called “The Deuces.”

    “It was more than a street. It was an ecosystem. It was our ecosystem,” said Latorra Bowles, executive director of Deuces Live. “It was the only place African Americans thrived.”

    It was also a self-contained area that tried to cover all facets of life.

    Housing

    The neighborhood offered housing options for African Americans, though early housing was built without formal planning. In 1941, the Jordan Park Housing Complex opened. It incorporated 446 apartments, the state’s largest public housing endeavor to that time.

    “He knew African Americans needed decent and affordable housing,” said Basha Jordan Jr., whose grandfather, Elder Jordan Sr., donated the land for the project. The housing complex is named in Jordan’s honor.

    Businesses

    At its peak, more than 100 businesses lined 22nd Street South and some of the streets that ran parallel and perpendicular.

    “Everything we need is in the corridor,” Bowles said. “You have your small businesses, you have your restaurants, you have your hotels, you have your clubs.”

    Churches

    Numerous churches lined the streets in the neighborhood, especially along 9th Avenue South, which intersected with 22nd Street South. The city notes that in 1939, 19 of the city’s 123 churches were located in the 22nd Street neighborhood.

    Schools

    Jordan Park Elementary opened in 1925, a segregated school located on 9th Avenue South. Gibbs High School, the first all-Black high school in St. Pete, opened in 1927.

    Healthcare

    Mercy Hospital was established in 1923, one of the few healthcare institutions that accepted Black patients during the segregation era. Jim Crow laws precluded some hospitals from treating Black people, while prejudice stood in the way as well.

    Entertainment

    The Royal Theater opened in 1948, one of just two theaters that African Americans could attend in St. Pete.

    Down the street, the Manhattan Casino Hall had launched in 1925. It was the focal point of entertainment, socializing, and music in the neighborhood. It was even a well-known stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of performance venues safe for African Americans to play during the segregation era.

    “This was a place where African Americans could come, feel at peace, feel human, in the midst of segregation and racism that was running rampant in the city,” Jordan said, sitting underneath a statue of his grandfather that stands on 22nd Street South.

    Deuces Live is attempting to “preserve, promote and revitalize” this corridor, preserving its history while promoting a rich future.

    “It’s extremely important to preserve the history of this area because if we don’t tell the story, it will be rewritten or untold,” Bowles said. “If we don’t tell our story, no one will.”

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    Jeff Butera

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  • ULA prepares to launch U.S. Space Force tracking satellites

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — Early Thursday morning, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be sending up satellites for the U.S. Space Force.

    What You Need To Know

    • ULA’s Vulcan rocket will be sending up USSF-87 mission from Space Launch Complex-41 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

    ULA’s Vulcan rocket will be sending up USSF-87 mission from Space Launch Complex-41 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, stated the company, which is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

    The two-hour launch window opens at 3:30 a.m. ET to 5:30 a.m. ET, which means that ULA has during that time period to launch the mission.

    Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, the Vulcan rocket is not reusable, and it will not land on a droneship or landing pad.

    The Vulcan is the booster, while the Centaur is the second stage.

    The 45th Weather Squadron has given a 95% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the only worries being the cumulus cloud rule.

    About the mission

    Not much is known about the mission, except that the USSF-87 mission will see numerous Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites go to a geosynchronous orbit, so about more than 22,000 miles (35,406 kilometers) above the little round Earth.

    “The USSF-87 mission will carry a variety of payloads that will promote the advancement of space technology to benefit future programs of record. The primary payload is the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) space system, built by Northrop Grumman; a capability supporting the U.S. Space Command space surveillance operations as a high-performance, dedicated Space Surveillance Network sensor. They provide ‘neighborhood watch’ services in the geostationary Earth arena, improving flight safety for all spacefaring nations operating in that orbit,” the U.S. Space Force’s Space System Command explained in a press release.

    Watch the launch

    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFw6xy2zGCo[/embed]

    [ad_2] Anthony Leone
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  • Whataburger returning to Bay area, is opening in Largo on Thursday

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    LARGO, Fla. — Whataburger, a Texas-based burger joint, will open a restaurant on Ulmerton Road on Thursday.

    According to our news gathering partners at the Tampa Bay Business Journal, it will be the first location in the area since the chain left about 20 years ago.

    Whataburger has 1,110 restaurants in 17 states.

    The company said it plans to open several locations in the Bay area, starting with the one in Largo.

