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Daily editionSaturday, October 31st, 2026

Good morning, St. Petersburg.

The 5AM St. Petersburg Team

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Here’s your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 31st of October.

Business

  1. Thousands of visiting Milwaukee fans boosted downtown businesses during the Rays’ three World Series games at Tropicana Field this week, with city officials estimating about 100,000 visitors and bars like Ferg’s reporting a month’s worth of sales.

    WUSFRead more

Government

  1. Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies flew electric air taxis from St. Petersburg to Tampa in demonstrations on Friday, Oct. 30 as part of FDOT and FAA tests of eVTOL aircraft, with officials saying passenger service will need more infrastructure and approvals before it can launch.

    WUSFRead more

Health

  1. State health data show dengue activity remains elevated with 485 locally acquired cases this year; for Oct. 18-24 Pinellas added 16 new infections, bringing its total to 67, while Hillsborough added 39 (385 total) and has extended a state of emergency through Nov. 5.

    WUSFRead more

  2. ACA Marketplace premiums in Florida are rising (avg.

    10.4% for 2027 after a 34% jump in 2026), and open enrollment begins Sunday and runs through Jan. 15 — enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage starting in 2027.

    WUSFRead more

Sports

  1. The Rays declined mutual options for starter Nick Martinez and center fielder Cedric Mullins on Friday, making both free agents.

    Tampa Bay paid a $4 million buyout to Martinez (who went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA) and plans to use Jonny DeLuca, Jacob Melton, and prospect Theo Gillen in center while it weighs two club options.

    MLB.comRead more

  2. Nikita Kucherov told the Lightning he won't re-sign and asked for a trade after meeting with GM Julien BriseBois on Friday, but he plans to keep playing until the situation is resolved and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season (the final year of his eight-year, $76 million deal signed in 2018).

    WUSFRead more

  3. The Rays' pennant season could turn into a busy awards stretch this offseason, with Taylor Walls and Chandler Simpson up for Gold Gloves and Junior Caminero in MVP conversation.

    Key BBWAA and MLB honors will be announced Nov. 10 through Nov. 12, with Silver Sluggers on Nov. 17.

    MLB.comRead more