The race for the next St. Petersburg mayor is a packed one, with six candidates in the running, including the sitting mayor, Kenneth T. Welch and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who was the latest to file as of April 27.
Other candidates include long-serving public administrator Maria Scruggs, District 2 Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard, retired St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large and former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf.
The Crowâs Nest spoke to four of the seven candidates, who expanded on their campaign ideals and spoke of what they want the future of the city to look like.
đ¨ Graphic by Olivia Young
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Julia Birdsall and Alisha Durosier
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Fire crews are actively responding to a fire at the Marine Science Laboratory (MSL).
While the cause is unclear, The Crowâs Nest received reports of either a chemical fire or a lightning strike as the cause.
At approximately 5 p.m., USF St. Petersburg students were met with sirens and a scene of smoke billowing from the peninsula of the St. Petersburg campus. University faculty and staff working near the area are being evacuated.
The MSL is among the oldest buildings on the St. Petersburg campus, where the campusâs first classes were held in 1965.
It was originally opened in 1939 as a maritime service training station. It currently houses research labs and faculty offices for the Marine Science Program.
This is a developing story.
đĽ Video courtesy of Joe FarĂas Alencar.
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As we approach the close of the Spring Semester of 2026, we would like to recognize and say goodbye to our fellow senior staffers:
Online Editor â Julia Ferrara
News Editor â Jasmin Parrado
Arts & Life Editor â Matthew McGovern
Sports Editor â Dominic Feo
Opinions/Features Editor â Julia Birdsall
Staff Reporter â Irena Mesa
Marketing Manager â Marcella Copeland
Managing Editor - MarĂa JosĂŠ SolĂs
and our
Editor in Chief â Alisha Durosier
Congratulations to our seniors and we are wishing them the best as the fly away to a new chapter in their lives. đŚââŹđ
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After 12 years as the Dean of Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Jacob Diaz is resigning.
Diazâs last day is on May 15; he will then serve as the inaugural assistant vice president and dean of Students at the University of Maryland. Diaz described his time as dean of students as a âdream come true.â
đ¨ Graphic by Olivia Young
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Secilia Ruiz
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The thought of an early graduation is a harrowing thought for third year digital communications and multimedia journalism major Sophia Lowrie, who said that she wishes they had more time to assimilate to life on a college campus before being thrust into adult life.
She is not the only one.
đ¨ Graphic by Olivia Young
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Julia Birdsall
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Whether the next steps involve graduate school or entering the workforce, many of the seniors at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are feeling similarly anxious and uncertain in the weeks leading up to their graduation dates.
Nico Gramatica did not grow up playing football.
The sophomore kicker for the University of South Florida played club soccer and only started kicking footballs in his sophomore year of high school.
âMy dad kicked, my uncle kicked and people were asking me, âWhy donât you come out, try it for a year and see if you like it. If you donât like it, you can be done after one year,ââ Gramatica said. âI went out, had a great time and got to make some really good friends.â
đ¨ Graphic by Olivia Young
đ¸ Photos by Irena Mesa
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Irena Mesa
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College campuses are a place where a strong sense of community can be formed among students, but many commuter students, like junior English major Zoey Earles, feel that they have fewer opportunities to form these connections.
âPositives [of being a commuter], I have my own apartment,â Earles said. âNegatives, I donât make as [many] friends, and I donât necessarily know about all the things that are happening on campus.â
Events hosted on campus are a great way to meet people and find that sense of community, but sustainability senior Estela Najera said that being aware of events is difficult.
đ¨ Graphic by Olivia Young
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Julia Birdsall
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In the familiar currents of St. Petersburg, the University of South Florida Womenâs sailing team placed second at the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (SAISA) Womenâs Team and Fleet Championship Races on April 12.
The regatta secured USF a spot in the College Sailing Womenâs Fleet National Championship, which USF St. Petersburg will also host from May 15-18.
Before the competition, USFâs Division A Fleet Race starters Kailey Warrior and Madisen Hamai told The Crowâs Nest about the advantages of sailing in local waters.
đ¨ Graphic by Olivia Young
đ¸ Photos by Kendall Bulkiewicz | USF Athletics
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Dominic Feo
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USF St. Petersburg Student Government Governor, Elise Prophete, is speaking out after not being able to give the speech sheâd initially written for the annual Rocky's Leadership Award Ceremony.
âI am choosing to do what is right for me and provoke the thoughts that I hope are right for this campus. To shift the self-censoring, student-second attitudes back into a space where the stories we have are told and appreciated,â Prophete wrote.
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read her entire column and her original speech.
âď¸ Column by Elise Prophete.
Zahid Hasan Pranto, Bristyâs brother, shared a Facebook post on April 26 with a joint statement attached from both studentsâ families.Â
âThis is the final plea to the authorities on behalf of our family and Jamilâs family,â Prantoâs translated post read. âMay Allah grant their departed souls a place of honor in Jannah. Our loss is indescribable and can never be compensated for by anything. On behalf of myself and our families, I humbly request that we do not post anything disrespectful about them for the sake of a few 'likes.' Please, pray for them instead.âÂ
A GoFundMe page for Limon and Bristyâs families has been posted and is receiving donations to date.
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.
âď¸ Story by Julia Ferrara, Jasmin Parado, and Alisha Durosier.
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On April 19-20 and April 26, the new Musical Theatre Club at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg put on a student-directed production of âTheory of Relativity.â
âTheory of Relativityâ is a musical written by Brian Hill with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram. The ensemble musical uses seemingly separate comedic and dramatic scenes that portray the complex situations that young adults experience and how they eventually connect to each other. Â
This cast had no shortage of talent, with actors fully embodying their characters. Â
đ˛ Click the link in our bio to read the entire review and a feature of the club.
âď¸ Review by Secilia Ruiz and feature story by Zariya Bankston and Reagan Haskell.
đ¸ Photos by Makenna Wozniak.
![College campuses are a place where a strong sense of community can be formed among students, but many commuter students, like junior English major Zoey Earles, feel that they have fewer opportunities to form these connections.âPositives [of being a commuter], I have my own apartment,â Earles said. âNegatives, I donât make as [many] friends, and I donât necessarily know about all the things that are happening on campus.âEvents hosted on campus are a great way to meet people and find that sense of community, but sustainability senior Estela Najera said that being aware of events is difficult. Graphic by Olivia Young Click the link in our bio to read the entire story. ď¸ Story by Julia Birdsall#usfsp #usf](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6739595827692967436613_0_36c28299955338659e4fd8461d25fc16.jpg?o=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&h=b963e00b1f464b19356eb40a397d935e)