    The address will be 10150 Ulmerton Rd.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • LILLY Learning Center offers students new direction on path of education

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    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — A Pasco County entrepreneur is changing the perception of homeschooling.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lexa Duno opened the LILLY Learning Center in 2024 as an alternative teaching method for students with learning disabilities

    • With a smaller atmosphere focused on helping students with learning disabilities, the center differs from your average school
    • Now, already two years in existence, Duno is noticing a positive trend among students and parents


    Lexa Duno opened the LILLY Learning Center as an alternative teaching method for students with learning disabilities. The learning center is helping shape the young minds of tomorrow.

    Hard at work inside a classroom are students, including mother and daughter duo Dacia and Julia Mitchell.

    “She’s an incredibly gifted child,” said Dacia of her daughter, Julia. “Both of our kids really are.”

    The center differs from your average school. It’s a smaller atmosphere focused on helping those students with learning disabilities.

    “As a mom of six, I find that there’s a learning environment for every child and every child is different,” said Dacia.

    Dacia said it was a struggle to find the right fit for her children — a struggle many parents go through.

    “We’ve done public school, private school, homeschool, we have two in boarding school — I mean, literally, you name it. If there’s a school out there, we’ve given it a go. I think that a lot of parents are finding the same frustrations that there is not necessarily one right way,” she said.

    Something that founder Duno realized while working as a literary specialist.

    “I work with a lot of kids who need reading interventions and, at that point in time, I was getting a lot of kids who were homeschooled in the area,” said Duno.

    That’s when she decided to open up LILLY, with the help of SMARTstart Pasco Incubators. It’s helping students who might need a little help on their path to education.

    “A diagnosed learning disability or maybe because they, for some reason, aren’t fitting socially or emotionally in the traditional school system and their families are looking for a really small, safe environment beyond the school system for them to grow and thrive and to be able to learn amongst their peers in a social learning environment,” said Duno.

    Now, already two years in existence, Duno is noticing a positive trend.

    “We have parents who think (their) child is probably not going to interact or participate,” she said. “And then, in a short amount of time, they come and they’re able to just thrive, which is amazing.”

    It’s changing the lives of Dacia and her daughter, and helping these students reach their full potential

    “It’s just a great place for you to learn who your child is and for them to learn who they are, about themselves and really grow into that,” Dacia said.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Plant City church ‘explores untold stories’ of Black History Month

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — This month, we take time to celebrate Black History Month, and one church in Plant City is doing that through an educational program known as “Exploring the Untold Stories of Black History.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Terrie Strachan says the program includes members of the church to portray the stories told
    •  Many of the stories shared are not taught in school


    Inside Mount Olive Baptist Church in Plant City, history is being shared.

    Organizers present the program every February to honor Black History Month.

    Terrie Strachan started the program back in 2013. “I always try to explore new avenues of Black history,” she said.

    It’s a history that some may not even know about. The story told on the first Sunday of this month was about Joseph Ligon, who was the nation’s longest-serving juvenile offender.

    “(Trying) to familiarize our youth with things that they never heard of, not just our youth, even our adults,” she said.

    Strachan said it’s important to immerse the youth in stories they rarely learn about in school.

    For 11-year-old Cortlyn Fisher, it’s a program she looks forward to every year.

    “It reflects on what people went through back in the day, and it helps me learn about the people,” she said.

    The stories that are shared are also reflected in the sermons of the church.

    Ted Taylor took part in the program. He said it’s a story that he never heard of, that’s helped him reflect on the importance of celebrating Black history.

    “Informative, enlightening and spiritual to the church,” he said.

    Every Sunday throughout the month of February, a new story will be portrayed.

    Strachan said it’s one way she’s hoping to preserve Black history in her community.

    “If I can just continue to do that and touch my members and touch people in the community about topics that I bring forth, I’d be doing my job, and I’d be fulfilling what God wants me to do,” she said.

    Honoring Black history and how its shaped the lives of many one story at a time.

    On February 22, Mount Olive Baptist Church will also host a praise dance team as part of its Black History Month education.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • St. Petersburg Distance Classic draws largest turnout ever

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sunday was the largest St. Petersburg Distance Classic in the program’s history.

    This was the sixth time the event was hosted.

    Thousands of runners took off from North Shore Park to participate in a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K.

