Good morning. To the person who showed up to the border patrol protest in downtown yesterday and got arrested—bold strategy for a Wednesday. Meanwhile, a fun fact for you: the average person will fall asleep in about 7 minutes. Unless you're stuck trying to find parking near Central Ave during lunch hour, in which case it takes 45 minutes and you're wide awake the whole time.

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate this morning. The announcement came at a press conference in Orlando, making Moody only the second woman ever to represent Florida in the Senate.

Moody, 49, has been Florida's top cop since 2019 and is a Plant City native (yes, Strawberry Festival royalty—she was queen in 1993, which is apparently a thing). More relevant to us: she's spent the last six years defending DeSantis's conservative agenda in court, suing the Biden administration over everything from immigration enforcement to student loan forgiveness. According to DeSantis, "she has been with us every step of the way."

Here's the deal: Moody will hold the seat until the 2026 special election, when she'll need to run to keep it. That means we're looking at a potentially expensive, competitive Senate race next year in Florida—and Rep. Cory Mills has already said he's running no matter what. So get ready for campaign ads. Lots of them.

Bottom line: Florida's getting a new senator with deep ties to DeSantis and Trump's agenda. DeSantis will also appoint his chief of staff, James Uthmeier, to replace Moody as AG. Political musical chairs, Tampa Bay edition.

If you work downtown and wondered why there are suddenly hundreds of very shiny boats where you normally walk, the 48th annual St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show kicked off yesterday and runs through Sunday. The event expects over 25,000 attendees flooding (pun intended) the area between Al Lang Stadium and Albert Whitted Park.

This year's show is bringing some firsts: France-based Groupe Beneteau is debuting two new electric-powered cruising vessels that have never been shown at a U.S. boat show. Because nothing says "Florida" quite like eco-friendly European yachts, apparently.

There's also good news if you have kids who won't stop asking for a fishing pole: Hook the Future is running a Kids' Fishing Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, and every kid gets a free rod at the end. (You're welcome, parents. Sorry about the hooks everywhere in your house.)

The show comes at an interesting time—Pinellas County has over 54,000 registered boats, but hundreds were lost during the 2024 hurricane season. According to event organizers, many vendors reported lower high-end sales at last year's show, but interest in used vessels and safety equipment went up. This year might be different as insurance payments have rolled in.

Bottom line: Boats everywhere downtown through Sunday. General admission is $24, free for kids 15 and under and military members (advance ticket required). Parking will be... fun.

Wednesday night got cold enough that Pinellas County opened its cold-night shelters, the Homeless Leadership Alliance announced. It's that time of year when Florida remembers it has seasons—sort of.

The county activated emergency shelters when temperatures were forecast to drop, providing warm places to stay for residents experiencing homelessness. This is part of the county's ongoing cold-weather response protocol that typically runs from November through March.

The timing lines up with the foggy, cooler pattern we've been seeing this week. Tampa Bay mornings have been especially soupy lately—that thick sea fog rolling in from the Gulf that makes your morning commute feel like you're driving through a cloud. Classic winter weather pattern for us.

Bottom line: If you know someone who needs shelter during cold snaps, the Homeless Leadership Alliance coordinates emergency warming centers across Pinellas County.

⚡ Gasparilla is coming: Tampa's getting ready for pirate season, with the children's parade on Saturday, January 18, and the main event on January 25. Start planning your costume now or accept that you'll be the only person downtown not dressed like a buccaneer.

🎨 Spirit Fest returns this weekend: Florida's largest metaphysical and crystal expo is happening at the St. Pete Coliseum Saturday and Sunday. Over 90 booths of crystals, tarot readings, and holistic health. Your chakras will thank you.

🏀 Rays season prep: The Rays will play their 2025 home games at the Yankees' spring training ballpark while Tropicana Field gets repairs after Hurricane Milton. Because that's not weird at all—the Rays playing home games in a Yankees facility.

☀️ Weather check: After the foggy mornings this week, we're looking at temps in the low 60s today, warming back to the 70s this weekend. January in Florida is truly an adventure.

📍 Pinellas wants road funding: The county is asking for state money to widen East Lake Road. Add it to the long list of Tampa Bay traffic projects we're all waiting on.

🎪 Treasure Island Kite Festival: Happens this weekend (Jan 16-18) if you want to see giant 90-foot show kites and competitive kite flying. It's free and actually pretty cool if you've never been.

🚤 St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show - 10am-6pm at Albert Whitted Park & Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin. Gulf Coast's largest boat show with hundreds of boats, marine gear, and free seminars.

🥕 Saturday Morning Market - Wait, it's Thursday—this happens Saturday 9am-2pm at Al Lang Stadium. Putting it on your radar now so you remember.

🎭 Free Beginner Pickleball Class - Various times at Bartlett Park Sports Complex (2000 7th St S). Try the sport everyone won't shut up about.

🎨 OLLI at Eckerd College Open House - 2-5pm at Eckerd College (4200 54th Ave S). For retired and semi-retired folks interested in lifelong learning programs.

On January 16, 1928, the Don CeSar Hotel held its elaborate formal opening ceremony on St. Pete Beach. The iconic Pink Palace—built by Thomas Rowe as a tribute to his lost love—had actually opened its doors to guests 6 days earlier on January 10, but the big fancy party happened on this date.

Back then, dinner cost $2.50 and a room went for $24 per night (which, adjusted for inflation, would be about $445 today—so actually cheaper than some current St. Pete Beach rates). The hotel quickly became one of the most luxurious destinations in Florida, hosting everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to department store moguls Gimbel and Bloomingdale.

The Don has survived nearly a century through the Great Depression, service as a military hospital during WWII, years of neglect, multiple hurricanes, and countless renovation cycles. The Pink Palace celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2008 and remains an iconic landmark on our beaches today.