    What You Need To Know

    • Under 3,500 people registered to run in the St. Petersburg Distance Classic

    • There were 30% more runners this year compared to last year

    • Chris Lauber and his wife, Rya, founded and operate the St. Pete run from their home

    • This event is a qualifer for the Boston Marathon


    Marathon runners were met with lots of cheering as they stepped off on their 26.2-mile journey.

    Norman Shaw ran in the St. Pete Distance Classic for the first time, but he knows the area well. He grew up here, but he’s visiting from New Jersey to make this his ninth marathon.

    “This is one of the most special ones. Runners know St. Pete is as flat as a pancake, so it’s a beautiful run. San Francisco was awful — all the hills, I mean, it was beautiful, it was horrible to run. This will be nice,” he said.

    The 64-year-old trained for this by running about 30 miles a week. He said you have to go until your body is tired.

    “It’s just constantly pushing yourself not to stop,” he said.

    This year’s St. Pete Distance Classic had the largest number of runners ever. Under 3,500 people registered for all of Sunday’s races, making it 30% larger than last year. Organizers said they got a grant from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater to advertise the event.

    “We have almost every state represented and 15 countries,” said Chris Lauber, race director.

    Chris Lauber and his wife, Rya, founded and operate the St. Pete run, but Chris has a long history of organizing these things.

    In 1979, Chris had orchestrated jet ski races in Sebring, Florida. That eventually grew into a big event, even getting ESPN coverage.

    Then, using that experience, he created the Gulf Beaches Marathon in 2000. He said at the time, there wasn’t any sort of race like that in the county.

    The couple now runs the St. Pete Distance Classic out of their garage.

    “To see literally a thousand smiling faces run by you as the fruits of our efforts, I wish there was a single word, but there isn’t,” Chris said.

    It’s that same feeling that athletes like Shaw have when they run across the finish line.

    “Those last six miles are the toughest, but when you’re done, you feel like you beat yourself. It’s such an incredible feeling,” Shaw said.

    The marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

    Runners who have a qualifying time can register for the Boston Marathon for 2027.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Lakeland youth step team helps preserve cultural tradition

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — You may have seen it — the perfectly timed stomps, the chants and hand claps.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lakeland-based youth step team is helping preserve the cultural tradition of stepping, an art form rooted in African history

    • Beyond competition, the team provides mentorship, sisterhood and a safe space for self-expression for middle and high school girls

    • The group is actively sharing the tradition on a national stage, hosting a step show this weekend with teams from across the country


    But where did it all begin?

    For centuries, stepping, a powerful ritual dance, has inspired generations, including the Lakeland-based step team Taken by Surprise.

    The group of girls, ranging in age, practices stepping inside Sleepy Hill Middle School’s gym about four days a week. While winning competitions is the goal, the steppers say they gain so much more.

    For 12th grader Aleyah Davis, it’s sisterhood.

    “It got me out of my shell because I am shy,” Davis said.

    Meanwhile, 11th grader Keyanah Colston says it’s a safe place to express herself.

    “If anything is weighing on my mind, I feel like when we come here, it’s just an open space to do you,” Colston said.

    Team sponsor Corey Tumer started Taken by Surprise 13 years ago to help build character in young people. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, he also wanted to expose them to Greek life — specifically historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine.

    “And that gives them more exposure than just being home and the possibility to network with other students across the country and get that experience of what life would be like as a college student,” Tumer said.

    Though stepping is widely used throughout Divine Nine culture, the art form didn’t originate there. Longtime dance instructor Andrida Hosey says stepping is rooted in African tradition.

    “So a lot of things, like celebratory things like naming ceremonies, and wedding celebrations, and going out for war, we used movement and rhythm, especially the drums,” Hosey said. “But as we came over to America, we couldn’t use the drums as slaves. They started using their body as instruments, and the clapping and the rhythm, and their voices as instruments.”

    She says those movements became a way to express feelings during a time when doing so was forbidden.

    Today, stepping gives young people that same freedom of expression, something the girls of Taken by Surprise say they don’t take for granted.

    Taken by Surprise will host a national step show this Saturday at Kathleen High School. Twenty teams from around the country will compete. Doors open at 2 p.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk County landscaper advises residents on new watering schedule

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Utilities is one of the latest utilities working to preserve water across the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Utilities is the latest to enforce a new once-per-week lawn watering schedule due to below-average rainfall and low water levels

    • Watering is limited to specific days and times based on street address, with schedules running before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

    • Local landscapers warn that the restrictions may not be enough to maintain healthy lawns


    Officials recently announced it will enforce the Modified Phase II water shortage order issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The restrictions apply to the following areas:

    Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the city of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County.

    Starting this Sunday, residents and businesses can only water their lawns once a week. The new watering schedule is due to below-average rainfall and low water levels in area water resources.

    However, Eric Myers, owner of Myerscapes Environmental, says that may not be enough to maintain a healthy landscape.

    “The limitations on irrigating your yard, it’s going to cause a lot of damage to sod and everybody’s plants and foliage is going to start dying off. If they can’t irrigate, it’s going to be a lot of unhappy people,” Myers said.

    While the restrictions could mean more business for him, Myers says he is more concerned about how they will impact his customers.

    “Everybody doesn’t have tons of money to put into their yards to keep it properly maintained and looking good,” he said.

    With that said, Myers recommends residents water their yards for at least 20 minutes on their designated day. Even then, he says a healthy lawn is not guaranteed.

    Polk County Utilities says watering hours are assigned to one day per week based on address and must take place before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

    Details of the once-per-week watering schedule are as follows:

    • Addresses ending in 0 or 1 may only water on Mondays.
    • Addresses ending in 2 or 3 may only water on Tuesdays.
    • Addresses ending in 4 or 5 may only water on Wednesdays.
    • Addresses ending in 6 or 7 may only water on Thursdays.
    • Addresses ending in 8 or 9, along with locations for which an address cannot be determined (such as common areas associated with a subdivision), may only water on Fridays.

    The new schedule begins Sunday and is expected to remain in place through July 1.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: What you need to know

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s that time again! Racing fans from all over will be heading to the Bay area for the start of the next INDYCAR season.

    The 2026 Firestone Grand Prix will be speeding through the streets of St. Pete Feb 27 – March 1.

    Here’s what you need to know.


    QUICK RECAP:

    The 2025 IndyCar season kicked off with an exciting showdown at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where Alex Palou emerged victorious after an intense battle with two of the sport’s biggest names, Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon.

    WHEN IS THE 2026 FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG?

    The event starts on Thursday, February 27 and goes until Sunday, March 2.

    WHERE DO I GET 2026 FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX TICKETS?

    General admission adult tickets for the Firestone Grand Prix start at just $30 and three-day tickets start at $80.

    GRANDSTAND PRICING

    Day / Location Cost Ticket Type
    GOLD – Turn 1 & Turn 10 Grandstands (3-Day Only) $185 Adult
    GOLD – Turn 1 & Turn 10 Grandstands (3-Day Only) $165 Junior
    SILVER – Upper Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $170 Adult
    SILVER – Upper Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $150 Junior
    BRONZE – Lower Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $140 Adult
    BRONZE – Lower Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $120 Junior

     

    Day / Location Cost Ticket Type
    SILVER – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $135 Adult
    SILVER – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $125 Junior
    BRONZE – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $110 Adult
    BRONZE – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $100 Junior

    GENERAL ADMISSION PRICING

    Day / Type Cost Ticket Type
    GENERAL – 3-DAY $80 Adult
    GENERAL – 3-DAY $70 Junior
         
    GENERAL – FRIDAY $30 Adult
    GENERAL – SATURAY $55 Adult
    GENERAL – SUNDAY $70 Adult
         
    GENERAL – FRIDAY $30 Junior
    GENERAL – SATURDAY $45 Junior
    GENERAL – SUNDAY $60 Junior

     

    ADDITIONAL PASSES

    Day(s) Cost Pass Type
    PIT & PADDOCK – 3-DAY $160 Adult (18+)
    PADDOCK – 2-DAY $85 Adult / Junior
    PADDOCK – 1-DAY $55 Adult / Junior

    FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX MAP:

    In downtown St. Petersburg, the streets along the waterfront near Straub Park will be converted into a 1.8 mile race track. Just follow the noise from the loud engines!

    2026 FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE:

    THURSDAY, FEB 26

    Time Event Location
    4:00 PM – 7:00 PM INDYCAR Party in the Park

    North Straub Park – No ticket

    required
    5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

    5K Run on the Firestone

    Grand Prix Track

    400 Bayshore Dr. NE

    Sign-up at gpstpete5k.com

    FRIDAY, FEB 27

    Time Series Session
    7:30 AM Gates Open  
    8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

    USF2000

    Practice
    8:55 AM – 9:40 AM Mazda MX-5 Cup Practice
    10:00 AM – 10:30 AM USF2000 Qualifying
    10:50 AM – 11:10 AM Mazda MX-5 Cup Qualifying
    11:30 AM – 12:10 PM USF2000 Race 1
    11:30 AM – 12:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session – American Legion in Firestone Fan Experience
    12:30 PM – 1:15 PM INDY NXT by Firestone Practice
    1:00 PM – 1:45 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Autograph Session – Details TBA
    1:35 PM – 3:00 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
    4:00 PM – 4:50 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Practice
    5:05 PM – 6:00 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Qualifying

    SATURDAY, FEB 28

    Time Series Session
    7:00 AM Gates Open  
    7:30 AM – 8:15 AM

    Mazda MX-5 Cup

    Race 1

     

     
    8:35 AM – 9:15 AM INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2
    9:35 AM – 11:00 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2
    11:00 AM – 11:45 AM INDY NXT by Firestone Autograph Session – American Legion in Firestone Fan Experience
    11:30 AM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Driver Introductions
    12:00 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race (80 Laps)
    3:45 PM – 4:15 PM INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying
    4:35 PM – 6:00 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying

    SUNDAY, MARCH 1

    Time Series Session
    8:00 AM Gates Open  
    9:05 AM – 9:35 AM

    NTT INDYCAR SERIES

    Warm-up
    10:06 AM INDY NXT by Firestone Race (45 Laps)
    11:20 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
    12:29 PM Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race (100 Laps)
    3:00 PM – 3:40 PM USF2000 Race 2
    4:00 PM – 4:40 PM Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 2

    PARKING

    City Parking Garage (SouthCore):

    City Parking Garages will be $25 per day.

    Motorcycle Parking:

    Available for $10, along the west side of 1st Street South between 1st Avenue South and Central Avenue.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Tampa Bay Rays new renderings of proposed ballpark at Hillsborough College

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays released initial renderings on Thursday morning of the proposed ballpark and mixed-use district at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus.

    The team is envisioning a domed stadium that can seat about 31,000 people.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Rays released initial renderings on Thursday morning of the proposed ballpark at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus

    • The team is envisioning a domed stadium that can seat about 31,000 people

    • This week, the Rays, the school, the state of Florida, and MLB voiced support for the new ballpark

    • PREVIOUS STORIES on Rays stadium pursuit


    “We are moving into the next phase of this process with excellent momentum, thanks to the outstanding support of community leaders and our staff and partners here at the Tampa Bay Rays,” added Ken Babby, Chief Executive Officer of the Tampa Bay Rays. “We’re proud to share our bold and dynamic vision for the ballpark and believe strongly in its ability to benefit the team and our fans, Hillsborough College, the surrounding neighborhoods and the entire region.”

    Rendering provided by the Rays of a revamped HC Dale Mabry campus. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays)

    Rendering provided by the Rays of a revamped HC Dale Mabry campus. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays)

    Rendering provided by the Rays of a revamped HC Dale Mabry campus. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays)

    According to a team release, the entire development would stretch about 130 acres across the campus and spread out over three sections: Champions Quarter, Innovation Edge and The Canopy.

    A triangular dome with a translucent roof, the Rays are billing the stadium as “the most intimate in Major League Baseball.” It would sit on the side of the campus closest to Raymond James Stadium in what the team is calling “Champions Quarter.”

    A rebuilt Hillsborough College with be housed in the Innovation Edge area near Lois Avenue and Tampa Bay Boulevard with an area called “The Canopy” including a mix of bars, restaurants, retail spaces and residential units.

     

    This week, the Rays, the school, the state of Florida, and MLB voiced support for the new ballpark. And the Hillsborough County Commission agreed to continue funding discussions with the team to see if a framework can be reached.

    “I’m incredibly grateful for what our organization and the Tampa community have accomplished in just over 100 days since acquiring the team, and of the progress we are making together toward a Forever Home for the Rays and our loyal fans,” said Patrick Zalupski, Managing Partner of the Tampa Bay Rays. “Hillsborough County’s unanimous vote is a significant milestone and a clear signal that Tampa is serious about keeping Major League Baseball in this region and transforming Tampa Bay for generations to come.”

    The team still has to work out a deal with local government about where the money for the new ballpark will come from.

    In addition, the team has begun accepting $19.98 deposits for early access to seating in the new ballpark.


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    Spectrum News Staff

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